Page 12

Twelve

DRAVEN

E lm and I walked through Thistlegrove Forest. Dew drops sparkled on the leaves and branches in the morning sun, and our boots sunk into the damp dirt. Thick knotted trees surrounded us, their canopies sweeping, their leaves slowly changing from stark green to the oranges, yellows, and reds of fall. This early in the morning, I could see my breath puffing out in front of me.

I didn’t want to be here with Elm. I wanted to be home in my apartment, ignoring everyone and everything and working on my spell. I still couldn’t figure out where I’d gone wrong with it. That mug had almost killed Elspeth—not that I would’ve cried over her demise.

But I couldn’t have my mugs scaring away patrons. It wouldn’t do. I hadn’t had time to work on it this morning because I’d been trying to bond with Georgie. Which, of course, had ended in disaster. Like it did every time I tried to connect with my younger sister.

She’d been sitting in a chair by the window of our apartment, reading a book while Edgar was curled up next to her. I’d asked her what she was reading, and she told me it was about a woman who was a vigilante. Then she’d said the woman reminded her of Elspeth.

That had immediately set me off. Elspeth wasn’t a vigilante. She was an obnoxious, judgmental woman. Of course Georgie had defended her. Only because it delighted her that Elspeth had insulted me so thoroughly. She didn’t even know the woman. I reminded Georgie how naive she could be, which was possibly the worst thing I could’ve said.

After that, she’d stormed out of the apartment, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything, especially not a spell. So here I was. With Elm.

“You know, you didn’t have to come with me,” my friend said from next to me. He pushed his curly black hair from his forehead.

I cleared my throat. “Well, it is my damn cottage. So I should probably see what they’re doing with it.”

He laughed. “That cottage has sat unattended for years since the previous owner died. I don’t think they could possibly make it any worse. At the very least, this should stop Thistlegrove residents from demanding you tear it down.”

That cottage was apparently as grumpy as the witch who’d owned it.

“How long is this going to take?” I asked Elm.

He side-eyed me. “Once again, I didn’t ask you to come along. You can go back to town anytime.”

I snorted. I didn’t trust these Moonflowers. Especially not after meeting Elspeth. She was exactly the type of judgmental witch I abhorred. The type of witch who’d judge Georgie for her past actions if she knew about them. She and her family were also clearly not well off, and I had this sneaking suspicion her sister was using Elm.

“Just say it.” Elm ducked under a low-hanging branch.

“Say what?” I said.

“You’re worried about their intentions. With me.”

I stepped over a fallen tree. “Aren’t you?”

“No,” Elm said honestly. “Adelaide is good. She’s kind and sweet... and I think I may be falling for her.”

My head snapped in his direction. “You just met the woman two days ago.” I shoved a hand through my hair. “Witch’s tits, Elm.”

Elm sighed heavily. “I’m a grown man, Draven.” Elm pushed aside a sheath of vines hanging down. “I don’t need you to protect me from anything.”

He was right, but I had a bad feeling about all of this. Something was off about these witches, how they’d just happened to run into Elm at the market, then invited him for a meal and disappeared after he’d offered to forage food for them. Then their cart somehow broke down and so did their tent. So of course Elm stepped in to offer them lodging.

“If they were going to take advantage of me, why wouldn’t they have accepted my offer to stay at the inn?” Elm asked. “I told you that Elspeth refused.”

“Probably because she’s so damn stubborn,” I muttered.

“And not a very good con artist,” Elm said.

I stepped forward as a body barreled into me, knocking me a few steps to the side.

“Oh!”

I looked down to see a pretty witch staring up at me with large brown eyes. Her wavy brown hair fell past her shoulders. She brought her hands to her cheeks.

“Auggie,” Elm said.

I looked between him and the woman. “Do you know each other?”

Elm gestured to the young woman, who carried a basket full of herbs and plants. “This is Auggie Moonflower.”

Another one of them. Auggie looked younger than her sisters. If I had to guess, I’d say Elspeth and Adelaide were in their late twenties, maybe early thirties, whereas Auggie looked to be in her early twenties, shorter and curvier than her other sisters.

“Elm! Are you headed to the cottage?” Auggie strode forward and looped her arm through his.

“Yes, and I brought a friend.” He gestured to me. “Auggie, meet Draven Darkstone.”

“Ah.” A knowing look glinted in her eyes. “So you’re the one who got under Elspeth’s skin.”

My jaw locked, and Elm coughed into his hand, though it sounded suspiciously like a laugh. He lowered his hand. “Sorry, got something caught in my throat.”

I glared at him as they began walking, and I followed behind.

“How is the cottage treating you?” Elm asked.

Auggie shuddered. “It’s horrid. I can’t believe Elspeth turned down your offer to let us stay at the inn. Maybe just some of us could go stay there?”

I stiffened .

“Ah.” Elm scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t want to get in the middle of family matters.”

“Pity,” Auggie said, a whine to her voice. “So are you coming to visit the cottage... or Adelaide?”

There was silence for a moment, then Elm said, “Am I so obvious?”

Auggie giggled, the sound tinkling like bells. “Maybe just a little.”

“Well, I might as well play my full hand, then. What can I do to win over your sister?”

Witch Superior. I was just going to have to stand back and watch this debacle unfold. Elm was right. He was a grown man, and if he wanted to pursue this Adelaide Moonflower, there wasn’t much I could do to stop him. But hopefully I could be a voice of reason.

“Buy her something!” Auggie said.

Of course that was her response, and exactly why I was wary of this entire situation. If Adelaide had true feelings for Elm, he shouldn’t have to buy her affections. She should like my friend for who he was and not because of the things he could offer. I clamped my mouth shut, forcing myself to bite my tongue. Speaking out now would only make things worse.

“Like what?” Elm asked.

“Anything!” Auggie spread out her arms, her basket jangling. “Jewelry, pretty dresses.” She gasped. “Shoes!”

Elm laughed. “Okay, okay, I get the point. I’ll try and think of something she’d like.”

This was madness. Elm couldn’t seriously be falling for this. The more I knew about these Moonflowers, the surer I was that they were trouble.

My boots crunched over leaves scattered across the forest floor as we neared the cottage. We should be there soon.

“So what type of potions did you all sell?” Elm asked.

“Oh, you know, just the usual tonics that apothecary shops carry. Ones for healing of the mind, body, and spirit. Mama is an excellent potions master.”

“Well, it sounds like you all are,” Elm said. “Adelaide told me that your mama trained all of you.”

Auggie cleared her throat. “Yes.” Her voice came out strangled and high-pitched .

She was hiding something. I knew it. I was right about these Moonflowers.

We emerged through a tree line as Adelaide and a shorter, plump woman with gray hair emerged from the house.

“Oh, Elm!” The shorter woman waved at my friend. I assumed she was the Moonflower matriarch.

She picked up her skirts and ran toward us, splashing through the little brook that ran in front of the cottage. She arrived in front of us, out of breath and smiling up at Elm with adoration in her eyes.

“I’m so happy you’re here. We just love this little cottage.” The cottage door snapped shut, right onto the skirt of Adelaide’s dress.

“It’s no problem, Thea,” Elm said, taking her hands in his.

“Adelaide,” Thea called. “Elm is here!”

Adelaide pulled at her skirt, still stuck in the door.

“Mama, Elm wants to buy Adelaide something!” Auggie burst out. “Isn’t that so romantic?”

Pink tinged Elm’s cheeks. “Well, I... thought that might be between us.”

“How wonderful!” Thea clapped her hands together. “Oh, Adelaide would love that.”

Enough was enough. This woman was just as bad as her daughters. Didn’t she see how inappropriate this was? I stepped forward, in between Thea and Elm.

Thea looked up at me, her green eyes assessing. “And who is this?”

“It’s Draven Darkstone,” Auggie said with glee.

Thea’s eyes widened in understanding. “Oh.” She took in my attire, her gaze lingering on my leather boots, my spotless black trousers, my white silk shirt. I wore fine clothes for someone who owned a tavern, and I had a feeling Thea Moonflower was more than aware of it. “Well, Mr. Darkstone, welcome. As you can see, the cottage is a little worse for wear, but we’re well on our way to getting it back in shape.”

Elm clapped a hand on my shoulder, drawing me back so that I stood next to him. “You’re doing a wonderful job. I just wanted to see if I could help with anything.”

“Oh, no!” Thea shook her head, her gray curls bouncing. “We couldn’t ask such a thing of you. It’s enough that you’re coming to visit my Adelaide.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “If you need ideas about any certain gifts you could buy for her, I’m happy to help.”

Auggie skipped off toward the house with her basket. I’d seen enough to know that my suspicions were right. Elm might not see through their little act. But I did, and I’d do everything I could to protect him from making a huge mistake.

The door swung open, finally releasing Adelaide. She stumbled forward, and yet another Moonflower appeared. Elspeth. And she was staring directly at me.