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Thirty-Three

DRAVEN

I paced back and forth behind the bar. Georgie was missing again. She was supposed to be home from the academy by now, but there was no sign of her or Edgar. Patrons filled the tavern, their chatter loud and annoying. Normally I’d be okay with all the noise, but when I was agitated like this, I just wanted peace and quiet to breathe and collect myself.

I was well aware of my reputation in this town. That I was the town grump, reclusive—scary even. And while I didn’t mind encouraging that perception, I couldn’t keep kicking out my patrons every other day to go find Georgie. People were going to stop coming at some point, and then I’d have no way to take care of myself or my sister.

I rubbed my temples, about to yell at everyone to get out so I could close up when the door opened, and Georgie walked in... followed by Elspeth.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of the brown-haired witch. I wasn’t sure how I ever could’ve thought her to be plain, to be an annoyance, nothing special. But the way my heart pounded as she approached the bar with my sister reminded me of how much my views on her had changed. The tight bodice of her green dress showed the slight swell of her breasts, her trim waist. Her skirt fell just past her boots, which were muddy and worn. This was the first time I was seeing her since that night in my manor. The night she ran out on me.

Yet suddenly, I didn’t care about any of it. I just wanted my mouth on hers again. I wanted to bury myself between her legs and show her that there was no world where she could run from me and I wouldn’t find her. Show her that there was no world that she’d want to run from me.

My gaze snapped to my sister as she approached the bar, looking anywhere but at me, and I came back to myself and remembered what was important here. Georgie. She’d done something again. There was no other reason Elspeth would be with her. Edgar flew in behind them and landed on the bar top, also suspiciously unable to meet my gaze.

“Where have you been?” I asked my sister as Elspeth came to her side. “If she did something to your soup stand or cottage or sisters, I apologize?—”

Elspeth held up her hand. “She didn’t. We just ran into each other, and I thought I’d accompany her back to the tavern, make sure she got home safe. Plus, we were having such good conversation, and I didn’t want it to end.”

I stared at Elspeth in awe that she’d do something like that for my sister. For me.

Georgie smiled brightly at her, and it warmed my icy cold heart seeing someone make Georgie so happy.

I thought about Morty’s words just as Elspeth tipped her head. “Well, I should be going?—”

“Do you want to stay?” I burst out. “And have dinner? On me, of course.”

Mischief danced in Georgie’s green eyes. I gave her a look that told her to behave.

“Oh.” Elspeth looked down at her hands. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please.” Georgie whirled to face her. “Please stay and eat with us.”

I cocked a brow, surprised Georgie liked her so much. I knew Georgie liked that she got under my skin, but to actually want to eat with her? My sister hadn’t shown this much interest in anyone else for a long time .

Edgar yawned. “Well, I for one am taking a nap...” As he said the words, his eyes closed, his body curling up tight, and he fell asleep.

Elspeth shook her head. “That was fast.”

“It’s actually impressive how easily he can fall asleep,” Georgie said. “And he can sleep anywhere. Which is also impressive.”

“I can see that.” Elspeth laughed quietly.

“So will you stay for dinner?” Georgie asked, her voice so hopeful. I worried Elspeth would say no and break her heart.

“Of course I will.” Elspeth covered Georgie’s hand with hers.

So we were doing this. Dinner with Elspeth and Georgie. This was going to be an interesting evening.

We sat in a corner booth of the tavern.

With all the spells I had in place, the tavern mostly ran itself as long as I was here to supervise and make sure nothing went wrong. The mug spell was still not perfected, but it was good enough.

“Auggie actually did that?” Georgie asked, giggling at one of Elspeth’s many stories about her sisters.

“Oh yes.” Elspeth took a bite of the duck leg I’d roasted in our kitchen. I didn’t advertise that I served food, but if customers asked and I felt like cooking, sometimes I’d cobble something together for a meal. Patrons liked my cooking enough, and from the way Elspeth closed her eyes every time she took a bite, it seemed she did too—something that gave me immense pleasure.

“So what happened with the goat?” Georgie asked.

“We had to trek through three feet of snow to find it,” Elspeth replied. “It took us the better part of the night. And then we had to sleep in a cave with the goat because we were all so frozen we couldn’t return to our campsite.”

“I can’t believe she stole a goat and lost it.” Georgie laughed. “All because she didn’t want it to become someone’s meal.” Georgie paused. “Did the goat survive?”

Elspeth took a bite of her roasted turnips. “It did. Auggie can be very persuasive when she wants to be. She convinced the farmer that his goat would make an excellent pet instead of a meal.”

I chuckled at the story. It sounded like something Georgie would do.

Georgie stuffed another bite into her mouth.

“Slow down,” I said. “You’re going to give yourself a stomachache.”

Georgie popped up and kissed me on the cheek, and I stiffened. She hardly ever showed me this kind of affection. “I’m done.”

“You’re done?” I asked, looking at my own half-finished plate.

Her gaze flicked to Elspeth. “Mm-hmm. I have... homework to do. Upstairs.”

Witch’s tits. Could she be any more obvious?

“Georgie,” I started, but she flounced away.

“Well, I’m off.” She turned and winked. “Don’t be home too late.”

For fuck’s sake. I turned to Elspeth, grimacing. “Sorry about her. I told you she was trouble.”

“She’s not so bad.” Elspeth took another drink of her ale, one she’d let me choose. It had hints of apricot, cinnamon, and caramel.

“How is it?” I asked.

She leaned back in her chair. “The food or the ale?” She paused. “Both are delicious. I didn’t know you were such a good cook.”

I shoved a hand through my hair. “Well, I wasn’t always. But when I began caring for Georgie, I had to step up in ways I hadn’t before.”

“Why the tavern?” Elspeth asked.

I shrugged. “I wanted to give Georgie a stable life. A home.”

Something sad passed across Elspeth’s face, and I didn’t know what I’d said wrong.

“I’m sorry,” I offered.

Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “For what?”

“You looked sad,” I said hesitantly.

Her mouth dropped open, then she snapped it shut. “I just worry sometimes that all this traveling isn’t good for my sisters. That they’re missing out on important experiences.”

“So why don’t you stay?” I leaned forward, then winced at how desperate that sounded. “For your sisters,” I amended.

“Right.” Elspeth’s gaze bore into mine. “For my sisters.”

I pushed my plate aside, needing to ask the question that had been on my mind since I last saw her. “Why did you run away the other night?”

Elspeth’s breath hitched. “Why didn’t you follow?”

“Did you want me to?”

Her gaze darkened. I wanted to get rid of the table sitting between us and yank her onto my lap. “I ran because that shouldn’t have happened.”

Just like that, the heat between us fizzled. “Why?” I demanded.

She threw out her arms. “Because we don’t even get along.”

“We got along very well on that couch.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and it was fucking adorable.

“I barely know you,” she said, stabbing a bite of turnip.

“That’s not true. You and I, we understand each other. I just listened to you telling stories about your sisters for an hour, stories that reminded me so much of my own sister. Not just that. But the way you always look out for them, for your whole family. I do the same for mine. For Georgie.”

She bit her lip like she was debating something. “What do you want from me, Draven?”

Everything. The word popped into my mind before I could stop it.

“I want you to give me a chance. Get to know me.”

She crossed her arms. “Okay. Why are you so reclusive? Why is everyone in this town scared of you?”

I huffed. “I’ve always been a bit reclusive, I guess. Distant.” My gaze met hers. “It’s not easy to trust people.”

“What do you have to be afraid of?” she asked.

“You saw my magic. My power. You’ve seen my manor. My wealth. People use me. They’ve used my family because of who we are. My sister. It’s the same with Elm. So many women have used him for his wealth.”

“I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “Who are you?”

I took a deep breath. “My parents were powerful cursebreakers.”

She gasped.

“They worked for Witch Superior, breaking curses across the Witchlands. You have no idea the type of people that would show up at our house, demanding my parents help them. Or people who would get close to me just because they wanted a meeting with Witch Superior.” My jaw tightened. “People who would get close to Georgie.”

Elspeth frowned. “That’s terrible.”

“So it was easier to push others away, to throw myself into my work. I like creating new spells. I’ve written spell books for other witches, guides to help them use magic that will help others. Sometimes I can get a little obsessive with my work, lost in a new spell.”

“Like the one you’re working on for the mugs?” She tipped her head toward a mug that was floating through the air, ale sloshing over its sides. She shrugged. “At least it’s not attacking anyone.”

“I didn’t mean to make it attack you,” I said.

Her lips tipped up. “I don’t know. It definitely seemed suspicious. I think you have it out for me, Mr. Darkstone.”

Her playful tone sent a thrill through me. “And why would I have it out for you?”

“Because I vex you.”

“That may be true,” I said, keeping hold of her gaze. My voice dropped low. “But I can think of far more pleasurable ways to get all that tension out than by attacking you.”

Her lips parted, then she abruptly stood. “Good night, Draven.” She stopped by my chair, leaning down, whispering, “Thank you for dinner,” her cheek nearly grazing mine, tendrils of desire snaking through me.

Then I watched as she walked out of my tavern, my eyes never leaving her. I was in so fucking deep.