Page 76 of Potions & Prejudice
Georgie disappeared inside one of the caves, covered by the grassy green of the hills. Big boulders punctuated them, and I imagined one of them rolling down and blocking a cave entrance.
I stood and strode into the cave after Georgie, darkness enveloping me. Ahead, a flickering light blazed to life, and I realized Georgie was holding a torch.
“Are you coming or not?” Georgie called behind her, and I realized she was talking to Edgar.
“I think Edgar is staying out of the caves,” I said.
She whipped around, gaze narrowing in on me. “Did my brother send you after me?”
I raised my hands. “I come in peace. And no. I’m assuming he has no idea you’re here.”
I walked toward her, and thankfully, she didn’t turn and run.
“What are you doing? This is dangerous.”
She rolled her eyes. “You clearly have been talking to Edgar or my brother. They both think everything is too dangerous for me.”
She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout that reminded me so much of Auggie.
“So my brother didn’t send you?” she asked again, and I could’ve sworn I detected a hint of disappointment in her voice. “He’s not with you, is he?” She looked around me, arching her neck.
I studied her, a growing feeling in my gut that I knew what was going on here.
“No,” I said. “Afraid not.”
Her gaze snapped to me, green eyes flashing. “Well, I’m not leaving. You can go back to him and tell on me if you want.”
This was going to be more difficult than I thought. “How about you show me why you’re here instead?”
A sudden smile brightened the young girl’s face. “Follow me.” With that she turned and ventured deeper into the cave.
In the distance, water trickled. I shivered, goosebumps prickling along my skin. Without the warm sun, it was cold. Georgie wore a fur-lined cloak, but I was definitely underdressed for a trip into a cave.
We walked in silence for a few minutes, the winding path rocky and uneven. I stumbled a few times, trying to stay close to Georgie and her light so I didn’t fall and crack my head on one of these rocks.
“My brother used to be more adventurous,” Georgie said suddenly. “I hardly saw him growing up. He was always going out on all these expeditions.”
I thought about Helena’s words, how Georgie had been close with her, how Draven tore them apart because he was jealous. But it didn’t sound like Georgie was upset. It sounded like she admired her brother.
“I always thought he was the bravest person I knew.”
I wondered what Draven did before he owned the tavern. It was clear that he was powerful. Powerful witches tended to work with Witch Superior. But I couldn’t imagine someone leaving a position with Witch Superior. Those were coveted roles that brought about wealth, status, and a good life for a witch.
“So what changed?” I asked, sensing Georgie needed to talk about this. Now wasn’t the time to pepper her with questions about her brother. Besides, it felt a little bit like a betrayal to Draven to use his sister to dig for information about him.
“I still think he’s the bravest person I know,” Georgie said, this time her voice sad. “But he hates me, so the feeling isn’t mutual.”
Before I could tell her that her brother didn’t hate her, we came upon four eggs, all of them as big as my torso. Blue spots dotted the eggs, and I gasped.
“Georgie, are those . . .”
“Dragon eggs,” she said, excited.
I stilled. “We’re in a dragon’s lair?”
“Isn’t it so cool?”
I gripped her arm. “Georgie, we have to leave.”
