I turned, exasperated. “That’s why we’re leaving.”
Prue was already walking toward the cart and getting in, her book clutched tight in her hand.
Mama planted her hands on her curvy hips. “What are you talking about?”
I shot a look at Thistlegrove Forest. “I don’t trust him.”
“Shocking,” Auggie said, rolling her eyes.
I returned to the campsite, gathering all our bedrolls. “He’s too risky. We can’t get close to him.”
Adelaide bit her bottom lip and looked toward the forest. “He was so nice.”
My sweet sister. She saw the best in everyone. That was why it was my job to protect her. Protect all of them.
“And he and Auggie were getting along so well!” Mama said. “He’s smitten with her.”
I snorted. Mama was as oblivious as Auggie. If Elm was smitten with anyone, it was clearly Adelaide, but I didn’t have time to explain any of this. The werewolf would be back soon.
I pushed Auggie and Mama toward the cart as they both screeched in protest. I shoved them right up to the back door, and they begrudgingly got inside as I threw in the bedrolls and slammed it shut behind them.
I ran up to the front of the cart, swinging myself into the driver’s seat.
“Don’t you think this might be taking things a little too far?” Adelaide asked from where she stood.
I blinked. Normally Adelaide was on my side, helping me convince Mama and our sisters when it was time to leave a bad situation.
Unless... I gaped at her as she stepped up and sat next to me.
“You’re as smitten with him as he is with you.”
Her cheeks turned pink, which was all the confirmation I needed.
The cart began rolling down the bumpy road. We’d spent a small fortune on a spelled cart that would move on its own. It was easier than buying a horse that we’d have to care for. It was also better in situations like this when we were in a hurry. I patted the side of the cart.
“Giddy up,” I said, and the cart jolted, increasing its speed.
“Don’t push it too hard,” Adelaide warned.
I glanced behind me at the tree line in the distance, hoping we could get out of sight before Elm emerged and discovered we’d fled. If everything went according to plan, we’d never see him or Thistlegrove again.
Three
ELSPETH
Iturned back to Adelaide as the cart rolled along the road. “So?” I asked, arms crossed.
She shrugged innocently. “So . . . what?”
“You really think we should’ve stayed behind, gotten to know this Elm, let him know us.”
Adelaide sighed heavily. “Elspeth, I know you’ve been hurt in the past.”
I looked away, not wanting to think about the person who hurt me, who’d broken my heart. That had been long ago. I’d been a naive girl. Now I was a grown woman of thirty, and I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I had before.
“It’s not about that,” I said.
“Not entirely,” Adelaide agreed. She laid a hand on my arm. “But I think it is part of it. You know nothing about Elm, yet you assume he’s going to discover our secrets and turn us in to Witch Superior.”
