Page 83 of Death Card

When I release him, he shifts his gaze to Aria. “I want to apologize. I really thought the worst of you. I shouldn’t have tried to break into your head at the bookstore.”

Aria sniffs. “You’re right, you shouldn’t have. I’ll always hold a grudge against you for that.” Orion’s forehead furrows, but Aria cracks a smile. “That was a joke. I forgive you. Look, I’m not an idiot. I know how it appears from the outside. My coven has blood on its hands, and we’re not completely innocent.”

“Do you think that could ever change?” I ask. “Things could be very different between us someday if the sacrifice ends.”

Aria blinks as if she’s pondering something. “Maybe, but not anytime soon.”

I nod. She’s not in the same position as I am. Gloria still makes the rules. Only time will tell what the future holds for our two covens.

“How did things go with our grandparents?” I ask, gesturing to the group up ahead. “Gloria and Gramps? Did they call a truce?”

“For now.”

The trees open up just ahead. A line of vehicles is parked on the shoulder. Everyone begins to disperse and head back to the city. Aria bids us goodbye, climbing into a Jeep with other Hightower witches. Joelle digs the toe of her shoe into the dirt, looking anywhere but at me.

I lift my brows, silently pleading for Orion to give us a moment. He smirks, getting the message loud and clear.

Once we’re alone, I take her hand, letting our arms dangle in between us. Her fingers are crusted with dried blood, but I don’t mind.

“So…I know that was a lot.”

“ ‘A lot’ is an understatement. I killed you.”

I reach up to tuck a fuzzy, dirt-crusted braid behind my ear. “You were always meant to. There was no other ending than the one fate wrote for us. But that’s all in the past now.” As if it didn’t happen less than an hour ago. “I hope you can understand why I kept so much from you.”

Her cheeks flush. “You let me go on and on this whole time about my fascination with witches and magic, knowing that you’re an actual witch! How could you?” She covers her face with her free hand. “I’m so embarrassed. I probably sounded ridiculous. I acted like I’ve done all this research, but in reality, I have no idea what I’m talking about.”

I peel her fingers away so I can see those gorgeous eyes of hers. “It was adorable,” I say. “Although I have to admit I was scared you’d be jealous once you found out about my abilities.”

“I am, but I’m also amazed by how much of a freaking badass you are!” She squeezes my hands and gestures back where we came from. “Orion said you knew all of that was going to happen. That you had a vision when we first met.”

I nod. “I promise I’ll explain everything eventually, but can I be completely honest?”

“Yeah?”

I cup her face with both hands. “Right now, all I want to do is kiss you.”

The tinkle of her laugh is like music to my ears. “Finally! Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to kiss you? All it took was demon possession and murder.”

I glance down at my feet. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Just kiss me.”

When our lips touch, it’s the most magical thing that’s happened tonight.

Epilogue

August 28, 2026

Two months later…

I shut thedoor behind my last customer of the day, sagging against the wood. Today was a particularly rough one. Every single person who graced this room seemed to be plagued with awful personal problems. I received visions of abusive husbands, sick children, and one particularly strange case of a man searching for the whereabouts of his lost pigeon.

My whole day has been spent acting as a sort of quasi therapist for the sad, lost souls who come to Zeke’s looking for answers. Thank God we decided to close the shop early today. I don’t think I have any more advice left in me to give.

Before I tuck my cards away, I shuffle the deck and pull one from the top. Of course this is the one I ended up with. I can’t help but laugh.

There’s a quick knock at the door before Joelle pokes her head in. She’s dressed in a sleek black maxi dress with low pumps, while I wear all white. “Busy?” she asks.