What the Heart Needs

Prologue Delia’s gaze shifted to the open window and settled on the full moon. As beautiful as full moons were, they always meant one thing. Chaos. The goosebumps on her skin warned her that chaos was making its way to her home, wound in a tight little package of dynamite. While she waited for a knock on her door, she lowered her gaze to the tarot card at her fingertips. The Four of Wands stared back from the recent past position. A wreath connecting four staves resembled a floral arch at a wedding. Marriage. It coincided with the Knight of Cups in the distant past position. Proposal. The reality of what it meant warmed her heart. Dylan would tell her the good news soon. She glanced at the center cards again. The High Priestess in the first position only confirmed what Delia had known months ago. Dylan had found the one. It was the Emperor in the second position that forewarned her of what was to come. The card symbolized her ex-husband and his anger with Dylan and Heaven’s union. Knowing him the way she did, her son and future daughter-in-law would have to endure his bullshit. A rap sounded from the door. “It’s open,” she said. She touched the next card when the door clicked shut. “You shouldn’t do that, Dee,” Nate said. “It’s not safe to just invite people inside your home.” Delia traced the card under her finger before looking up. “I can sense the intentions of those coming to my door.” “I don’t doubt it,” her ex-husband grunted. “In fact, I’d tell you why I’m here, but I’m sure you already know.” “You say that like I’m a mind reader.” She focused on the sixth card in the spread. The Knight of Swords—the battle card. “I’m surprised it took you this long to seek me out.” “Hmph. If I’d come when I wanted, I’m not sure you would still be alive.” As the chain supporting her necklace tightened, she bit the inside of her cheek. His scare tactics wouldn’t work on her. Instead of giving him the response he wanted, she chuckled and glanced up. “Are you reducing yourself to parlor tricks, Nate?” The chain loosened, allowing the moonstone to fall between her breasts. Though her instinct was to rub her neck, she didn’t. Nate would see it as a sign that he’d scared her. He hadn’t. She leaned against the chair and studied him. “I can see past the shield you’ve put around yourself. If you wanted me dead, you could have done it years ago, but you can’t bring yourself to kill me.” “How far are you willing to test your faith in that theory?” he seethed, taking a step closer to the table. “Dylan will hate you for even trying.” Nate shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. He’ll hate me when he finds out what I’ve put in motion.” Delia’s eyes fluttered shut. She pressed her lips together as air expanded her lungs. “What did you do this time, Nate?” “Don’t get that condescending tone with me, Dee,” he growled. She snickered at his use of her old pet name. Some things never changed. He tried to be a hard-a*s, but his little slips proved he was anything but. She peered at him again, lifting a questioning brow. The floor vibrated enough to shake the furniture. Others would think it was an earthquake, but Delia knew Nate caused it. “You know what’s at stake.” He gripped the edge of the table. “They need to be separated. Since you won’t do anything to encourage that, I took matters into my hands.” Nate glanced at the kitchen table. “I hope he’ll understand I did this for his own good. Can you see that in your cards?” “If you’d like a reading, I’d be happy to give you one.” More chuckling bubbled in her throat when her chair began to shake. Nate and his anger. He should learn how to manage it. “I hate to spoil your great idea, but it’s too late to separate them. They’re bound.” She released a sigh of satisfaction when she noticed the fury on her ex-husband’s face. “How do you know they’re bound?” he asked. “Are you questioning my insight?” “Damn it, Dee,” Nate said as he dug his fingernails into the table. “You realize what this means, don’t you?” “Yes, I do. You chose your path. I chose mine. Now Dylan has chosen his.” Nate’s jaw dimpled as he clenched his teeth. “You told him, didn’t you?” This time, the table shook so hard, half of the cards fell to the floor. Delia observed them and then her ex-husband. “He doesn’t know about our society, if that’s what you mean, but it won’t be long until he asks questions. I’ll provide answers when he’s ready.” Nate raked his hand through his hair and glanced toward the window. “You’re aware of what will happen when she finds—” “Yes, I am, but we’re not sure if it will be him or someone else. So ask yourself this question. Is revenge worth your son’s life?” “I see where this is going.” Nate glared at her, nostrils flared. “Those traitors are a part of your scheme. You’ve been conspiring with them, haven’t you?” “No, I haven’t, but the prophecy isn’t a conspiracy. It’s happening, and our son is a part of it. Heaven’s the one.” “She will be the death of our son!” Nate slapped the table with his hands. “The music protected him. Now you’ve messed that up.” “The music didn’t do what you wanted it to, Nate. You didn’t see the pain he was in when he was dreaming about her. He’s suffered far too long. You can’t deny love or fate.” “Love?” Nate grumbled, falling back into the chair across from her. “You know nothing about love. None of you do.” “It’s what keeps me alive. It’s what will keep Heaven and Dylan alive, too.” “You have too much faith in your beliefs.” “My beliefs have never led me astray.” She slid her hand across the table until her fingertips teased compressed paper. “The cards have shown me things you are too stubborn to see.” “Those cards only show you so much.” He lowered his eyes to the ring on his finger as he slid it back and forth. “You can’t build futures on them. It didn’t work for us.” “Fate cursed us, Nate. We were the unfortunate pair of the trinity. And for your information, the cards showed me that.” His fingers left the ring as he pushed on the arms of the chair, straightening his body. “Then why did you marry me?” Delia didn’t bat a lash as she stared at Nate. Even when they’d divorced all those years ago, he’d never asked her this question. She’d always wanted him to. It would have proved that they meant something to each other, and that cursed or not, Fate had a purpose for their joining. A good purpose. “I wanted a child, Nate. The cards showed me Dylan, that he would be special, just like me. Just like you.” Nate tapped his fingers together in front of his face. The tips pressed and parted a couple of times before he looked at her. “So, whose abilities did he get? Yours or mine?”