Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Safia rubbed her temples. She had the beginnings of a headache. Petru could tell his answer didn’t clarify anything in her mind. He put his palms on either side of her head and removed the ache.
“You have a lifemate, Mataias. She lives, but she is young. There will be danger to her and many others. Again, you must journey with your brothers after you complete this task with Benedek and Nicu to ensure your lifemate survives. I’m sorry I can’t tell you much more.”
“You’ve told me I have reason to continue my existence,” Mataias pointed out as he rose.
Safia’s heart pounded as she cleansed the deck. This time she turned to Petru for comfort, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his chest.
I want this to go well. I feel such danger surrounding them.
We should offer to accompany them, Petru said carefully. He had promised to keep her there with her family. Now, more than ever, since she’d lost her father, he knew she would want to stay close to them, but they owed Benedek. Petru was a master battle planner. If he was needed, he should go.
We will offer, she agreed, but they will not accept. And we are not meant to go. I read the cards myself to ask if we were to leave with them.
He should have been with her, but he’d been out getting blood for her. She still didn’t go hunting, and he didn’t push her. They had plenty of time for her to learn everything she needed to survive. She’d been through so much and she’d done amazingly. He couldn’t ask for more.
Safia straightened her shoulders and pulled away from him. Petru stopped her, gently taking her face between his palms and tilting her head up so he could capture her mouth with his. It was brief, a kiss of encouragement and love. He brushed the curve of her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb.
“Tet vigyázam, Safia.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered back.
The light brush on his jaw reminded him of that first butterfly touch of her fingers on his skin. Every time he felt he couldn’t love her any more, he found himself overwhelmed all over again. He followed her back to the table. This time Nicu sat across from her.
He’d known Nicu for centuries. The man was very different, but he was a good man and had served the community his entire existence. He deserved a life of happiness. Petru wanted this reading to be one filled with answers just as much as Safia did. She took several breaths, clearing her mind before she handed the deck to Nicu.
Nicu didn’t look at the cards as he shuffled and split the deck into three stacks. He simply turned the top card over, still not looking at the faces. He kept his gaze on Safia.
She moistened her lips, listening to some inner voice. Once again, her palm pressed against her heart. She nodded her head. “There is avoidance and fear. That fear is growing. There is good reason for it. She believes she isn’t in danger from those around her. Although she walks on a tightrope of vulnerability, the fear isn’t that she will be harmed. She fears you will find her and she will lose control.”
She looked up at Nicu, her gaze meeting his. “She’s wrong about the danger. She’s right about the loss of control. The answer to the second question is ‘You know the truth.’ I have no idea what that means, but the goddess card believes you know the truth. Your soul knows, and you must believe in your instincts because they are always correct.”
Nicu nodded, his features grim. “Thank you, Safia. I appreciate the reading.” He indicated the cards. “They are a tremendous help. Thank your goddess for me.” He stood up and waved Benedek to the chair.
Safia cleansed the cards carefully. She was exhausted. She hadn’t done so many readings at one time, especially ones that were so important.
Do you need me to give you blood?
I just want this over. Benedek is last. I want to know as much as he does, that his lifemate is alive and well. I must be very careful not to mix my questions with his. I’m going to do a little meditation to clear my mind before I go to the table so that I give him the best reading possible.
Petru was very proud of her as she moved away from all of them into the next room. Benedek touched one of the rocks embedded in the table.
“Is she all right?”
Petru nodded. “She’s tiring and very determined to give you the truest reading possible. She doesn’t want her questions to interfere with yours. She cares very much for all of you, and this has been difficult for her.”