“And Georgie ran away.”
My entire body went cold.
“Several townspeople saw her and the dragon fleeing Thistlegrove.”
I stepped forward. “When?”
“I just found out, but I think it was over an hour ago.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Where is my grandmother?” I ground out.
“She’s at your manor. Servants are attending to her. But she’s asking for you and Georgie.”
I thought about what I’d said to her in the forest. This was all my fault. “I have to go after my sister.”
“I’ll help you.” Elm clapped my shoulder with his hand. “We’ll find Adelaide and Elspeth later.”
I swallowed, thinking of Georgie out there all alone. It wasn’t safe for a young girl to be traveling by herself. Any number of things could happen to her. I shouldn’t have been so harsh, so cruel. Even if our grandmother was a better option to raise Georgie, I could’ve told her in a gentler way. I’d been so upset about Elspeth, I hadn’t been thinking clearly.
I’d well and truly fucked everything up. But now I had to fix it.
I looked at Morty. “Head to the manor and distract my grandmother. She likes you. She always has. I’ll find Georgie, and we’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Hopefully by the time I could find Elspeth, it wouldn’t be too late. I ran for the door, grabbing the handle and swinging it open, coming face-to-face with Elspeth Moonflower.
Forty-Two
ELSPETH
Istared into Draven’s light green eyes, wild with worry. My gaze drifted to the cloak draped around his shoulders, then the sign that hung right outside the door:“Tavern Closed Until Further Notice.”
“Where are you going?” I asked, stomach twisting.
He shoved a hand through his hair. “I was going to find you, but then I realized Georgie is missing, and I have to go get her. I fucked up, Elspeth.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Georgie is safe. She’s with my family at the cottage.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief, then his brows furrowed. “Wait. What are you doing here?”
“You have one smart sister,” I said. “She and Edgar came after us, told us we have to come back, talk sense into her brother.”
A guilty look crossed Draven’s face, and he squeezed his eyes shut. “I was going to send her away with my grandmother.”
“Witch Superior,” I said.
His eyes flashed in surprise.
I hesitated but pushed past the fear. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He huffed. “Because I’m ashamed of her.”
The answer surprised me.
“She’s not a good leader, even if everyone is too afraid to admit it. Too afraid to stand up to her. I didn’t want you to think less of me.”
I’d been such an idiot.
