When Violet went to flip it over, it flew up into the air, spun, and slapped back down directly in front of me. There was a collective gasp among the women, but I just stared down at my fate.

“Wow,” said Violet. “That one had some emotional power behind it. The Chariot. That’s interesting. Control. Willpower. There will be success in your action.” She reached for the card, which slid away from me on its own until it stopped in front of her. Magic sparked the air with sizzling energy. She placed one finger on top of it and closed her eyes. “Yes. Definite success. But only if your determination and will matches genuine intentions. Otherwise, you’ll lose.” Her eyes sparked an electric green as she seemed to stare straight into my soul. “Hear me, Stygorn. You’ll lose.”

I swallowed hard, mouth gone bone-dry at the thought of losing Isadora. I was more than determined in keeping her safe, in making her mine. So what the hell did that mean?

“Well,” said Isadora, “we know he’s determined to catch this kidnapper, so that should be easy enough.”

“You’re right, sis,” Violet said evenly, ethereal gaze boring into mine, telling me she knew what goal I was after. “Should be easy enough for a Stygorn who knows what he could lose if he fails. You best be all in, vampire.”

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering like mad. I’d thought of possessing Isadora’s body. I hadn’t thought of her owning me instead. But that’s what this felt like. Over three centuries, no one had entranced me like she did. And without even trying. Some part of her spoke to some part of me. And I hadn’t realized it until Violet asked me to think of my heart’s goal. Not on this level.

Fortunately, Ruben stepped in at that very moment, breaking the awkward moment between Violet and me. And Isadora, who had no idea what was really going on. The Seer witch knew, though. And she was warning me to be careful. To understand that I could fail if my intentions weren’t true. I wanted Isadora. There was no doubt. Was that not true enough? Not according to the blue-haired witch who still had her cat eyes fixed on me.

“Apparently, I missed something interesting,” said Ruben.

Isadora piped up. “According to Violet, Devraj’s goal to catch the kidnapper will be successful.”

Violet shuffled the cards and arched a brow at me.

“Is that so?” asked Ruben. “Then we don’t need my reading, do we?”

“Sit down, Ruben.” Violet fanned the cards in front of her.

I moved to lean against the bookcase next to Isadora, letting Ruben have my place. The candles flared when Ruben sat. Magic reacted strangely to the elements. Or maybe the elements reacted strangely to magic. A vampire’s was an aggressive, intrusive sort of magic, so it didn’t surprise me when the wind shifted angrily. Especially in the presence of three witches so attuned with the elements. There was a palpable undercurrent of energy humming in the room.

Violet flattened her palms on either side of the fanned deck and looked at Ruben. “As I told Devraj, you’ll pull three cards. One for personal self. One for professional. And one for your heart’s goal to catch the kidnapper.”

“Easy enough,” he rumbled pleasantly, pulling at the cuff of his starched shirt. He wore only a deep red vest, no jacket. His silver skull cufflinks winked by the candlelight.

“So you say,” mumbled Violet. “Pick a card.”

Ruben appeared poised and smooth as always, but the narrowing of his gaze on the cards like they might be the enemy revealed he wasn’t quite as calm as he appeared. He tapped a card with his index finger.

Violet flicked her hand, flipping it telekinetically.

“Oh, dear.” She bit back the smile overtaking her face. “The Emperor, reversed. That means domination, excessive control, inflexibility.”

Jules coughed, nearly blowing out one of the candles before righting herself with a serious smile on her face. Ruben’s gaze grew darker, his blue eyes more the color of midnight.

“That doesn’t bode well, now does it?” he commented easily, even as he clenched his jaw.

“Well, yes and no, actually,” said Violet, reaching out and flattening her palm over the card, fixing her attention on it, concentrating, listening to her magic. “It’s true, you can be inflexible. Domineering.” Her voice vibrated with a haunting sort of echo. “But it’s only because you are unfulfilled. Frustrated.” She removed her hand to her lap, her voice going back to normal. “Once you’re fulfilled, you’ll be balanced again. Though you’ll never lose the dominant factor.”

Ruben said nothing. Nor did he look at Jules when I knew he wanted to. He gestured toward the deck. “Shuffle.”

Violet grinned. “See? Domineering.”

Ruben blew out a heavy sigh. Violet and Isadora laughed. Jules didn’t.

When Violet stopped moving the cards in a circle on the table, he reached over and flipped over a card himself. Yes. Definitely domineering.

Then I couldn’t hold back a chuckle at the card.

“Emperor again,” said Violet. “This time upright. You’re quite the leader, Ruben. The Emperor is so dominant in your house. This shows you to be authoritative in your professional self. A sort of father figure to many. Role model and well-respected.”

He made no comment, but the aura of anger eased around him.

“That’s no surprise, though,” she murmured. “But now the last one. Your heart’s goal. To catch the kidnapper, mind you.”

Ruben’s gaze sharpened on her. “No need to remind me, darling.”

“Just checking.” She shuffled without touching the deck, spinning the cards on the flat surface with a swirl of her finger. When they settled flat, she gestured with a dip of her chin. “Pick one.”

He leaned forward and tapped one on the outer edge. She flipped it to reveal The Tower.

It was a tower on fire, flames pouring from the windows, lightning flashing in the sky, and a woman falling.

“This means there will be an upheaval and great chaos. But also, revelation and awakening.” She frowned before saying, “Yes, I believe you will get him.”

“We will get the evidence we need for a conviction? We’ll find the girls?” Ruben snapped.

“I’m sure.” She gestured down at the cards. “But it may not play out exactly how you plan.”

That had my gut tightening. I didn’t want any surprises, especially when Isadora was involved. I’d be more than diligent and prepared that night.

“Has he killed any of the women?” asked Ruben. “Can you at least tell me that?”

“I can ask,” she said, arching her brow as a warning of sorts. Ruben’s aggression was spilling into the room.

Violet closed her eyes and raised her palms facing out. The pull of magic sharpened, a firm pressure building in the room, pressing on my chest. She inhaled deeply. The candle flames all leaned toward her, as if the fire were drawn to her. She whispered in French, an old incantation, calling to the elemental spirits.

The tattoo of the High Priestess on her forearm shivered and rippled, looking as if it moved. Did the inked High Priestess blink her eyes? Isadora gasped, also staring at the strange phenomenon. Then Violet popped open her eyes, burning bright green, then set her hands in her lap. The candle flames righted themselves.

“No,” she said. “The girls are all alive.”

Ruben and I both exhaled with relief at the same time.

He gave me a nod and stood. “Thank you, Violet.” He tugged on the cuffs of his shirt. “That’s more than I could ask for.” He glanced down at Jules. “Does that meet your satisfaction?”

She held his gaze then nodded.

“Good evening then.”

Jules said nothing, having been extremely quiet this whole time.

“Devraj, if you’ll join me,” said Ruben as he walked out.

I stood and couldn’t help but brush a hand on Isadora’s shoulder as I passed. “Goodnight.”

She gave me a small smile, but that was it. I wondered if I’d made her seriously angry by interfering with her awful date. That’s what was spinning through my mind when Ruben and I made it outside and he stopped on the porch.

“I don’t like the card’s reading that there will be chaos. We’ll need to plan for every possibility.”

“Agreed. As long as I’m on the team following the trace when they take Isadora.”

“I understand,” he said, glancing back at the house.

“And have your men had any luck tracking him?”

“No. I knew that would come to nothing. I have two men watching the Bellingrath estate, but Blake seems very wary. We haven’t caught sight of him at all, going in or out.”

He glanced once more toward the house, unable to hide the intensity of his expression.

“Why don’t you just tell her?”

He huffed a sad laugh. “She knows.”

“Does she? I mean, truly?”

He locked on me for a second before heaving out a sigh. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Like hell, it doesn’t.”

“Goodnight, Dev.” Then he traced away, leaving me on the porch alone.

Ruben might be content to leave well enough alone, but I wasn’t. Especially after that peculiar reading from Violet, her words making me sicker by the second as I walked to my home next door.

He knows what he could lose if he fails.

Pretty, lovely, wonderful Isadora.

“Then I won’t lose,” I vowed, more determined than ever.

Chapter 23

~ISADORA~

When I picked out my dress for date number two, I wondered if Devraj would’ve liked it. I wondered if he’d happen to be at the Cauldron tonight like last time. Then I had to admit to myself that I liked him watching out for me. Or maybe I just liked him watching me. And that was bad. Dangerous. I kept telling myself I couldn’t hook up with him again. He was too…too Devraj.

I stood at the end of the bar next to Charlie while JJ tended to customers. Meeting at the Cauldron gave me a sense of security that calmed my nerves.