Page 84 of Death Card

I shake my head, holding up my card in answer.

“The Lovers?” she sidles up next to me, pulling me in close and kissing my neck. “Whoever could that be referring to?”

In answer, I plant my lips firmly on hers, drinking her in and losing myself in the kiss. If you’d asked me at the beginning of the summer whether dating Joelle was in my future, I would’ve shouted a resoundingNO!Even after the veil dropped and she became fully integrated into the coven, I wouldn’t have bet even a dollar that she’d stick around. I always assumed magic was too much for mortals to comprehend. Like the hateful trio, all they would ever see is power that was out of their reach.

But I should’ve known Joelle would be different. Getting an inside peek at New Orleans’s occult underbelly is euphoric for her academic soul. It’s more than any of her professors could ever offer her. Although, she still plans to soak up everything they teach this semester. As for helping her mother, she’s been working with Miss Connie on a healing potion to send back home.

“We should go,” she gasps, pulling back to suck in a breath. “Zeke told us not to be late, and he wasn’t messing around.”

“We won’t be,” I murmur, dipping back in for another kiss.

“Nope, nope.” She shimmies out of my grasp and leans against the doorframe. “Your brother’s waiting for us. We really have to go.”

“Ugh, fine.” I lock up the back room, and we stroll to the front, where Orion’s waiting.

He’s dressed sharply in black pants with a freshly pressed black button-down shirt. His tie hangs loose around his neck, and I walk over to tie it for him without being asked.

“I really think we should’ve gotten one of the part-timers tokeep the place open till evening,” he grumbles. “The streets are still buzzing.”

“It’s New Orleans,” I say. “It’s always going to be busy. Closing the shop is a sign of respect.”

“Okay, but when Gramps goes over the numbers at the end of the quarter—”

“He’ll understand,” I finish, patting his chest. “Let’s go.”

We pause outside to admire the sign Joelle pinned up in the window.In Remembrance.The faces of those we’ve lost line the bottom. My gaze sticks to Chris—the youngest of the victims. Death comes for everyone, but I still wish it hadn’t stolen so many people I loved. Out of the corner of my eye, Orion wipes his face. They may be gone, but they’ll never be forgotten.

Orion unlocks the door of our old Honda, and we climb in. The engine rattles to life, but Orion and I both ignore it. We’re playing a game of chicken to see who’ll fork up the money to have it looked at first.

The car is silent the entire ride to the rec center. Orion doesn’t even turn on the radio. I know without needing to read his mind that my brother’s still worried about business. Gramps handed the reins over to him last month, partially retiring from running the magic shop in order to focus all his efforts on the election this fall.

To the surprise of everyone, Orion’s thrived with the responsibility, but it’s still difficult for him not to think he’s letting Gramps down. If only he could see how Gramps admires him when he isn’t looking.

“What are you doing afterward?” I ask him, anything to get him out of the thought spiral he’s sunken into.

“Oh, Andrew and I are going to Baton Rouge this weekend.”He shakes his head. “He got us tickets to some god-awful country festival.”

Joelle smirks, leaning between the front seats. “It’s not about the music; it’s about the quality time you get with him.”

“I know.” He gives her a gentle smile. “I’m not complaining, but we should take bets on whether I’ll be the only Black person there.”

We all shudder and laugh at the thought.

My brother has finally settled down, in more ways than one.

We pull into the parking lot, edging into one of the last open spots. All of us hoof it around the front of the rec center, filing into line with the rest of the coven. Normally, there would be basketball practice today, but Gramps reserved the gym for the ceremony.

Inside, black and white balloons are strung up around the room. Folding chairs are arranged in rows, leaving an empty space near the front, where a short stage has been set up. Bouquets of flowers sit in vases along the front as white candles burn atop a low table. Gramps stands near the front with his hands clasped behind his back. He and Aunt Roberta have their heads bowed as they speak in hurried whispers.

Joelle squeezes my hand and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Good luck,” she murmurs before she and Orion join Lizzie and Malik.

Aunt Roberta waves me to the front once she spots me. Her hug nearly steals my breath away. “I’m so proud of you,” she says. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about college, though.”

Her entire face lights up when I tell her, “My applications are going out in November.”

“Don’t hog the girl,” Gramps says, shooing Aunt Robertaaway. He studies me with a closed expression, but the slight wobble of his lip betrays his emotions. “Your grandmother would’ve loved to see this moment.”

“She’s watching,” I say. “Gran’s always with me.”