Page 64 of Potions & Prejudice
Maybe I wasn’t the best fit for her. I thought about our grandmother’s offer to keep Georgie with her and wondered if I’d made a huge mistake saying no.
“She is sixteen. Give yourself some grace,” Elm said.
“How is Adelaide?” I asked.
“Better, especially now that her sister has visited.”
I stiffened. “Her sister?”
A slow smile spread across Elm’s face. “You mean she didn’t pull you into another closet while she was here?”
I grabbed a piece of parchment, crumpled it, and launched it at Elm’s head.
He batted it away, laughing. Elspeth was here. I didn’t know why, but I wanted to see her. To talk to her.
I began to stand. “Well, I should go see her. Make sure she has everything she needs. I’m sure she wants to spend the night here, keep an eye on her sister.”
Elm’s brows pinched together. “But she’s already left. Just now actually.”
Rain pelted the window, and lightning split the sky.
“But it’s pouring rain. It’s at least a thirty-minute walk to the cottage.” She had to be daft to walk in a storm like this, but it didn’t surprise me, not when it came to Elspeth.
Elm sighed. “I know. Adelaide is worried about her, asked if I could go after her and make sure she gets home safely.”
“I’ll go,” I said, a little too quickly because Elm’s eyes flashed. “You will be of much better use to Adelaide than me. Keep her comfortable and let her know that I’ll make sure Elspeth is safe.”
Elm gave me a knowing look. “Draven Darkstone, do you have a crush?”
I snorted. “Hardly. That kiss was a drunken mistake. Elspeth speaks her mind, is far too stubborn, and I don’t know anything about her.” Except that she was caring, that she shared some of the same burdens I did, that she would do anything for her sisters, including walking thirty minutes in the rain to check on them when they were ill. That she had incredible lips—lips I couldn’t stop thinking about since they were on mine.
“No, that’s definitely not the look of a man obsessed,” Elm said. He stood. “Good luck, Draven.”
He walked out, leaving me with thoughts of a brown-haired witch whom, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say had bewitched me in body, mind, and soul—in every way that truly mattered.
Twenty-Eight
ELSPETH
The rain hammered down, thoroughly soaking me. Why hadn’t I just waited to get out of the storm? Probably because I was a stubborn idiot, afraid if I stayed any longer, I’d run into Draven. So instead, I’d run out into a storm.
Wind battered me, making it hard to push forward. The forest was a short distance from here, and if I could get under the cover of the trees, the rest of the walk might not be so bad.
Squelch.
I looked down to see my foot completely encased in mud. “Witch’s tits,” I muttered, yanking my foot. It wouldn’t budge.
I let out a groan of frustration, yanking it harder and harder to no avail. So this was it. This would be my end. Death by mud. I’d either starve, or the mud would slowly swallow me whole. I was regretting so many of my life decisions right now.
Rain pelted me so hard I couldn’t see through the downpour. Thunder rumbled threateningly, the clouds a slate gray.
My heart spiked. This was bad.
Through the heavy curtain of rain, a figure appeared. I stiffened, wondering who would be out here in this weather. Only someone unhinged.Someone capable of terrible things. Like murder. I swallowed, my mind whirling.
I set my jaw. Well, I wouldn’t let them take me so easily. A hood covered their head, cloak billowing behind them. They were tall, muscled. That was fine. I was scrappy. I could pack a punch if I had to.
My hands balled into fists by my sides, and I did my best to brace my legs as they came closer. When they were just a few steps away, I reared back my arm and threw the hardest punch I could.
