Page 55 of Potions & Prejudice
“Isn’t that your mother’s job?” Draven asked, a softness to his tone that I’d never heard before.
I swallowed. “Mama is... well she’s flighty, and she has trouble taking care of herself, let alone the four of us.”
“So it falls to your shoulders,” Draven guessed, sympathy flashing in his eyes.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“I do know something about that.”
“You do?” I asked, not sure I believed him.
“I’m responsible for my sister. She’s sixteen.”
He nodded his head in the direction of a girl with long black hair. She wore a beautiful pink dress that glittered and sparkled under the light. The girl from the tavern.
“She’s your sister?” I asked, mouth agape.
He nodded.
Suddenly, I felt so very stupid. He hadn’t been abusing some random girl in the tavern. He’d been having a spat with his sister. I knew all too well about those. I studied Draven for the first time. Really studied him, noticed him in a way I hadn’t before.
His hair was slicked back tonight, parted on the side. The normal dark scruff covered his jaw, and this close I noticed all the details of his face—his strong chin, his straight nose, his thick brows. His pale green eyes that reminded me of winter.
Perhaps I’d misjudged him. Behind him, Auggie laughed at something a gentleman said, allowing him to take her hand and kiss it.
“Oh, Auggie,” I said, shaking my head.
Draven turned to have a look, then faced me again. We stepped backward and whirled around, then stepped to the side, following the moves of a popular dance in the witch community.
“I see she’s latched on to Corbin Jankoss. He’s one of the wealthiest witches in Thistlegrove thanks to his innovative cleaning spells.”
Of course. “Auggie knows how to pick them.”
Draven’s eyes flashed, and his shoulder tensed under my hand. Adelaide and Elm danced by us, both laughing over something. Draven’s gaze followed them.
“You all do, it seems,” he said.
I didn’t understand his sudden change in mood. We’d been having a good time so far, actually getting along. Maybe even bonding.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.
His green eyes seared me. “It’s interesting that you hated me until you found out I own this manor, that I was throwing a ball. Now you seem to have changed your entire attitude.”
My mouth dropped open at the implication. “You think I’m being nice to you because you’re rich?”
He raised a brow in challenge, and hatred bubbled in me.
My grip tightened around his hand. “You could have all the gold in the world, but I assure you, you’ll never have my affection.”
“Yes, it seems like you absolutely abhor me,” Draven mumbled.
Adelaide looked over Elm’s shoulder, her brows furrowed, lips pursed. I ground my teeth together, then spun and yanked Draven out of the crowd.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I didn’t answer, continuing to pull him with me and push through the onlookers. I didn’t bother nodding or smiling at anyone. I was too angry. If Draven thought he could just insult me and I wouldn’t respond, he had another thing coming. I’d give him a piece of my mind and let him know exactly what I thought of him. But I’d do it behind closed doors where no one could see or gossip about us.
Red painted my vision, and I barely knew where I was going as I marched toward a door off the main room. I wrenched it open and practically threw Draven inside, then slammed it behind me.
