Page 2

Two

ELSPETH

W e sat around the fire, more clouds rolling in and covering the sun, the air still chilly. Orange, brown, and yellow leaves scattered across the ground, showing signs of the transition from summer to fall. Soon, winter would be upon us. I rubbed my hands together and blew into them.

A small cast-iron pot sat on a grate over the fire with a simple veggie stew bubbling in it. Adelaide had made it. She was our cook—and a very good one.

Everyone ate, except me and Auggie: Auggie because she was peppering the werewolf with questions. Me because my stomach was churning with anxiety.

“Where did you get this fine vest?” Auggie placed her hand on Elm’s arm, and I didn’t miss the way she squeezed his bicep.

Elm shifted on the ground, darting glances at Adelaide. He couldn’t keep his eyes off my older sister. Auggie remained oblivious, as usual.

Prue held a book in one hand, ladling soup into her mouth with the other, paying no attention to any of us.

“Auggie, let the poor man eat,” Mama said, batting her long lashes at him .

And she wondered where Auggie got it from. Mama was just as bad as my younger, far too impressionable, sister.

“It’s okay. Really.” Elm set down his bowl of soup and scooted over, putting distance between him and Auggie. He gestured to his clothes. “I had this made by my tailor.”

I stiffened as he confirmed what I already knew: that he had money. That he was important. Auggie reached out and ran a finger over the brown vest he wore, thick and probably lined with wool. Maroon trim lined the vest, matching his maroon undershirt with its long sleeves. His black pants showed no signs of wear or dirt, and they were tucked into fine leather boots. He shouldn’t be here. Didn’t everyone understand how dangerous this could be for us? The wealthiest were all connected, and everyone who lived here answered to Witch Superior, whether they were witches or not. She was the coven leader of the Witchlands and the one person who could force me and my sisters to leave if she discovered our secret. Or worse, she could burn us at the stake, a fate meant for criminals. And it wasn’t just any fire Witch Superior used—but her deadly hellfire, which I was told differed from regular fire in that it kept witches from passing out from the smoke, keeping them alive as they burned and suffered horrible deaths.

My throat went dry at the thought. “What are you doing here?” I asked abruptly, everyone’s wide eyes turning on me. “I don’t see many werewolves in the Witchlands,” I clarified quickly.

“Half werewolf, actually,” Elm said. “Half witch. I live here permanently.”

“Elspeth, are you not going to eat?” Mama asked, raising a painted eyebrow. She’d lost hers when a spell had gone wrong, the potion exploding in her face and taking her eyebrows—permanently.

“I’m not very hungry,” I said, stirring my soup.

“Oh great, so we’ll have to deal with her being even grumpier.” Auggie flipped her hair over her shoulder.

I forced a smile and took a small sip of my soup, the food tasting like ash in my mouth. I needed to get rid of Elm as fast as possible. We couldn’t risk him finding out my sisters and I didn’t have magic.

“So, Elm,” Auggie said, laying a hand on his knee. “What brings you to this part of the Witchlands?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “Visiting a good friend, actually. Are you all from these parts? I haven’t heard of the Moonflowers, but then again, there’s always new families popping up around here.”

“No,” I said curtly before Auggie could answer and spill all our secrets.

Mama shot me a look that said “be nice.”

Auggie waved her hand in my direction. “Ignore her. She gets grumpy when she doesn’t eat.” She cocked her head. “Actually, she’s grumpy all the time.”

I clamped my mouth shut as Adelaide’s eyes crinkled in concern. Prue, as usual, paid no attention to any of us, so enraptured by her book despite the fact that she’d read it at least five times by now.

“Adelaide,” Elm said.

My eldest sister straightened, tucking a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear as she met Elm’s gaze.

“I noticed your wand earlier.” He cleared his throat. “The engravings are beautiful. Who made that for you?”

Adelaide touched her apron pocket absently, the wand sticking out from it. “My father,” she said quietly. “He carved each of our wands for us when we were born.”

“Really?” Elm leaned forward, resting an elbow on his knee and forcing Auggie to withdraw her hand. “He must’ve been a talented woodsmith.”

While Elm’s face brightened, Adelaide’s tightened, a frown growing. “He was. He wrote his own spells to make wonderful creations from wood.”

“Is he here?” Elm looked around our campsite as if my father might suddenly appear from the woods in the distance.

“No,” I said, voice hard. “And we have to be going soon.”

“Elspeth!” Mama admonished. “Mr. Kingsley hasn’t even finished eating his soup.”

I stood, accidentally kicking my bowl. It lurched to the side, soup spilling all over the ground.

“What is wrong with her?” Auggie asked.

Prue lowered her book. “Well, she’s probably tired of hearing you talk all the time.”

Auggie scoffed as Prue raised her book back over her eyes.

“Girls.” Mama’s eyes widened meaningfully .

“It’s no trouble, Thea,” Elm said to my mama, but his gaze was trained on Adelaide, who was looking straight at me.

My heart pounded in my chest, past memories flooding me. My father. His betrayal. Everyone else who’d betrayed us. It was a miracle we were still in the Witchlands, that we hadn’t been forced to leave.

“Oh no.” Adelaide looked down, her bowl now turned on its side, the contents spilling everywhere.

“Why is everyone so clumsy today?” Auggie drew her bowl closer to her. “I’m not sharing any of mine.”

“We know,” Prue said from behind her book.

“I’m so sorry about them,” Mama said to Elm, but his gaze remained on Adelaide, brows pinched.

“Are you still hungry?” he asked, tipping his head toward the forest. “I know Thistlegrove Forest well. I can forage some mushrooms and berries for you if you’d like.” He tapped his nose. “I have a good sense of smell.”

Adelaide waved away his words. “No, that won’t be necessary?—”

“Yes,” I burst out, a plan forming in my mind. I strode past the fire and grabbed Elm’s arm, helping him to his feet. He towered over me. “That would be lovely. Thank you so much for the kind offer.”

“Elspeth,” my mother hissed. “He does not need to forage for us. He’s our guest.”

“It would really be so helpful,” I said to him.

“It’s not a problem,” he said to Mama. “Really. I don’t mind at all.” His gaze flicked to Adelaide again. I let go of his arm, and he backed away. “I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he turned and walked in long strides toward the forest in the distance. I waited until he disappeared behind the tree line and then stomped out the fire.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” I said as I grabbed the bowl of soup from Auggie’s hand and dumped it.

“Hey!” Auggie whined.

“What has gotten into you?” Mama asked. “First, you try to turn away a perfectly good customer, and now you’re treating Elm abominably. Honestly, it’s no wonder you’re not married by now. Is this how you treat every man you come across?”

I ignored her, grabbing everyone’s bowls and stacking them. They’d have to be washed later when we found a new campsite. One far away from here.

“We’re leaving,” I said, stalking toward the cart and placing the bowls in a basket that sat right by the back door. I walked around the side and lifted the countertop, which hinged upward and latched to the side of the cart.

“Leaving?” Auggie said. “What about Elm?”

I turned, exasperated. “That’s why we’re leaving.”

Prue was already walking toward the cart and getting in, her book clutched tight in her hand.

Mama planted her hands on her curvy hips. “What are you talking about?”

I shot a look at Thistlegrove Forest. “I don’t trust him.”

“Shocking,” Auggie said, rolling her eyes.

I returned to the campsite, gathering all our bedrolls. “He’s too risky. We can’t get close to him.”

Adelaide bit her bottom lip and looked toward the forest. “He was so nice.”

My sweet sister. She saw the best in everyone. That was why it was my job to protect her. Protect all of them.

“And he and Auggie were getting along so well!” Mama said. “He’s smitten with her.”

I snorted. Mama was as oblivious as Auggie. If Elm was smitten with anyone, it was clearly Adelaide, but I didn’t have time to explain any of this. The werewolf would be back soon.

I pushed Auggie and Mama toward the cart as they both screeched in protest. I shoved them right up to the back door, and they begrudgingly got inside as I threw in the bedrolls and slammed it shut behind them.

I ran up to the front of the cart, swinging myself into the driver’s seat.

“Don’t you think this might be taking things a little too far?” Adelaide asked from where she stood.

I blinked. Normally Adelaide was on my side, helping me convince Mama and our sisters when it was time to leave a bad situation.

Unless... I gaped at her as she stepped up and sat next to me.

“You’re as smitten with him as he is with you. ”

Her cheeks turned pink, which was all the confirmation I needed.

The cart began rolling down the bumpy road. We’d spent a small fortune on a spelled cart that would move on its own. It was easier than buying a horse that we’d have to care for. It was also better in situations like this when we were in a hurry. I patted the side of the cart.

“Giddy up,” I said, and the cart jolted, increasing its speed.

“Don’t push it too hard,” Adelaide warned.

I glanced behind me at the tree line in the distance, hoping we could get out of sight before Elm emerged and discovered we’d fled. If everything went according to plan, we’d never see him or Thistlegrove again.