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Twenty-Six

ELSPETH

I made the long walk through Thistlegrove Forest to the manor, this time wearing proper clothes suitable for the chilly weather. Overall, it was a pleasant walk. It gave me time to process everything that had happened last night.

I’d kissed Draven Darkstone—and liked it. I groaned, scrubbing my hands over my face. But I hated him. Maybe it was because I hadn’t kissed anyone in so long. Not since Johanes. My lips were confused. They thought any kiss was good after so long without. But I’d right that wrong soon. I’d kiss the next man I could if only to get the taste of Draven off me. My fingers brushed over my lips absently, then I scolded myself.

I needed to stop doing that. Especially since I’d be arriving at the manor shortly, and I couldn’t have Draven noticing me touching my mouth. He’d make the connection. He was arrogant enough that he’d absolutely think it was about him.

I arrived at the tall iron gates surrounding the manor. Clouds covered the sun today, and a breeze gusted past me as I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders. Maybe Draven wouldn’t even be here. Why would he need to be ?

Elm was surely by Adelaide’s side, but Draven had a tavern to run. The thought gave me the confidence to edge open the gate and walk onto the huge circle drive. In the daylight, I could see more details of the manor: The faded and dusty red bricks. The moss that clung to the roof, much like it did at our own cottage. The vines that hung down the front, giving pops of color.

It really was massive. I couldn’t imagine having a house so big. I could barely imagine having a house at all.

I walked up the familiar stone steps from the night before. Without all the revelry and chatter, the place felt empty, somber somehow.

I raised my fist and knocked on the door, but no one answered. I shivered as the wind picked up.

“Oh, blast it,” I said and opened the door myself.

I couldn’t just stand out here all day. I walked into the big room, wine stains splattered across the floor. Crumbs everywhere. A few shattered glasses sparkling under the candlelight. We’d made quite a mess, but I supposed Draven was wealthy enough to have spelled items to clean it all up.

“Hello?” I called, my voice echoing around the cavernous room.

I looked up to the second level, the doors all closed. Adelaide was likely up there. There weren’t any bedrooms on the first floor. I squinted past the sweeping staircase to a room that looked like the kitchen. My gaze swiveled to another door.

The one I’d pulled Draven behind last night. I already knew where the closet was. I nodded.

So up the stairs it was, then.

Outside, thunder rumbled ominously. Perfect. Just what I needed. To walk home in a storm.

Adelaide was worth it. I ascended the stairs, and when I got to the top, I looked to the left and right, trying to decide which direction to go.

There were so many doors. Who needed this many rooms? What could they possibly do with all of them?

I readied myself to start opening random doors, hoping I wouldn’t stumble upon anything I wasn’t supposed to see.

Like Draven with another woman. I shook my head, not sure where that thought came from. I didn’t care if Draven took a woman to bed last night. He was a grown man, and he could do what he wanted with his... appendage.

Great. Now I was thinking about his appendage. I marched to the left. That alcohol must’ve affected me more than I realized. Maybe I was still drunk, and it was the alcohol causing me to have these ridiculous thoughts.

I stopped at the first door I came across, taking a deep breath and reaching out to grab the handle when someone shrieked behind me.

“Intruder!”

I whirled around to see a dragon flapping his wings, staring at me with his wide orange eyes.

“Oh please don’t hurt me.” He shielded its eyes with its tail. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Which isn’t much because I’m just a dragon and they don’t pay me anything.”

I recognized the little creature. He belonged to Draven.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve seen you before. I’m Elspeth?”

The dragon stopped whimpering and lowered his tail, relief flashing in his eyes. “Oh, Witch Superior. You scared me. I’m Edgar.”

“I’m sorry.” I held up my hands. “I’m just looking for my sister. She’s sick and somewhere in this huge manor. I wanted to check on her.” I lifted the satchel at my side. “And bring her some comfortable clothes to wear.”

“I can show you to her room.” He lifted into the air and flew ahead of me in the hallway. “She’s up on the third floor in the guest quarters.”

If the guest quarters were on the third floor, then I had no idea what all these rooms could possibly be for.

“Sorry about that.” Edgar looked behind him as I followed. “You took me by surprise.”

I tilted my head. “You do realize you’re a dragon, right? You could just use your fire? I don’t think I could defend myself against that.”

His eyes scrunched together. “You know, I didn’t think of that.”

I nodded. “It would be very effective. I promise that you’d probably be more terrifying to any intruder than they’d be to you. Even with your small size.”

“Really?” He pressed a paw to his chest as he landed on the railing. “You think so? ”

“I do,” I said with another laugh. This little dragon was so cute.

He sighed. “The world can be scary sometimes. I’m trying to be braver. I think Draven is disappointed he adopted me—buyer’s remorse and all.”

A crack formed in my heart at the dragon’s words. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

“He adopted me to look after his sister, be a companion to her, but she gets annoyed because I’m not always up for all the adventures she wants to go on. Sneaking out, exploring the darker parts of the forest, going on dangerous missions.” A shudder rolled through his back, his wings trembling. “It’s too much for a dragon like me.”

So Draven’s sister was a bit of a rebel. I bet he hated that. The thought made me smile.

“He would’ve been better off adopting one of my siblings.”

Edgar flew down the hallway and toward a small corridor with spiral stairs.

“You have siblings?” I asked.

“Oh yes. Four of them. Herman has already been adopted. But I have three more waiting adoption at Arcane Creatures Emporium. One of them probably would’ve been better suited for this job.”

“You’re perfectly suited for this job,” I said. “It’s okay to be scared.” I thought of all the things that scared me. “The world can be a scary place.”

Edgar stopped mid-air and turned to face me. “That’s what I say! I’m glad I found someone who agrees.”

I smiled and leaned forward. “We can be scared together. And maybe we can also be brave together, face new things.”

I thought of this town, of the cottage, of everything we were doing that scared me on a daily basis.

“Draven didn’t adopt the wrong dragon. I think a practical voice sounds like exactly what his sister needs. Maybe you just haven’t found the right thing to bond with her yet.”

Edgar turned and flew up the stairwell, and I followed. “That’s a good point. We had a good time getting ready for the ball. She even let me tie a ribbon in her hair.”

“Well, there you go. Progress,” I said .

We got to the top of the stairs, which led to a single door. “Here we are,” Edgar said, pointing his tail at the door.

“Thank you for your help.”

Edgar nodded and flew back down the stairwell.

I raised my fist to knock. “Adelaide?” I called.

I heard a rustling sound and then the door swung open, Adelaide barreling into me. “Elspeth, what are you doing here?”

She backed up a step. Her cheeks were flushed, sweat shining on her forehead. Her blonde hair had come undone from its elegant bun from last night and tumbled past her shoulders. She still wore her white dress, all wrinkled and creased now.

I held up a satchel with one hand and kicked the door shut behind me. “I brought you some clothes from home.”

“Oh, thank the Witch Superior.” She snatched the satchel. “Will you help me with this?” She gestured to her dress.

I turned her around and undid the laces in the back of her dress. She shimmied out of it, now only in her panties and bra. I dug into the satchel and pulled out her pale pink nightgown with long sleeves.

“I figured you might want something more comfortable if you’re sick.”

She stretched it over her head and sighed out in relief, then padded back to her bed.

Stone made up the walls and floor of the room, the ceiling vaulted with a single window overlooking the estate. A fire crackled in the hearth.

I sat on the edge of the bed. “Are they taking good care of you?”

“Oh yes,” Adelaide said. “Elm has been checking on me every ten minutes. I finally told him to go take a walk because I felt so smothered. The servants have kept my fire going, brought me broth, and Draven called for the town healer. She gave me some tonic for the fever.” Adelaide slumped down. “I feel so embarrassed.”

“Why?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I thought Elm and I were going to... take our relationship to the next level last night. Then I threw up all over him, and that’s when we realized I had a fever.”

I gave my sister a sympathetic look. “That’s not your fault, and if Elm is half the gentleman you claim he is, then he’ll realize that as well. ”

“Oh, he does. He’s been more than accommodating.” She tilted her head. “And so has Draven.”

I stiffened at the mention of him. “Is he here?” I asked, trying not to sound too interested in the answer.

“He was this morning. I don’t know if he still is,” Adelaide said. “He assured me that I can stay as long as I need.”

“That was nice of him.”

Adelaide gave me a pointed look. Outside, rain began to patter down. I’d need to leave soon before it began to storm.

“What were you doing in a closet with Draven last night?”

I rolled my eyes. “It was nothing. I’d had too much to drink, and we kissed.”

Adelaide crossed her arms. “That’s it? I thought you hated him.”

I leaned forward. “That’s because you haven’t been listening. I tried to tell you.”

“Excuse me if I didn’t believe you. I had good reason not to. Even Elm was shocked.”

“Look, it was just a one-time thing.” I picked at a loose thread on my shawl. “We were drunk and not thinking clearly.” I didn’t want my sister getting any ideas. Yes, I wanted her to believe Draven and I were getting along so she’d open herself up to Elm, but I didn’t want her thinking we were an item. That would never happen.

“So there’s nothing between you?” Adelaide said.

“No. But now you know we can be cordial,” I said. “There’s nothing standing in the way of you and Elm.”

A shy smile crossed Adelaide’s lips. “That’s good. Because I really like him, Elspeth. More than I’ve ever liked anyone.”

My heart swelled. I never thought this day would come.

“Do you think I should tell him about the curse?” Adelaide asked.

The color drained from my face, and my heart started pounding.

“Elspeth?” Adelaide’s voice seemed so far away, drowned out by my past. By Johanes and the sneer on his face when I admitted the truth to him. The way he’d immediately turned on me like he was a different person.

“Elspeth.” Adelaide laid a hand on my arm.

I jumped. “Yes?”

She gave me a concerned look. “Are you okay? You’re not coming down with something, are you?”

I took a deep breath. I’d let my past affect my sisters so much already. Elm wasn’t Johanes, and Adelaide was the most sensible of us all.

“I think you should trust your gut,” I said. “Tell him when you’re ready.”

She sat back in bed, eyes drooping.

“You need rest.” I tucked the covers in at her side. “It seems like you’re in good hands, here.”

Adelaide began nodding off. I stood and kissed her head as lightning split the sky. It was going to be a long walk home.