Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,41

eyebrows went up. “Dare I ask how Tura gave you the message she wants you to deliver?”

Nonchalantly, I sipped my coffee. “She kissed me.”

“Hmm.” Carly smiled knowingly and inhaled the steam from her tea. “It must be a very special message.”

“Soooooo…does Sean know you made out with a female angel?” Malcolm asked finally.

“We did not make out, Malcolm. Her lips touched mine. It was like kissing a mannequin. End of story.” I pointed at the cards. “Anything else?”

Carly was quiet for a moment. “I think the final card has more to do with your return than what you may find while you’re there. Did you receive a prophecy from Tura as well?”

When I didn’t reply right away, she added, “I know you didn’t want me to know your sorcerer magic is killing you, partly because you don’t really believe her, and partly because you don’t like to give your friends a reason to worry. I’ve meditated and prayed about this, and asked my spirit guides for answers. I believe I should tell you I’ve seen the same thing more than once when I read my cards. I’ve also seen the possibility of another path, one you find only through sacrifice, which is why I struggled with whether to tell you. This card—” She tapped the seven of swords “—tells me you will face violence on your return—violence you’ve already been warned about.”

“Yeah, I got that warning from Tura.” I finished the last of my coffee and set the cup on the table a little louder than was necessary. “She told me soon I would have to choose between Sean’s life and my own, and when that happens, I should choose my own. If I did, she said I would save him—that I’d save them all, whatever that means. She didn’t deign to explain further before she turned into a pillar of light and sent me back to your living room. I haven’t told Sean about that because I have no intention of sacrificing him, no matter what Tura said. I’ll find another way.”

When she didn’t say anything, I sighed. “You’ve never steered me wrong yet, Carly; I know that. I trust you and your cards. If you tell me this is what I’m supposed to do, I’ll give it more thought than if it was only Tura’s word, but there’s always a third option, another door to choose.”

“And if there isn’t, you’ll kick a hole in the wall.” Carly smiled. “Nothing’s ever as simple as some people make it sound, even angels. What were her exact words?”

I closed my eyes and thought. “She told me when I had to choose between my life or Sean’s to choose my own. By doing so I would save him—I would save them all.”

“Interesting.” She sipped her tea thoughtfully. “So she didn’t say you had to sacrifice Sean, or even that he would die—just that you should choose your life over his. So maybe what I’m seeing is a totally different event, one that forces you to make a sacrifice to find a new path. What that sacrifice is, however, I’m not sure.”

“A sacrifice, huh? Awesome. Something else to look forward to.” I hesitated, then added, “Not to change the subject, but before I forget, Sean says Morgan Clark has been sleeping with Charles Vaughan.”

For the first time since I’d met her, Carly looked totally nonplussed. I’d thought nothing could possibly render her speechless, but apparently finding out her onetime coven sister and current quasi-nemesis was shagging a member of the Vampire Court was a total shock.

“Well, that’s certainly a match made in somewhere,” she said finally. She gathered up her cards, wrapped them in the purple silk, and tucked them back into her apron pocket. “No doubt she’s using him and he’s using her. Vampires like witch blood, and black witches like power. I’m not sure which of them to pray for, so I will pray for both.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Let me go get those party favors from my office. You want more coffee to go?”

“Yes, please.”

We slid out of the booth. She took my cup to the counter and asked Katy to refill it, then disappeared into the back.

I added half-and-half and sugar to my coffee while I waited. Carly came out of the office with a tote bag. She gave me a hug and handed me the bag. “Be safe on your journey, both of you. I’ll be thinking of you. And I’ll keep an eye