“Just—”
“Be careful.” Adelaide sighed. “I know.”
“Sorry.” I dropped my sponge in the bucket, the water now black with dirt. We’d need more.
“It’s okay. I know you’re trying to keep us all safe. And you do a good job.” Adelaide leaned over and nudged me with her shoulder. “Now go get us some more water because we still have a lot of floor to clean.”
She looked at the rest of the wood floors, still covered in dirt, grime, and forest debris.
“Addy, Addy!” We both came to a stand as Mama waved wildly.
“Mama, be careful!” I called, right as she lost her balance and fell.
Adelaide and I both screamed as she hit the floor, but Mama just popped up, her cheeks flushed.
She pointed out the window. “Look who’s here for a visit!”
I turned to see Elm Kingsley walking toward the cottage. And he wasn’t alone. Draven Darkstone was marching beside him.
Twelve
DRAVEN
Elm and I walked through Thistlegrove Forest. Dew drops sparkled on the leaves and branches in the morning sun, and our boots sunk into the damp dirt. Thick knotted trees surrounded us, their canopies sweeping, their leaves slowly changing from stark green to the oranges, yellows, and reds of fall. This early in the morning, I could see my breath puffing out in front of me.
I didn’t want to be here with Elm. I wanted to be home in my apartment, ignoring everyone and everything and working on my spell. I still couldn’t figure out where I’d gone wrong with it. That mug had almost killed Elspeth—not that I would’ve cried over her demise.
But I couldn’t have my mugs scaring away patrons. It wouldn’t do. I hadn’t had time to work on it this morning because I’d been trying to bond with Georgie. Which, of course, had ended in disaster. Like it did every time I tried to connect with my younger sister.
She’d been sitting in a chair by the window of our apartment, reading a book while Edgar was curled up next to her. I’d asked her what she was reading, and she told me it was about a woman who was a vigilante. Then she’d said the woman reminded her of Elspeth.
That had immediately set me off. Elspeth wasn’t a vigilante. She wasan obnoxious, judgmental woman. Of course Georgie had defended her. Only because it delighted her that Elspeth had insulted me so thoroughly. She didn’t even know the woman. I reminded Georgie how naive she could be, which was possibly the worst thing I could’ve said.
After that, she’d stormed out of the apartment, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything, especially not a spell. So here I was. With Elm.
“You know, you didn’t have to come with me,” my friend said from next to me. He pushed his curly black hair from his forehead.
I cleared my throat. “Well, it is my damn cottage. So I should probably see what they’re doing with it.”
He laughed. “That cottage has sat unattended for years since the previous owner died. I don’t think they could possibly make it any worse. At the very least, this should stop Thistlegrove residents from demanding you tear it down.”
That cottage was apparently as grumpy as the witch who’d owned it.
“How long is this going to take?” I asked Elm.
He side-eyed me. “Once again, I didn’t ask you to come along. You can go back to town anytime.”
I snorted. I didn’t trust these Moonflowers. Especially not after meeting Elspeth. She was exactly the type of judgmental witch I abhorred. The type of witch who’d judge Georgie for her past actions if she knew about them. She and her family were also clearly not well off, and I had this sneaking suspicion her sister was using Elm.
“Just say it.” Elm ducked under a low-hanging branch.
“Say what?” I said.
“You’re worried about their intentions. With me.”
I stepped over a fallen tree. “Aren’t you?”
“No,” Elm said honestly. “Adelaide is good. She’s kind and sweet... and I think I may be falling for her.”
