Page 15 of Potions & Prejudice
“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.
