Page 71 of Potions & Prejudice
Mama looked at Helena, a glint in her eyes. “She might not think I know anything, but I have a mother’s intuition. I see the sparks between her and a certain Draven Darkstone.”
I shot a look at Helena, whose smile faded.
“Well,” Helena said, taking her bowl, “that is interesting gossip. If you’ll excuse me.” She walked over to the table behind us, taking a seat at the very edge, away from the others.
Guilt gnawed at me as I thought about Helena’s warning the day we’d gone dress shopping. “I’m going to go sit with Helena for a bit,” I said.
Mama waved me off, and Adelaide nodded.
I walked over to the table and sat across from the vampire.
“What Mama said ...” I trailed off. What could I say? If I denied it, I’d be lying. I couldn’t deny that there was something between me and Draven. I thought I hated him, but... something drew me to him. I recognized some of myself in him, but I also found myself wanting to know him better. Wanting to open up to him.
I still didn’t know why, and it was frustrating to no end.
“It’s okay.” Helena took a sip of her soup. “You’re a grown woman and can make your own choices.”
Her voice was clipped.
I chewed the inside of my cheek. I didn’t care what Helena thought about me. I didn’t care what anyone thought about me. I’d learned not to long ago. But Helena’s warning echoed in my mind.
“What happened between you and Draven?” I asked.
Her red eyes flashed, and she hesitated. “I’m only telling you this to protect you,” she said. “Like I said, you’re a grown woman and can make your own choices. But you should have all the information before you do.”
My heart pounded. That sounded ominous.
“Draven’s parents died over a year ago, which I assume you know.”
I nodded.
Helena took another sip of her soup, steam curling from the bowl. “After they died, I grew close with his sister. Became a mentor to her in many ways. She was staying with her grandmother, whom I’m good friends with. And the three of us spent a lot of time together.” Helena shrugged. “I can only assume Draven was jealous. He never got along well with his grandmother. He came to visit one day and decided to take his sister. Decided it was best if she stayed with him. He tore that poor girl away from her grandmother, from me.” Helena’s eyes watered. “I worry about Georgie, but Draven won’t even let me see her.”
My heart splintered, and I thought about everything I knew of Draven and Georgie. I couldn’t imagine Draven doing something so cruel. He didn’t strike me as someone that selfish, someone who would put his own jealousy above his sister’s needs.
“Draven will always do what’s best for Draven,” Helena said. “I just think you should know that before you pursue a relationship with him.”
I reared back. “I’m not pursuing any such thing.”
If Draven was capable of doing something like that to his own sister, then he was more than capable of revealing someone’s secret. My gaze flitted to Adelaide. Elm was visiting her. He held her in his arms, and she laughed as he whispered something in her ear. Had Adelaide told Elm our secret yet? Would Elm reveal something like that to his best friend?
I swallowed as my stomach turned to stone.
Helena reached over and patted my hand, her touch so cold. “You look like I’ve just delivered the news that your closest friend has died.”
I gave her a strained smile. “No, not at all. Thank you for telling me. For trusting me.”
Helena hesitated, eyes shifting back and forth. “And you will keep this between us?”
“Of course,” I said. “I wouldn’t betray a secret.”
Not when my own had been betrayed so long ago, and I knew how devastating it could be.
I spent the rest of the day in a haze, Helena’s story rolling through my mind like an endless wave.
Thirty-One
DRAVEN
