The High Priestess (The Tarot Club 3)

“You desecrated my grandmother’s grave and now you want to buy me a coffee?” I hissed the words, incredulous at his offer. I needed distance from the Demon, not caffeine from him. Part of the reason I was so confused was because of Cort’s proximity - because of the way he was able to manipulate my own desire against me.

“We desecrated her grave love, and you might as well look upon it as an offering - make a spell out of it.”

His self satisfied smirk had me wanting to raise a palm to his cheek, but I knew such actions would do me no good, the previous night had only proved as much.

“Why won’t you just leave me alone?” I searched his gaze, demanding an honest answer from him.

“We are bound Little Witch, let me buy you a coffee and we can discuss the prospect of marriage.”

“I’m not marrying a Demon.” I barked the words, and if I considered the Demon more than a nuisance, I may have been worried I offended his sensibilities, but the Demon was nothing more than a nuisance - a nuisance that brought both pleasure and lust with him out of pure design.

“Good,” Cortland grimaced as he spoke the word - as if he found the idea equally abhorrent, “because a Demon is not on offer.”

“Marie?” A voice interrupted any retort I may have offered, and I watched the Demon frown at the intrusion, before melding into the shadows once more. I glared at the dark splashes against the stone walls before turning around and addressing the newcomer with all the grace and elegance I could muster.

Nicu stood at the lip of the alleyway, his gaze fixed on mine. Was he aware that Cort was a Demon? Did he think we were together? Did he care? Did I want him to care?

There were too many questions demanding my attention that I silenced them all, forcing a smile to my lips instead.

Nicu’s gaze seemed to soften at my expression, and suddenly the golden haired man stepped forward, sliding his arm into the crook of my elbow in a possessive motion that set me on edge.

“All my the honor of buying you breakfast.”

I could only nod, unable to deny a guest of his standing that privilege.

We moved as one down the alley, and I guided us through an old stone archway, forcing our footsteps to tred an even darker route towards the small bar and Inn, until we finally left the shadows behind.

Nicu walked towards the bar, ordering a croissant and coffee as if he were a local. It was disconcerting how well he fit in, as if he somehow belonged here more than I did. And that was a problem, because I didn’t want to belong here - did I?

He brought the tray towards the small wooden table with a swagger, laying it on the table with a flourish before grinning down at me.

Perhaps if I hadn’t desecrated my grandmother’s grave with a Demon the night before, I would have been more accommodating, and that thought alone was what forced a smile to my lips - forced me to behave in a manner that was fit for Jeanne des Montagnes’ granddaughter, and that smile was all the encouragement that he needed.

Nicu sat down. Shifting his chair right beside mine and when he brought his hand towards my face, I had to still myself, lest he assumed me pulling away was an affront. His clan and ours were allies, and my nerves couldn’t disrupt that.

The pad of his thumb scraped against my cheekbones, sending a sort of fluttering feeling through my body. Was that desire? Had the Demon used his power to overstimulate my senses of what desire truly felt like, meaning that it paled in comparison as to when I was with him.

The thought alone made me want to stab him again.

“You are tired.” Nicu spoke the statement as if it were something worth bloating about, but I had never been one of the people - measuring how tired I was against how hard I had worked. Magick had long since dissuaded me on the art of fast living, and instead I chose lazy mornings and sun drenched days where I read my cards upon a beach, allowing the Mother herself to guide me.

“Aren’t all mourning family members weighed down with grief and exhausted from funeral preparations?”

Nicu held my gaze, but he did not cower or agree as I may have predicted. He did not offer any more condolences or apologies. “When you are ready to tell me what weighs so heavily on your mind, I will be here for you Marie. You and I are destined for more.”

I blinked at his response, unwilling to ask what more meant for him - afraid that he truly meant us.

I wasn’t normally such a coward, but I was starting to learn that emotional exhaustion could do that to a person.

I averted my gaze, choosing to take a bite of the croissant before me instead.

“Tell me what I can help with? Let me ease some of your troubles - assist with the preparations for the Solstice - anything.” A single tap shuddered at the base of my spine at his words. I was well versed in playing the Magickal game of politics within the realms of the clients that Charl found for us, but even when I had lived in the village with my grandmother, I had never had to fumble through discussions quite like these.

“We have it covered, thank you though.”

Nicu nodded in understanding, ever the politician, as he pressed his thigh against mine. Heat did not unfurl within my belly at his touch and in his presence I only feltcold - unbalanced. I ate quickly, excusing myself as I explained that I needed to check in with Marta.

The sun sat higher as I walked back towards the fields, allowing my mind to sink into memories of Summer Solstice of long ago.