The House Witch (The House Witch, #1)

by Delemhach

In the haze of tranquility, he forgot another important detail of the evening that would later cause him great anxiety and stress … Someone nearby knew he had magic.

Ooh

Annika smiled coolly, and sidled casually over to Fin, only this time she was the one to invade his space. As he turned to face her, placing down his knife and carrot, she stood close enough that if she bowed her head, it would touch his chest. “You need to watch what you say, Fin. One of these days that frank opinion of yours is going to get you in trouble.” “Another excellent reason for me to avoid people,” he said, trying not to focus on the faint smell of spices coming from her.

Didn’t most women smell like flowers? Why did she smell like a spiced oil, or … She laughed. It wasn’t her dainty fake laugh she had tried on him before, but an honest chuckle. “I like talking to you, though.” She smiled up at him and shrugged her right shoulder.

Lee’s eyes actually twinkled, and Fin’s gaze grew even more wary. Kindly old mages were good at getting people’s defenses down. Witch wannabes, the lot of ’em, he thought to himself, accusatory of the man before him.

Lol

“Is something in your eyes, sir?” Fin snipped, accidentally making a cup topple off the ledge behind the elder. Lee blinked, and the light disappeared as he shook his head. “Ahh, cataracts. Getting old is a thankless task, I wouldn’t recommend it to you.” He gave another warm smile. Is this sod with a stick telling me to kill myself?! Fin decided to respond appropriately to disperse any tensions. “I prefer aging to the alternative, thanks.”

Lol

“Oh, and I meant I wouldn’t tell Ruby about your secret pet. Good evening, Finlay Ashowan.” Fin glared as Lee closed the door and remained rooted to the spot for several more minutes until he was certain the minion of Satan’s anus wouldn’t return.

Lol

“Despite the numerous complaints I’ve received about the new cook, I am quite taken with him.” The queen smiled, her brown eyes dazed in pleasure. “You finally saw him?” For some reason Annika suddenly looked strained. “No, I haven’t. Though, do tell, why are you giving me that reaction?”

Lol

“Norman said that the female staff were quite enthralled with him, and I must admit I’m growing curious.” “I wouldn’t waste your time. The only thing remarkable about him is his lack of manners or sense.” A slow smile began to spread on Ainsley’s face. “My dear Lady Jenoure … are you perhaps taken with him?” Annika snorted. “I’m suspicious of him.

Lol

“About the new cook …” Lee started slowly, and Norman immediately straightened his posture. “He’s a witch.” The king blinked in surprise. “A male witch? Aren’t those quite rare?” “They are. Perhaps only twenty percent of the witch population is men.” “What element is he aligned with?” “I do not know, but I suspect air,” Lee declared carefully.

“Mages and witches have never gotten along. Witches are born with magic as a part of them as their blood or bones. Mages have to work, and study for years to master what a witch can sometimes do from the time they can walk, depending on their strengths. Mages are better, of course, because we are not limited to a single element, but against a powerful witch, even the best of us might have some troubles. Some witches are still … bitter about our involvement in their persecution fifty years ago, but we’ve already issued apologies about that so it’s been put to rest.”

“Witches came to be by the creation of the Goddess, which is why even male witches are “witches,” instead of warlocks. Their powers come from the feminine half of the Gods. They believe the mages (or “wizards,” as some call us), to be tyrants who have gone against the natural order and laws of life. It has been an ancient feud that I am ashamed to admit I am a part of.”

lore

The two continued discussing their favorite meals made by Fin for at least another hour before they retired to their own chambers, each one already hungry for breakfast the next day.

Aww lol

The lad was currently taking a large gulp of sweet milk tea, with a bowl of freshly cut fruit in front of him. As he set the cup down with a satisfied sigh, he began peering into the bowl of cut grapes, apples, and strawberries as though trying to decide which one he wanted to eat.

Awww how cute <3

The silence that followed was crushing, and the only one that dared to move was Eric, who had bent down, picked Kraken up, and begun petting him while watching the scene unfold. The captain shot a tender look at the young boy, as he seemed to be petting the kitten to calm his own nerves. Somehow, that small show of affection made Fin feel braver.

Awww <3

The king looked slightly disturbed and uncomfortable at how well-spoken, and how blunt the cook truly was. At times he sounded even more educated and intelligent than some of the nobles in his court … though he had some pretty radical notions … “I think serving women will give the knights more respect for the gender as well. They need to mend the wounded party,” Fin continued while the king stared at him appraisingly.

“Finlay Ashowan, I am aware that you are a witch, and I have questions.”

Gasp!

“I am called a house witch.” The king blanched. “I beg your pardon?” “A house witch. Or hearth witch if you prefer. My powers are centered around the home. Food, protection, so on and so forth: I can do a lot of things to make life comfier, and homier.”

Aww lol

“No, I couldn’t have. That is against my ability. Magic in witches is fused with their personalities, and the elements they are aligned with— and each one has limitations. I am not a killer by nature. I am a protector, and a nurturer. I could have erected a barrier that would have immediately blown the knights clear off the grounds, but they wouldn’t be killed. The only other way I could’ve bested them would’ve been by knocking them out in the name of self-defense.”

“Fire, water, and air witches can kill and hurt people. If in a battle, they can do brutal damage. Air witches can do most of what I am doing right now, but they aren’t limited like I am to the house. If I were to step off Your Majesty’s grounds, I’d become powerless. Right now, I only identify the kitchen and perhaps the gardens as my home. I probably couldn’t even float a spoon in the dining hall, unless I frequented there more often.”

Annika sliced off a corner of the steaming sandwich, and using the fork he had given her, tentatively bit into the golden perfection. Instinctively, her eyes closed, and a breath of pure satisfaction left her body. Which was when Fin stole a look at her face and dared a smile before she could open her eyes to see.

Awww <3

Lee pointed at Fin, igniting a flame on his fingertip as he glared at the cook. “You will stop filling that boy’s head with nonsense. If you think you can best me, then prove it!” Fin reached up, and easily pinched out the flame on Lee’s finger, looking strained. Lee stared, startled at the steaming end of his finger. The mage fire should not have been so easily extinguished …

Lol

Annika turned to face Fin, wearing a half-smile as she stared up at his good-humored expression. “Well, Finlay Ashowan, I believe I just earned full rights to come and go from your kitchen whenever I please.” Fin’s face fell.

Lol

Well, I’ve learned two valuable things that evening. The first: my abilities can extend the more rooms I visit connected to my “home.” The second: my father, who I haven’t seen since I was eight years old, is leading a war to Daxaria’s doorstep.

Gasp!

The young boy dropped his stare down to the pitiful supper he had mustered up, and that was when it dawned on him: he wanted to run away. He wanted to run to a place where there was always good food, where he and his mom would always be safe …

Aww ;(

Fin’s breath caught in his throat when he laid eyes on her attire for the evening.

What took Fin back the most was that he had never seen her look so serious or … worried. “I can take care of myself, don’t lose sleep over me,” Fin managed to tease quietly, leaning down slightly to smile gently at her in the darkness, hoping to ease some of her obvious anxiety. Annika’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened and closed once. For some reason at a loss for words …

“You look as lonely and out of place as I feel.”

he felt something begin to stir in the pit of his stomach. He was feeling something new … and the slightly unnerving sensation of just not knowing what it was made him all the more rattled.

I … I walked through the rose maze.” Fin hesitated a little, his fork hovering in front of his mouth for a moment as he remembered Annika Jenoure standing in the moonlight in her bright teal dress, and her almost … innocent, expectant expression. “By yourself?” Eric sounded surprised as he turned to face Fin seriously. “Mom and dad say that’s where people go to fall in love.”

Aawwww lol <3

As Fin awkwardly turned back to his breakfast, he found an unwelcome image flash through his mind of Annika smiling down into a bouquet of various kinds of bright wildflowers. He shook his head, clearing the image away. Seven-year-olds had no idea what they were talking about.

Lol

“When … Lord Piereva … I-I responded strongly to his attitude toward his sister.” Fin knew he had made no sense but hoped the king was perceptive enough to understand.

Fin slowly turned his head to stare at Annika. Her grasp was hot to the touch, the scent of the foreign spices heavy around her. He knew he was feeling … far more than he should toward the woman. Taking several steps back, he nodded silently in agreement before turning to look out one of the windows to the chamber. Annika stared at his back, wondering why in the world she felt disappointed that he wasn’t still inches from her body.

He felt a swell of hope that he promptly squashed. What was wrong with him? She was several levels of nobility above him, and the most he could honestly hope for was a passionate affair that would leave him with nothing—or the knowledge that some other man was raising his kin.

Fin needed distance from the strange draw he was feeling toward Annika. Whatever this is, it’s strong, surprising, and a pain in the ass.

“The … The marriage. They want the late viscount’s wealth … King Matthias and Lord Piereva are angry that the viscountess has amassed so much wealth that remains solely under her control. They wish to find a means to seize these funds so that they can do what they see fit with it.” The spy looked down at the pommel of his saddle, looking deeply uncomfortable. “Charles, you don’t need to soften the news by referring to me as though the viscountess is someone else.” Slowly, the hood lowered, and Annika Jenoure stared at her brother with a mix of pity and love.

“My apologies. He is called Lord … ?” “Fuks,” Mr. Howard replied hastily. “I beg your pardon?” Fin straightened immediately. Kevin’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “His name is Fuks. Lord Fuks.” The corner of the cook’s mouth twitched as he fought to keep a straight face. “I … I look forward to … meeting with Lord …” Fin breathed heavily with his mouth pressed closed. “Lord … Fuks.”

Lol!!!

“Dick, why are you allowing a cook to try to heal you?” The chief of military glowered at his son, who stood at his bedside, exasperated. “It’s my business! Now go do something useful instead of tormenting me, and stop calling me by my first name! It’s ‘Father’ to you!” the lord raged, doubling over from the pain in his stomach.

Lol

Fin bowed as the lord reached for the whiskey glass at his bedside and hurled it at the cook. Fin swiftly dodged it,

Lol

“Is there something wrong with my son’s name? Les Fuks?” Fin pressed his lips together so tightly that all color drained from them. “N-not at all.” He took a quiet breath through his nose before adding on, “My lord.”

Lol

“I am glad to hear you think so! My father Gaylord certainly knew it to be true!” “Your father was … Lord Gaylord Fuks?” Fin deadpanned the question the best he could,

Lol

Kingdoms go to war not because they are strong, but because they are weak! Peace is strength,

“You’re thinking you would have never lived to see the day where two mages produced another one of their kind,” Keith sighed knowingly. Fin looked at the young man, alarmed. Had the mages learned how to read minds? He knew they were a blasphemous people but to go so far—

“Is … the babe … dead?” the hoarse, gentle voice of the queen asked, and Fin felt his chest constrict. “I cannot say, Your Majesty.” “Can your magic save …” He froze. The king had told his wife his secret,

“You have to. You have to for this baby.” Fin could feel his magic flow to the queen. He knew all he could do … was offer the feeling of warmth that came from being in a loving supportive place. He knew the value of being surrounded by peace, even when the moment felt anything but peaceful.

“And what? Why in the world is this important, Mr. Ashowan? I believe you are forgetting—” “Because I couldn’t help her!” Fin bellowed, making the king take a step back.

Gasp!

“You protected the queen. So, Sirs Taylor and Andrews, and both Hannah and Peter, came up with the idea to … tidy up. Plus, with you gone, we kinda saw how much you do. It took four people to do what you manage to do on your own.” Sir Lewis shrugged.

Awww

“You wanna know why I can’t be ’round you?” Fin slurred as he relied on the sturdy tree beneath his shoulder to stop him from falling over. “Well, earlier you said—” “It’s ’cause I like you.” She went still. “You mean you want to lay with me. It’s fine. I know most of—” “Nah. I mean … Yeah. But … you make me excited. Excited for … you. Life an’ you in it.” Fin shrugged and drank more again.

Lol

He slowly bent down, closer to the stunning lady who seemed immune to bothersome feelings. He dropped a gentle kiss against her lips, the softness, warmth, and tinge of electricity gravely intoxicating.

Fin needed a mate and human kittens … It was integral to his being—more so than most of his humankind, due to his magic. Kraken could sense it.

Lol

For some reason, Fin only had one woman that suited him, and she was a tough one. The woman in question smelled strongly of spices and seemed like a good huntress to Kraken. She had brought him to his witch, which was already a good start, as it showed she had good taste in companions. She was clearly the best potential mate, but why did Fin have to be so selective?! It made things so much more difficult …