She turned over the first one; Bethan knew who the card depicted. The young woman had red hair cascading over her breasts. All she wore was a crown with a waning crescent embedded into it, and—

The Amulet of Pele.

Never had Bethan seen the Maiden depicted wearing the Amulet of Pele. Perhaps it was an expression of the artist’s creativity. She would have to look into that later.

‘The Maiden card usually insinuates you are a daughter of the Maiden, as all witches are, but sometimes it could mean the goddess is trying to speak to you. Perhaps she is telling you that you are going in the right direction.’

Bethan grimaced, knowing it would tell her nothing, give her no new information, but she did it anyway. She was stupid to believe in the ‘Mystic magic.’ She knew Selene was coming from a nice place, but she couldn’t help but feel scammed by the vague answers.

‘Turn over the next card, darling.’

And Bethan did.

The next card depicted a regal king of some sort seated on on an elevated throne made of bones.

Selene hummed knowingly. ‘This one is calling at me differently; while it only shows one king, you are going to come across three; you must only trust the right ones. Because two are destined for greatness, while the other has stolen his fate.’

Bethan doubted she would meet kings anytime soon; she was already dealing with a prince. Besides, there were only two queens on the thrones in the fae courts. No kings yet.

‘Bethan, the final card.’

She turned it over. A painted hooded man was on the card, surrounded by lurking shadows. Half his face hid underneath a crimson hood.

‘The Unseen,’ she murmured. ‘It has a double meaning. The Unseen is typically a person in your life, but it is also known as the card of death.’

Bethan blanched.

‘Don’t worry. It could be signifying your past with your sister. But I think it makes more sense that something is being kept from you.’

‘That’s incredibly vague, Selene.’

‘The cards don’t carry the specifics, but if you want to relate it to the search, it could mean that something is missing in your research.’

The only thing missing was Lenovik’s papers. It had to be that.

‘Do you know if the Unseen was a real person?’

Julius did say the Unseen one was likely the head of the Adelian. Bethan contemplated if the Adelian was more cult-like than political and that the Unseen was a figurehead they worshipped.

Selene shook her head. ‘He is more a symbol than a person. A signifier of true power.’

‘But it is the card of death.’

‘Isn’t death the most powerful thing?’

Bethan supposed it was.

‘You can do what you want with the two other cards, but if the Maiden is leading you somewhere. I implore you to listen to her.’

***