Chapter 1 Rook #2
Blaze ducks his head as he walks into the back room. His dark red shaggy hair falls into his face. Like me, he’s tall and muscular and honestly looks more like a bear shifter rather than a witch. When he stopped by yesterday to interview for the elemental witch position, I was shocked.
Not only did he seem friendly and approachable, he was smart. Quick. I decided to extend the interview and see if he could find me some magical herbs or flowers for the shop.
Since elemental witches can sense the magic growing within the plants, they are able to tell which plants and herbs will be the best to harvest for spells.
I might have a passion for spellwork, but I can’t sense just how powerful the magic within a plant actually is.
Not until I brew the potions and test their potency.
Blaze smiles when he sees which herbs I’m handling. “Ah. Thyme is great for healing potions. Can I help you with that?”
“Sure.” I grin. “Let's finish this up in here, then I can show you where I store everything. I need to make a few potions today so we can go over my process. Afterward, I can give you a tour of the shop. How does that sound?”
“Great.”
Over the next two hours, we effortlessly establish a pleasant rhythm. We sift through mystical flora, handpicking the most powerful herbs for crafting potions. Together, we brew a few simple spells that always sell out and work together to bottle them.
We multitask by chatting and working simultaneously. Blaze has a knack for learning things quickly and comes across as genuinely sincere. I have no doubt that he’ll quickly become friends with Lyla and Zero. And if he really is fated to Cass, then all of us will definitely become close friends.
“That’s the last of it,” I say, placing the poppies into a vase.
“If you’re unfamiliar with Heart’s Hollow, you’ll learn that the town has special protection wards surrounding the forest. So, as long as the plants are still growing, they will be in season all year long.
The rest of the town might experience the seasons, but we don’t have to worry about the flowers in the forest dying in the winter or drying up in the summer. ”
Blaze chuckles. “I’m familiar with Heart’s Hollow. I know I just moved into my new place, but I actually grew up here.”
“That’s great. I’m hoping that since you’re a witch, it might work in our favor. The other witches tend to avoid my shop.”
“Wait, what? Why would they avoid the apothecary? You clearly have a passion for potions and spellwork. You’re probably the best in town, if I’m being honest.”
My tail wags at the compliment, and I duck behind the counter, not wanting Blaze to see. “Let’s just say I’m tired of people judging me based on my appearance. I’d rather they look past my wolf features.”
“Seriously? People shouldn’t be judging you for your appearance. They’re idiots.” Blaze shakes his head. “I’m serious, Rook. We only just met, but you’ve shown more love for the craft than anyone I’ve seen. And you aren’t even a witch. It’s really impressive.”
“Thank you. Since we’re talking about it, I’m hoping you might be able to tell your old friends or family to stop by?” I pose it as a question, looking at him hopefully.
Blaze’s lips twist. “About that. I was hoping we could keep it a secret that I’m working here. I have some things I need to sort through first.”
I scrunch my forehead. “I don’t know, Blaze. I don’t feel comfortable lying to people.”
“No, not a lie. Just give me some time to get settled. I promise. Just three weeks? Maybe less?”
I nod slowly, studying him. “Are you safe? Is anyone going to come searching for you, or anything like that?” I think about my pack that rejected me but continued to search for my sister until she gave them the middle finger.
The nice thing about living in a sanctuary town is that I know the magic would kick Blaze out if he was thinking about hurting anyone who lived here.
But just because I feel relatively safe around him doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want him to feel safe too.
“I’m safe. You and your shop are safe. It’s just…personal. I promise I’ll explain when I’m settled.”
“Alright. Just let me know if you need anything. I’ll give you three weeks to get settled. If you need more time, let me know. And if you need someone to talk to, my wolf ears are great for listening.” I clap him on the back and nod.
Blaze relaxes, sighing in relief. “Thank you.”
“Come on, let's put the remaining supplies away. I prefer keeping a few plants in their natural state. Instead of using up all my stock for potions, I sell some ingredients whole too. This allows the townsfolk to have ingredients for their own spells if they ever need them.”
“So,” Blaze says when we finish. “Tell me more about yourself. Are you mated? Married?”
For some reason, an image of the auburn-haired witch flashes in my mind, causing my cheeks to heat. “Uh, no. Not married and definitely not mated.”
“Anyone special?” Blaze grins. “You’re blushing.”
As I examine Blaze more closely, I notice that his hair is nearly the exact same rare shade of red. Could they be related? Is my beautiful witch one of the ‘personal things’ that Blaze needs to deal with?
“It’s not a big deal,” I say, waving my clawed hand in the air.
Blaze grins again and nudges me. “Oh, come on. Tell me.”
“I don’t even know his name.” My blush travels down my neck. Gods, I’m so embarrassed. “We’ve never actually met.”
Blaze’s eyes sparkle. “Okay, and what makes him so special?”
“He’s a witch. He walks by the apothecary every morning. It’s kind of the highlight of my day.” Ah, shit. Did I really just say that out loud?
Blaze chuckles. “Okay, go on.”
“It’s the way he pays particular attention to the wisteria in that gazebo.” I point across the street toward the park. “There’s something enduring about it. About him.”
“Your witch takes care of the wisteria?” Blaze asks in a far-off tone. He’s staring out the window at the gazebo, but it’s almost as if he’s lost in thought.
“Yeah. See how the trees surrounding the gazebo are starting to change colors? The leaves are turning yellow and orange, but the wisteria is still that stunning shade of purple. It’s because he uses his magic to nourish the plants.
It might even be similar magic that’s used to protect the forest from the weather. ”
Blaze continues to stare at the gazebo, lips parted with shock. Finally, he shakes his head, as if waking from a dream.
His hazel eyes meet mine. “I think you should go for it. Introduce yourself.”
“Fuck, you sound like my sister.”
“She must be a smart lady.”
“Gods, don’t let her hear you say that. You’ll meet her soon enough. But really, I can’t just introduce myself, Blaze. This witch…he’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” Exhaustion hits me. I don’t really want to repeat everything I said to my sister.
Blaze nods. “You mentioned earlier that you don’t like it when people judge you for your appearance. That you want people to see past your wolf. Don’t you think there might be a chance your witch might be tired of being judged for his appearance, too?”