Dream Reader

Chapter 2: Not in the Cards?

Amethyst

Amethyst went pink with embarrassment as her Legacy of the Divine deck spilled across the grass. "Oh poop."

Sean chuckled and Amethyst realized she'd said it out loud. She blushed harder as Sean reached down to help her pick up the cards.

He was huge, taking up half the space in her tent, but also seemed the gentle giant type as he handed her a handful of cards and smiled. Amethyst took them with a mumbled, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Sean said.

Flustered, Amethyst cast about for something to say, then fell back on her professionalism. She gave Sean a serene smile. "Would you care to sit down?"

"Love to." Sean took the old wooden chair across from her. It creaked under his weight.

That was all that needed to happen at this point—the chair breaking and dropping Sean on his a**. Amethyst sent up a silent prayer to Hephaestus that the chair remained sound. "What brings you in for a reading today?"

"I want to know more about my love life." Sean's smile could have reduced the Snow Queen to a puddle.

Amethyst swallowed. "Okay. I mean—I'd be happy to do a reading regarding that for you. First, you need to choose a deck."

"What's your name?" Sean asked, and Amethyst kicked herself.

"Sorry, you're right. My name is Amethyst," Amethyst said.

"Amethyst." The way Sean rolled it around in his mouth made it sound like sweet candy.

If she weren't coming off the world's worst break-up, Amethyst knew she'd be in trouble. "So... yeah... um... deck?"

Sean leaned over the table, and the chair creaked ominously once more. "What's your favorite?"

"Oh, well... I mean... you're supposed to choose your own based on what feels right to you." Amethyst gestured to the three decks. "The one you helped me pick up is called the Legacy of the Divine deck. This one is the New Star deck. And this one is the Tarot of Transformation."

Sean's gaze never wavered off of her. "How about the Tarot of Transformation."

Amethyst blinked in surprise.

Sean c****d his head. "Did I choose wrong?"

"No! No. There's no wrong choice. It's just that men usually don't choose that deck." Amethyst picked up the deck and began to concentrate, shuffling the cards and clearing them of the energy of the little girl who she'd just read for.

"It's your favorite," Sean said with a shrug.

Amethyst nearly dropped her cards again. "H-How did you know that?!"

"Your voice changes when you say its name." Sean smiled again, and Amethyst considered fanning herself with the cards. It was suddenly very hot in the tent.

"Oh." Amethyst looked back down at the deck and continued shuffling. Then she handed the deck across the table to Sean. "Shuffle the cards, thinking of the question, issue, or topic you would like to explore today."

Sean shuffled, but the smile never left his face.

Amethyst closed her eyes and let her senses take over, drowning out the sounds of the fair, of the breeze through the tent, of the rebellious chair. There was only Sean and his question.

Unfortunately, she must have been more hot and bothered than she thought. Her vision was completely clouded by the image of the black wolf with gray eyes. Maybe it was the fact that Sean had black hair and gray eyes. The eyes were truly remarkable, much like her own behind the brown contacts she wore.

She frowned in frustration as the image of the wolf simply wouldn't be dismissed. Amethyst finally gave up the vision and decided she was going to have to rely on the cards.

"How long do I shuffle?" Sean asked, his voice filled with humor.

Poop. Amethyst peeked an eye open. "Sorry, you shuffle until the cards feel 'ready.' Some people get a warm or cold or tingly sensation..."

Sean shuffled a few more times, then laid the deck on the table. "Done."

Amethyst took the deck, taking a glance at the bottom card both for direction on how to orient the deck in her hand, as well as to see the foundation of the reading. Two of Cups—partnership or lovers. They were off to a good start. Maybe relying on the deck wouldn't be so bad after all.

Then Amethyst turned over the top card and her jaw dropped. Nine of Disks—Instinctual Wisdom.

It was the wolf card again.

*****

Sean

Sean stifled a laugh, but his grin widened. A wolf card, huh? Fate sure did have a sense of humor.

"I... uh... this... wolf..." Amethyst stuttered.

Sean realized he was missing something. Amethyst looked so pale. He reached across the table and put his hand over hers. "Hey, you okay?"

His mate swallowed several times. Then the serene, professional smile returned. "Yes, of course. Sorry."

She hadn't been expecting this particular card, Sean knew it. For some reason, it had significant meaning for her.

Amethyst pulled her hand out from under his, and turned the card around so Sean could get a good look at it from his side of the table. "This card indicates that you already have what you need. Therefore, in this context, it would suggest you've already met the person, and are ready to start a relationship."

Sean's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. He'd never had a reading for himself before. Even if he hadn't already decided readings were legit, after that revelation, he'd have never called them crap again. "Really. I'll have to look into my life and see who I've met... recently."

"Oh, it doesn't have to be recent," Amethyst said. "In fact, let's look into that."

Amethyst then pulled The Chariot. "Uh... okay, yeah. So... it's coming... quickly... yeah... you're right... probably new..."

"I kind of figured." Sean rather enjoyed seeing her flustered. He doubted her usual readings went like this.

"So... yeah... that's... that's... do you have any other questions?" Amethyst asked, visibly pulling it together.

Sean gave her his best, most sinful smile. "Can I ask you to lunch?"

"Me?!" Amethyst gulped.

"Yes. You." Sean decided they could start with lunch, then maybe dinner. Perhaps dessert later in the RV. She smelled like lilac and sage. He wondered how she tasted.

"I... it... that... um... No," Amethyst said.