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Forty-Five

DRAVEN

I stared doubtfully through the window of Arcane Creatures Emporium—Georgie on one side of me, and Elspeth on the other.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked Elspeth. “You know he’s a pain.”

Georgie elbowed me in the ribs. “No he’s not! He’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten me.”

“Really?” I crossed my arms. “Because just two months ago, you were dodging him at every turn and telling me you were sick of how scared he was of everything.”

Georgie raised her nose. “That’s before I knew that bravery comes in different forms. Edgar stood up for me when it truly counted.” She leaned over me to look at Elspeth. “I fully support this decision.”

I raised my hands. “I can see I’m outnumbered.”

Georgie stuck out her tongue, then opened the door and walked inside. A griffin immediately greeted her, flying through the air and licking her face, making Georgie giggle.

“You’re sure you’ve thought this through?” I asked Elspeth.

“For the thousandth time, yes.” She rolled her eyes. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you want all those dragons for yourself. And that’s why you don’t want me to adopt them for my sisters. ”

I looked through the window at the three miniature dragons sitting on the shelves. Edgar’s other siblings.

“And I think you just like to argue with me.”

She raised a brow. “Where did you get an idea like that?”

“Well, I said that I thought your sisters might like to have some familiars, that maybe it would make them feel more a part of the witch community. Then the next morning you woke up and decided you wanted to adopt three dragons.”

She crossed her arms. “How is that me arguing? I was just taking your idea and running with it.”

“Dragons are not familiars. I was thinking of something more like a cat or an owl or a fox. Maybe even one of the talking plants. Not a dragon.”

“Now who’s arguing?” Elspeth smiled at me sweetly. She pointed at one of the dragons. “That one is apparently very outspoken. I think she’d be perfect for Adelaide.” She pointed at another one. “And that one is an extrovert. Loves socializing and making friends, which is exactly what Prue needs.”

I frowned. “Uh huh. And what about the last one?”

She peered at it. “That one is more of an enigma. I think she’s quieter, more introspective but very wise. I think that’s what Auggie needs right now. Three dragons for three witches.”

“Well, it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

“I know.” She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “Now let’s go get some dragons.” She opened the door and marched inside, and I heaved a sigh and followed.

Georgie ran to Elspeth, grabbing her hands and pulling her toward a few cats that kept appearing and disappearing.

They’d become fast friends, something I’d fully expected, but I loved watching their relationship unfold, loved watching Georgie mature and open up. Even better, Georgie had been helping me more on spells for the tavern, and I’d been going on adventures with her. We’d made a deal. Every afternoon, Edgar and Elspeth would take over the tavern so we could spend time together—but only if Georgie went to school. If she skipped school, then instead of going on an adventure or working on new spells together, she’d be doing schoolwork at the bar while I tended to the tavern .

So far we hadn’t had a single day of her missing school.

A boy appeared from between the aisles. “Hey Georgie!”

I frowned at the skinny kid, around Georgie’s age and eyeing her with a little too much interest.

“Hi Grimm.” Georgie waved, and Grimm gestured toward some glass cages at the other end of the store. “Have you seen the rainbow snakes? They can fly. Wanna see?” Georgie followed him.

“Looks like your sister has made a friend.” Elspeth threaded her arm through mine as I scowled at Georgie and the boy. Elspeth laughed. “I thought you wanted her to make friends.”

“Yes, friends. Not boy friends.”

Grimm put his hand on Georgie’s arm.

“I’m going to hex him,” I said, and Elspeth grabbed me and pulled me into one of the many aisles of the store.

“You’ll do no such thing, Mr. Darkstone.” She pressed me against a shelf, and all thoughts of Grimm disappeared.

“Why? Are you going to distract me?”

She trailed a finger down my chest, and I shivered under her touch, reveling in it. “Maybe. Why? Is this distracting?” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to my mouth while her hand slid up my inner thigh.

“Elspeth, don’t start something you’re not ready to finish,” I warned.

She stood back, laughter dancing in her eyes.

“You’re going to pay for that later.”

“I look forward to it.”

I swung an arm around her shoulders. “What else are you looking forward to?”

Her brows pinched together. “What do you mean?”

“About your future?”

“That’s easy.” She turned to me. “I’m looking forward to having a place to call home. To watching my sisters thrive. To seeing you every day. And, hopefully, one day getting my magic back.”

She didn’t realize it, but if I had my way, she’d be getting it back sooner than later. I’d marry Elspeth tomorrow if I could, but I didn’t want to pressure her. Still, I wouldn’t be able to wait too long. Georgie and I were working on a proposal plan, and I’d ask her soon—once I got permission from her mother and sisters.

“And what about once you do have your magic? Do you still think you want to be a healer?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, her face breaking out into a smile that melted my heart. “I want to apprentice for the village healer. Learn everything I can from him and then... open my own shop, maybe?”

“It sounds perfect.” I wrapped her in my arms.

She snuggled in. “I know.”

“You’re very arrogant, Ms. Moonflower.”

“I’m not arrogant. I just know that I’m right. I’m always right.”

“And what else have you been right about?”

She drew back, her smile rueful. “I was right about you.”

I gave her a look of disbelief. “You thought I was an arrogant prick when we first met.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I thought you were different from anyone I’d ever met. I was scared because you had this way of disarming me, making me drop the walls I built around myself. I thought that if I spent too much time with you, you’d break them down completely.”

She’d never told me that before.

“And I was right,” she said. “You changed my life, Draven. You changed me.”

“We changed each other,” I said. “In all the best ways.”