Page 7

Seven

ELSPETH

O ne minute, I was standing upright, seeing my life flash before my eyes, and the next, the rude tavern owner was crashing into me. His heavy body pushed me toward the ground. I yelped as we fell, and he landed on top of me with an oomph.

The mug flew right over us and through the air, crashing into one of the walls. Everyone broke out in applause.

“Looks like you got some kinks to work out in your spells,” someone shouted at the man.

Draven was what the girl had called him.

He still lay on top of me, and I wondered if he’d lost consciousness. His body pinned mine to the ground, and I tried wiggling underneath him to no avail.

He groaned. “You just kneed me in the balls.”

“Oh, so you are awake.”

His head snapped to mine, our noses nearly touching, and for a moment, I was taken aback by the vibrant light green of his eyes. They reminded me of sage, one of my favorite colors. And it was now associated with him. Forever stained.

“Did you hear me?” he said. “You kneed me in the balls. ”

I jolted, realizing I’d somehow let myself get lost in those stupid eyes. “Well, if you would kindly remove yourself from on top of me, then I wouldn’t have to. Besides, I didn’t do it on purpose. You’re heavy, and your body is crushing mine.”

I shoved him as Elm and Adelaide hurried over.

“What in the hellfire happened?” Elm asked, hoisting Draven to his feet while Adelaide helped me to a stand.

“One minute, you were sitting next to us and the next I see you almost getting killed by a flying tankard.” My sister raised her hands to her cheeks.

That was because she was so enamored by this Elm that she hadn’t paid me any attention.

“Oh, your friend was just sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.” Draven glowered at me.

“My sister,” Adelaide said with an apologetic tone. “She does that sometimes.”

Elm let out a nervous laugh. “I’m sure Draven is exaggerating.”

Now Draven turned his hard gaze on the werewolf. “No, I’m not.” He cleared his throat, glancing at me. “You’re welcome, by the way. For saving your life just now.”

He shoved a hand through his thick, wavy hair, tousled in an effortless sort of way.

“This is your tavern.” I scoffed. “That was your mug. Your magic. It was your fault I almost got killed in the first place.”

His stubbled jaw locked. “And if you hadn’t intervened in a situation you had no right to get in the middle of, that wouldn’t have happened. Therefore, it’s your fault.”

My temper flared at the smug look on his face. “And if you hadn’t been acting like an ass, I wouldn’t have had to intervene in the first place.”

Adelaide’s mouth dropped open.

“Okay,” Elm said, sticking out his arms between us. “This could go on for a long time?—”

Draven pushed past him, stepping right in front of me and staring down his straight nose, ire flickering in his green eyes. “I was not being an ass, and once again, this is a good example of why you have no idea what you’re talking about. ”

I knew bullies like him. I’d met them time and time again on our travels throughout the Witchlands. I’d seen my own sisters put in vulnerable situations by men like him.

My throat grew thick.

I’d experienced a vulnerable situation myself. Gotten my heart broken by a man who seemed so much like Draven, arrogant and infallible. So maybe it hadn’t been my place to step in. But when I saw him grab that young girl’s arm, saw the anger flash in her eyes, it reminded me of my own sisters. It reminded me of myself. How I didn’t have anyone to protect me. I worried that maybe the young girl didn’t either.

I hadn’t even realized what I was doing until I found myself standing there in front of them, demanding he let her go... I also might have been taking my anger over this entire day out on him.

I raised my chin. “I know enough. I know men like you.”

Draven scoffed. “And I know women like you. Women who think they can throw a tantrum and get whatever they want. That they can control everybody else around them. Well, I’m not one of your puppets whose strings you can pull.”

“Draven,” Elm said, eyes wide.

“Elspeth,” Adelaide hissed, putting a hand on my arm.

I shook her off, my anger sparking all over again. “Yes, well, you’re just like every other man who thinks they’re above reproach. Men who think they can just act however they want and get away with it.”

Exactly like my ex.

His gaze turned molten, so searing he could burn me on the spot, but I held my ground, jaw locked.

Elm’s mouth had dropped open. “Let’s start over.” He cleared his throat. “Elspeth, this is Draven Darkstone. Draven, this is Elspeth Moonflower. Maybe we can sit down and talk this through?”

“With the flying mugs that might kill us? No.” I stepped away from Draven. “I won’t sully your establishment with my presence any longer.”

“Thank the Witch Superior,” Draven mumbled.

“Draven,” Elm said, his tone reproachful. He looked at Adelaide. “He’s not usually like this.”

“Yes, he is!” the young woman I’d attempted to save yelled out in a singsong voice .

Elm shot a look at her. “Georgie, be nice.”

Georgie shot him a sickeningly sweet smile, and Elm just shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Perhaps Elspeth is right.” Adelaide looked at her feet, hands twined in front of her. “We should go.”

Elm’s eyes widened, disappointment flashing in them. “I could walk you?—”

“That won’t be necessary.” I looped my arm through Adelaide’s, and we walked out the front door and into the pouring rain.