Page 40

Forty

ELSPETH

T he cart bumped along the road, Adelaide and I riding in the front like always, while Mama, Prue, and Auggie sat inside.

Emptiness filled me, and I stared blankly ahead as the cold wind whipped around. Right now we should be setting up our soup stand, greeting everyone at the market: Veldar with his scowl. Morty with her knowing smile. All the residents who supported us and our business. Who never questioned the strangers or why we’d appeared in their town. They just welcomed us with open arms. Draven’s face flashed in my mind, and I shoved it in the deepest crevice I could. I couldn’t think about him right now. It was too hard.

I dashed away a tear as Adelaide sniffled beside me. I looked over at my sister, her eyes puffy, her cheeks red. And she was still absolutely gorgeous.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“We were happy, Elspeth.” She gestured back toward Thistlegrove Forest, growing farther and farther away in the distance.

“But we weren’t safe.”

“How do you know that?” Adelaide asked .

My eyes widened. “Witch Superior is coming to Thistlegrove. She’s Draven’s grandmother. If she even got a hint that we’ve been living in the Witchlands illegally?—”

“I know he hurt you,” Adelaide said.

I sniffled. “I don’t care about Johanes.”

“Not Johanes,” she said gently. “Father.”

I stiffened at the mention of him.

“It was hard on all of us when he left. When Grandmama cast that curse, and he suddenly decided to get a new wife, a new family.”

I swallowed. Last I’d heard, he was living on the coast, had two daughters who were his pride and joy. Just like we’d been his pride and joy once, before we lost our magic and he lost interest in us.

“But it was hardest on you.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks at the memory of waking up early in the morning to see Father walking out of our house, carrying a suitcase full of all his clothes. I’d been so confused. When I’d asked him where he was going, he’d said not to worry. He was going on a short trip, but he’d be back soon.

He’d given me a gentle punch to the arm, told me to be brave, and then he was gone. I never saw him again. At first, I’d been in denial. Mama hadn’t seemed surprised. But I was so sure he would return to us. To me.

“I don’t think you’re afraid of Witch Superior, Elspeth,” Adelaide said. “I don’t even think you’re afraid of us having to leave the Witchlands. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but we’d survive. We always do.”

I pawed at the tears. “Then what do you think I’m afraid of?”

Her gaze filled with sympathy. “I think you’re afraid of being hurt again.”

I looked ahead at the dusty road, the breeze swirling the dust in the air. Fields of bright yellow flowers surrounded us on both sides, the mountains far in the distance. We usually headed south this time of year, where the weather was warmer.

“Well, why didn’t you stay, then? Why didn’t you tell Elm the truth if you think all of this is just some misguided fear of mine?”

Adelaide put a hand on my arm. “I don’t think it’s misguided. We are at risk. We could get forced from the only homeland we’ve ever known. But sometimes, I think that risk is worth taking. Elspeth, you’ve done so much for our family. You’ve spent your life protecting us. But you’ve also spent a lot of your life guarding your heart so closely that you don’t let anyone in.”

I swallowed. “I let Johanes in.”

“You never opened up to him. Not truly. You told him your secret eventually, only because Mama talked you into it. But you never let him in, and he never tried to break down your walls. Not like Draven.”

I sucked in a sharp breath at the mention of his name. “What do you even know about me and Draven?”

“You do realize he and Elm are best friends,” Adelaide said. “Apparently, Draven talks to Elm about you. About how caring you are. About how much he admires the way you lead your family, protect them. About how even Georgie likes you.” Adelaide let out a soft laugh. “Georgie doesn’t even like Elm, so he was a little jealous that you somehow won her over.”

“She’s feisty and headstrong, and I guess maybe that reminds me of someone.”

Adelaide tapped her chin. “I wonder who.”

I shoved her, realizing she spoke the truth. “You’re right,” I admitted. “I am scared. What if Draven finds out our secret and doesn’t want me anymore?”

Just like our father. Just like Johanes.

“He might not,” Adelaide said, and my heart squeezed. “But what if he does? What if he loves you with his entire heart? When he’s talked to Elm about you, he hasn’t mentioned your magic once. He hasn’t even seen it.”

Because it didn’t exist.

“Everything he’s mentioned about you are things that he has seen.” Adelaide put her hand over my chest. “He loves what’s in your heart. And I think you might love him too.”

I gasped. No. I’d only known him for a few months. It had taken nearly a year for me to realize I loved Johanes.

Then again, Draven was nothing like Johanes.

I sniffled. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Yes, you do,” Adelaide said. “You’re just scared to do it.”

“Your sister is right,” Mama called.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re eavesdropping? ”

“More like you’re talking very loudly,” Auggie yelled.

“And I’m trying to read,” Prue said.

Adelaide and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry I made you leave Elm like that,” I said.

“You didn’t.” Adelaide looked down at her hands. “I chose to leave because I hoped I could convince you to return before he even found out we were gone. Of course, now that Draven knows, I’m not sure that’ll happen. Hopefully Elm can forgive me.”

“That was a pretty big gamble,” I said through tears.

“Not really,” Auggie said. “Not with the way you stare at Draven like he’s the only man in the entire world.”

I banged on the cart. “Will you mind your own business?”

“Adelaide isn’t the only one that has something going for her in Thistlegrove,” Auggie said. “We all do. Mama has the soup stand that she loves. Prue has a job offer at the bookstore.”

Tears filled my eyes again. “I was just trying to protect us. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Elspeth. It’s okay,” Mama said. “We know you’re looking out for us. You’re doing what I couldn’t.”

“Mama—” I started.

“No, it’s true. Before your father left, he was the one who took care of us, protected us. That was never my role. And when he decided to abandon his family, I didn’t know how to be the leader you all needed. But you did, Elspeth. You always have, and that’s why we’ll follow you wherever you go.”

“Well, I didn’t want to,” Auggie added. “But Adelaide and Mama made me.”

I thought about Draven, his worries and fears that maybe he wasn’t what was best for Georgie. He was so afraid he’d been selfish bringing her here, that she belonged with her grandmother instead.

Witch Superior. That was it. He constantly thought about whether his actions were selfish or in the best interest of his sister.

I’d never thought about that. Never worried about it.

“I’m being selfish,” I said, the realization hitting me. “I’m letting my own fears guide my decisions, not taking any of you into account.”

“Finally,” Prue mumbled. “Took you long enough to realize it.”

“Can we go back home now?” Auggie said.

Home. Something we hadn’t had in such a long time .

“Home isn’t that cottage,” Adelaide said. “Home is wherever we are. As long as we go back together, that’s what matters.” She smiled at me, and I smiled in return.

“Incoming!” a voice called. I looked up at the sky to see Edgar flying toward us, and Georgie riding a broom.

“What in the...” Adelaide trailed off as Georgie landed in front of our cart, and it came to an abrupt halt.

“What is going on out there?” Mama asked.

The back door of the cart creaked open, and Auggie and Mama stumbled out.

“Are you coming or not?” Auggie asked Prue, who was still inside.

“No” came Prue’s short response.

“Georgie!” I stood. “What are you doing here?”

“Why did you leave?” Anger flashed in Georgie’s eyes.

“It’s complicated,” I said.

“No it’s not. Not when you love someone like you love my brother. Like he loves you.”

I stilled. “You think Draven loves me?”

She threw out her arms. “Of course he does. He’s obsessed with you.”

“It’s true,” Edgar said. “He’s far less grumpy when you’re around.”

“So why would you leave him? Am I wrong?” She crossed her arms. “Do you not love him?”

Something feral flashed in her eyes. She loved her brother so much. I wished he could see it.

I sighed heavily. “I do, it’s just?—”

“Then that’s all that matters,” Georgie said. “You have to talk some sense into him. He wants me to go live with my grandmother.”

“And you don’t want that?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I just want to live with Draven. I think he’s upset about you leaving, confused, and he’s making a rash decision.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“He’s acting unhinged,” Edgar said, landing on the top of our cart and fanning out his wings.

“Georgie, this isn’t going to help,” I said. “You can’t keep running away like this. He’s worried about you. He thinks your grandmother might be a better influence.”

“It wasn’t her idea to chase you,” Edgar said, raising his snout. “It was mine.”

My eyes bugged. “Yours?”

“I think I’m finally having a good influence on him,” Georgie said, the wind whipping her black hair around her shoulders. “Will you come back to Thistlegrove?” she asked. “My brother needs you. You’re the only one who can talk sense into him.”

Mama, Adelaide, and Auggie all looked at me, apprehension in their eyes. Fear clutched my heart tight, but I thought of Draven and the way he made me feel when I was in his arms: so safe, so protected, so cared for. All the things I gave to others—he gave back to me. He wouldn’t turn me in to Witch Superior.

“Yes,” I said. “Let’s go back to Thistlegrove.”

Everyone broke out into cheers.

Hopefully we could return before Draven realized Georgie was missing. Before Elm realized Adelaide was missing. Before I lost Draven for good.