Clara chided. She waved her arm and the sleeve of her colorful caftan created a breeze of its own.
âYou have to admit, youâre not telling me anything you donât already know.â
With a smile, Clara turned over another card. âCrossing card is what is affecting you. Three of Cups, a betrayal of the heart.â
Jasonâs thoughts immediately turned to Kristina Marino, the woman whoâd set him up for the fall.
Heâd met her six months before his failed doping test and theyâd become inseparable. Jason, who usually had a hard time sustaining a relationship because few women understood or respected his dedication to the sport, had finally found someone who didnât resent the time his training required. Or so heâd thought. In reality, sheâd been in love with his main competitor, Rusty Small, but sheâd hidden the connection and seduced Jason, gradually adding a banned ingredient into the power shakes he consumed daily.
Kristina had confirmed Jasonâs hunch in person after Rusty dumped her for someone else. Sheâd arrived on his doorstep last month to clear her conscience. Too little, too late, and she was still completely unwilling to clear his name by confessing. Jason was left with being seen as yet another athlete proclaiming his innocence to a disbelieving world.
âYouâre going to have to do better, Clara.â Jason teased her, but she wasnât deterred.
âBottom card.â She turned it over.
Jason didnât pay much attention as she spoke about his past and what had brought him to this point in life.
âTo the left.â She revealed another card. âYourrecent past. Knight of Cups upright. You need to find your meaning again. Your holy grail, if you will. You are committed to seeking what you need for yourself,â she said.
âCare to elaborate?â he asked.
Clara smoothed her jet-black hair. âOf course not. Only you can decide what it is you need.â
âOf course.â
Ignoring his sarcasm, she moved on. âCard above. What is within your reach. Queen of Wands.â Her voice rose in excitement. âSheâs a passionate woman, impulsive, impish.â
Jason let out a chuckle, which sounded rusty even to him. Had it really been that long since heâd had a genuine laugh? âCome on, Clara. Even if I were looking, which Iâm not, every woman in town knows to steer clear of a Corwin man.â
Not that it mattered. Jason hadnât been interested in any woman since Kristina. Sheâd soured him on females for a good long while. Although he had to admit celibacy wasnât working for him.
âYou donât see me running away from the right Corwin man, do you?â Clara glanced at him through guileless eyes.
âYouâre different.â Clara and Edward had a history. She seemed to be the only one capable of drawing his reclusive uncle out of his shell.
The medications his uncle had been put on a few months ago had finally taken effect, and Edward Corwin, formerly the town recluse, had slowly begun to venture out into the world again. He was wary but trying to rebuild his life. Trying to overcome decades of ingrained fear of the Corwin Curse, which had ravaged his life. But the one thing that hadnât changed was his unwillingness to commit to Clara Deveaux. Edward was scared. Clara refused to give up on the stubborn old coot.
She grinned. âIâm no different than any woman in love. Now letâs continue. Card to the near right. High Priestess. Woman of mystery, as you can see by the red mask covering her eyes.â
He immediately thought of the red Porsche whizzing through town.
âShe represents finding things within yourself instead of looking to the outside world. Interesting weâd get the lady in the mask when tonightâs festival is a masked event.â
He rolled his eyes. âI havenât celebrated Halloween in