I shook my head. Before I’d adopted him, the miniature dragon had been living at Arcane Creatures Emporium, the local magical creature shop. He was sheltered. He had a lot to learn about our world, and I didn’t have the patience to teach him.
“Why don’t you use a wand?” Edgar peered at me, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
“I don’t need one,” I replied gruffly. There were a small group of witches with rare magic that allowed us to cast spells by just uttering thewords, no conduit—like a wand—needed. I happened to be one of them.
“You really shouldn’t antagonize your customers,” Edgar said.
“He’s a grumpy old bastard.” I grabbed another glass, stuffing my rag inside of it. “If anything, he antagonizes me.”
Edgar’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but um, well, you’re also a grumpy old bastard. Except you’re not old. At least, not as old as Veldar.”
I snorted, staring at the little dragon. No, I was not. Veldar was over a hundred years old. I’d just turned thirty-five. But some days, I felt over a hundred.
“I’m just saying...” Edgar’s eyes shifted back and forth. “You could maybe be nicer sometimes? Not so focused on your work that you forget about the people around you?”
I leaned in until we were nearly nose to nose, and he flinched. “There’s just one problem with that: I don’t like any of the people around me.”
Which was true. I wasn’t a people person. Never had been. I preferred the solitude of my magic and my tiny apartment over the tavern.
“Now that I think about it. Not much of a dragon person either.”
Edgar’s eyes widened. “Oh, please don’t get rid of me.” He curled into himself, tail grazing my shoulder.
“I’m not getting rid of you, Edgar.” I flipped the rag over my shoulder and set down the final glass that needed polishing. “And maybe I am a grumpy old bastard, but it’s my bar. My bar. My rules. If anyone doesn’t like it, they don’t have to come. Why are you down here anyway?”
“Georgie kicked me out.” He sniffed.
I stiffened. “She what?”
“I know! I was trying to tell her how dangerous it was to jump out the window and sneak out, but she wouldn’t listen!”
I groaned and looked up at the ceiling. “Edgar,” I said. “What is the one job I gave you?”
He paused, tilting his head. “Watch your sister.”
“Yes.” I gave him a pointed look. “So find her, and when you do, tell her to get her ass back here before I have to come find her.”
Hegulped. “Leaving now.” He flapped his wings, which were the same orange color as his scales, but more translucent.
A few patrons chuckled as the tiny dragon soared over them.
Just what I needed right now. My younger sister sneaking out and getting herself into more trouble. I wasn’t sure what to do with her. At sixteen, she was an enigma to me. But I was all she had, and I was trying to be there for her. I just didn’t know how.
“Can you believe it?” a witch said to her friend.
They both sat on stools at the bar top, drinking a new fruity ale I’d been experimenting with: apple crisp.
“Five new witches appearing in Thistlegrove?” her friend said.
I inched closer, listening to the gossip.
“A mother and her four daughters.” The witch leaned closer to her friend. “Apparently their cart broke down and Elm Kingsley saved them. I think he might have his eye on one of them. I heard they were all clamoring for his attention. Practically pawing at him.”
I sighed. Now that I didn’t like. Elm was one of my only friends. In town to visit, actually. He was wealthy, influential, and he didn’t always make the best decisions when it came to women. Whoever these witches were, they already sounded like bad news. And that meant I had yet another problem on my hands.
Five
ELSPETH
