Page 31

Thirty-One

DRAVEN

I stood behind the bar in the tavern, huddled over the spell that I’d spent so long looking at, I wasn’t even sure what I was seeing anymore. Only a few patrons populated the establishment, but it would fill up for the evening soon enough. I scrubbed a hand down my face, wondering for the thousandth time what I was missing.

My hand tightened, the same hand that had been between Elspeth Moonflower’s legs just two nights ago, her dripping wet cunt all over me. I could still hear her breathy moans, I could still taste her lips, and fuck it all if I didn’t want more.

She’d ran from the room, from me, and I hadn’t seen her since.

Which was exactly why I needed to focus on this. Elspeth probably regretted what had happened between us, realized she’d had a temporary lapse of judgment letting me touch her like that.

A better man would go after her, would make her talk to me about what was happening between us. But I was not a better man.

So I threw myself back into this stupid spell that continued to evade me. I’d changed the wording, the intonation, the command, but something was still off. Right now the mug in question was repeatedly banging itself against the bar top. Elspeth’s face flashed in my mind again, and I banished it.

Focus, Draven. Just focus.

“Is that a smile on Draven Darkstone’s face?” Morty Hallow said.

Fuck. I’d forgotten she was sitting at the bar.

“You don’t see that very often,” she said before taking a sip of her drink.

“What’s your point, Morty?” I asked.

She raised her dainty chin, her spiral gray curls bouncing with the movement. “Just wondering what could make you smile like that.” She raised an eyebrow. “Or who.”

“Morty,” I warned. “I’m not a project. I know you retired from your tea shop and are bored, but you can take that boredom and focus it on someone else.”

Morty drummed her fingers against her tankard. “You know what I learned in my years running matchmaking events at my tea shop?”

I ground my teeth together. “No because I never attended any of those matchmaking events.”

“I learned,” she went on as if I hadn’t spoken, “that love always finds us in the most unexpected way. In the most unexpected person.”

I scoffed. “I’m not in love.” In lust, maybe. But that was as far as it went.

“Maybe not, but I haven’t seen a smile from you since you arrived here a year ago.”

I cleared my throat. This conversation was physically painful.

“If someone is giving Draven Darkstone a reason to smile, then I think that someone might be worth pursuing.” Morty stood and dropped a few gold coins on the bar top. They clinked as they hit the wood. “And who knows?” Her voice softened. “She might need you as much as you need her.”

My mouth hung open. I wasn’t sure what to do with that conversation, but I didn’t have long to think about it. As Morty opened the door, Edgar burst in, out of breath.

“We might have a problem,” he said, flapping his wings and hovering in the air in front of me.

My head snapped up, tension coiling in my muscles. “What now?”

I had a feeling I knew exactly what .

“Georgie is trying to free a firefox,” Edgar said in a rush. “We came across it in the forest, trapped under a log right next to the river.”

My blood ran cold. Lor River was known for its dangerous rapids and strong currents. Every year stories spread about a witch or foreigner who lost their lives to the river. I swore. Georgie just couldn’t help herself.

I swiped my hand out. “Out,” I said to the remaining patrons. “All of you.” They stared at me with wide eyes. “Now!” I roared.

They didn’t hesitate, jumping to their feet and racing for the door.

“Let’s go,” I told Edgar.

Edgar flew ahead of me in the forest, the river running alongside us. “She’s just up here,” Edgar said.

“Georgie!” I yelled. “Whatever you’re doing, stop right now.”

I caught a peek of thick black hair up ahead, right next to the river. Far too close to it.

I skidded to a halt as Georgie came into view. She knelt down by a fallen log, half of it hanging out over the river. She was trying to move it, but other logs lay on top of the opposite end, still on land. A small firefox was pinned underneath the log, and every time it breathed, spurts of fire shot from its mouth.

“Georgie, move away from the river.” She was perched right on the edge of the ground. One wrong move, and she would tumble into the current and be carried away.

“No,” she said. “Not until I free this firefox.”

The creature yowled from where it was stuck. Edgar whimpered from where he hung in the air, gaze shifting between me and Georgie.

“I understand you want to save it, but is it really worth your life?” I asked.

She didn’t answer, continuing to pull with all her might at the log. I sighed. I didn’t want to have to give ultimatums, but Georgie left me no choice.

“Fine,” I said. “If you won’t move, then I’ll have to come get you. ”

She whipped around, fire in her eyes. “Don’t you dare.”

“You’re not exactly leaving me a choice,” I said.

She set her jaw. “Well it seems we’re at an impasse because I’m not budging. And if you try to grab me, I’ll fight you.”

“Well, there is a third solution. Your brother could always help you,” Edgar suggested.

I shot him a withering glare, and he hunched his shoulders.

“Would you?” In an instant, Georgie’s tone had gone from livid to hopeful. “Would you help me save it?”

“Georgie,” I said with a soft voice. “It’s likely injured. Its mother is gone. It won’t survive even if you do save it. I’m not sure it’s worth risking our safety.”

“We can take it to Arcane Creatures Emporium,” she said. “That’s what Mr. Thorne does. He helps animals, rehabilitates them, sends them back out into the wild or makes them suitable for adoption. This firefox has a chance. No one should just be left behind, left alone because everyone abandoned them.” She swallowed thickly.

I thought about Elspeth, how she’d said she bonded with her sisters by doing things they liked. Maybe this could be my chance to connect with Georgie.

I rolled up my sleeves. “Okay.” I strode forward and crouched next to her.

The whoosh of wings sounded behind us, Edgar landing on the ground. “Aw, he’s so cute and little.” The firefox sneezed, and a stream of fire shot out at Edgar. He yelped and ducked.

“You do know you’re fire resistant, right?” I asked.

“Oh.” Edgar straightened. “I forgot.”

I shook my head and studied the log.

“Can we lift it at the same time?” Georgie asked.

“Actually.” I stroked my chin. “I think I could use my magic to lift the log.”

I’d created a similar spell years ago. This one would have to be slightly altered, but it could work. I offered my hand to Georgie, and she took it as I hauled her to her feet.

I murmured the spell, adjusting the words in my head as I went. As I spoke, the log began to tremble and shake. The baby firefox squealed, its eyes squeezing shut. Georgie ran to it and petted its head right as the log lifted into the air.

“Georgie,” I yelled as the log lifted and knocked her back. Straight into the river.

“No,” I yelled, lunging forward to grab my sister.

An orange blur raced past me, and I realized it was Edgar. He flapped his wings and dove down, clutching onto the back of Georgie’s shirt. I gaped.

“I’ve got you,” he said, then looked at me in disbelief. “I’ve got her. I’ve actually got her.”

I never knew miniature dragons possessed this kind of strength.

Edgar couldn’t either, his eyes wide. “I can’t believe I did it. I saved someone. Does that make me a hero?”

“Can you fly me back to land now?” Georgie asked, hanging there while Edgar prattled on.

“Oh! Right, yes.” Edgar flapped his wings and flew toward the land, setting Georgie down.

She barreled into me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I let out a breath and held her tight.

“Don’t ever do that again,” I said.

“It was your fault,” she said back.

“That is technically true,” Edgar piped up.

I sighed heavily as Georgie pulled away. “Thanks for saving me,” she said to Edgar. “I guess maybe sometimes you do give good advice.”

I quirked a brow. “And what advice did he give you?”

Edgar started whistling, looking anywhere but me.

“He said that I should come to you for help and maybe you’d surprise me.”

I blinked a few times. Georgie surged forward again, squeezing me tight. “Thank you for saving the firefox and giving it a chance. And thank you for being there for me today.”

My heart squeezed. Maybe I could do this. Maybe I could be what Georgie needed.

“So what else do you do out here? After you stage rescues for helpless creatures?”

Georgie stepped back and narrowed her gaze. “You mean Edgar doesn’t report my every move to you? ”

I shot a look at the dragon. “Surprisingly, no. He only comes to me when you’re in danger. Otherwise, he’s remained tight-lipped about all your activities.”

She gave the dragon another approving look. “You’re not so bad after all, Ed.”

“I really prefer Edgar.” He lifted his small snout in the air.

Georgie laughed. “I mainly explore. Did you know there’s a cave of crystals nearby? They’re all different colors.” She gasped. “And I discovered a lair of seeing spiders. Little babies.”

Those were rare, and once they were old enough, if you managed to catch one, it would give you a glimpse of your future.

“You’re quite the adventurer,” I said.

She shrugged. “Everyone at the academy thinks I’m some troublemaker. A rebel.”

I nudged her, knowing what it felt like to not fit in. I never had when I was younger either. “You got it from Mother and Father.”

She eyed me with a smile. “And maybe a little bit from you too.”

I roped an arm around her shoulder. “Alright, now show me this cave of crystals.”