Page 96 of Potions & Prejudice
“No it’s not. Not when you love someone like you love my brother. Like he loves you.”
I stilled. “You think Draven loves me?”
She threw out her arms. “Of course he does. He’s obsessed with you.”
“It’s true,” Edgar said. “He’s far less grumpy when you’re around.”
“So why would you leave him? Am I wrong?” She crossed her arms. “Do you not love him?”
Something feral flashed in her eyes. She loved her brother so much. I wished he could see it.
I sighed heavily. “I do, it’s just?—”
“Then that’s all that matters,” Georgie said. “You have to talk some sense into him. He wants me to go live with my grandmother.”
“And you don’t want that?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I just want to live with Draven. I think he’s upset about you leaving, confused, and he’s making a rash decision.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“He’s acting unhinged,” Edgar said, landing on the top of our cart and fanning out his wings.
“Georgie, this isn’t going to help,” I said. “You can’t keep running away like this. He’s worried about you. He thinks your grandmother might be a better influence.”
“Itwasn’t her idea to chase you,” Edgar said, raising his snout. “It was mine.”
My eyes bugged. “Yours?”
“I think I’m finally having a good influence on him,” Georgie said, the wind whipping her black hair around her shoulders. “Will you come back to Thistlegrove?” she asked. “My brother needs you. You’re the only one who can talk sense into him.”
Mama, Adelaide, and Auggie all looked at me, apprehension in their eyes. Fear clutched my heart tight, but I thought of Draven and the way he made me feel when I was in his arms: so safe, so protected, so cared for. All the things I gave to others—he gave back to me. He wouldn’t turn me in to Witch Superior.
“Yes,” I said. “Let’s go back to Thistlegrove.”
Everyone broke out into cheers.
Hopefully we could return before Draven realized Georgie was missing. Before Elm realized Adelaide was missing. Before I lost Draven for good.
Forty-One
DRAVEN
Isat in my empty tavern, mug in hand, already on my third round.
“So you’re just going to mope?” a voice said from the doorway.
I looked up to see Elm standing there.
“What else is there to do?” I raised my mug in his direction. “Pull up a seat and join me.”
He scoffed and shook his head. “I have more important things to be doing.”
“Like leaving Thistlegrove?” I asked. “Going back to work with your father?” Elm and his father ran a successful restaurant together, and if I knew his father, he’d be seething over the fact that Elm had been gone so long.
He stepped forward, his large frame taking up so much space. “I’m going after Adelaide. She’s gone. Elspeth is gone. And since you’re here sulking, you must know about it.”
I heaved a sigh. “Adelaide left, Elm. Isn’t that enough of a sign? She doesn’t want you.”
