Page 9 of Hexes & Heartstrings (Shifters of Bastion Keep #2)

To Bruin, walking into Bastion's library felt like walking into the trunk of a massive redwood tree.

Rings of wooden shelves spiraled out from the center of the room, and continued on up to a second and a third story, with some of the shelves as tall as fifteen feet.

Several avenues led to the center of the room, where a half-dozen reading tables were bathed in the early morning light.

Bruin saw his fellow coven members already there, and he headed towards them.

"Happy Wednesday, Rosemary," Bruin said, setting his witch's bag down on one of the sturdy tables. "And to you, Lux. Today's all about prep for Friday, right?"

"Mostly that, yes," Lux said, comparing a list in front of him to something he was reading from his phone.

"That, and any general learning about the Umbral that Roland hasn't already taught us.

Remember, we still have a deadline of the end of next month to properly figure out ways to improve our tracking ritual. "

"I didn't find anything about tracking, yet," Bruin said, setting out his journal. "But I think I found myself a good starting point."

Bruin was showing them a possible charm that he was working on, one to bind shadows into a crystal, when the doors made a sound, and he looked over to see two people approaching.

Navigating the tables and shelves with the air of someone who felt inconvenienced that she had to make twists and turns instead of plowing directly through towards them was Lady Yi, the newly arrived noble.

Bruin hadn't gotten a good look the night before, but now that she was up close, he could see that she was fair of skin, dark of hair where it wasn't dyed, and wore golden accouterments.

Bruin's fleeting impression of her as someone like Lux, coolly rational and who made expedient decisions, swiftly evaporated as he saw her regarding them like they were so much furniture.

"Witches," she said, coming to stand before their table. She grabbed Bruin's journal, turning it around to look at his notes on the Umbral, and Bruin had to resist the urge to yank it away.

"Lady Yi," Lux said in a carefully respectful tone, and he and Rosemary both bowed their heads. Bruin was a few seconds behind. "Is there some way in which we can be of assistance?"

"You can," she said, then indicated the man that followed beside her.

His age was hard to place—older eyes in a younger body, so maybe he had some myth blood despite his human appearance—but looked to be between thirty and fifty, had wavy red hair and the bushiest of sideburns, a protruding beer belly beneath his otherwise sharp outfit, and a fetching smile.

Overall, he seemed like the kind of man you could share juicy gossip with over a glass of wine at the end of the day.

"This is Arthur, and he's the willworker accompanying my pack, a witch like yourselves. I've already spoken with the High Priest, and he agrees that Arthur should work with you three over Bastion's recent shadow problems. I want him to join your coven as its head."

Bruin raised his eyebrows, wondering if he should say something.

"We will of course be delighted to work with a fellow witch," Lux said, then pursed his lips. "But giving him the reins? That's a tall ask."

"It wasn't a request," Yi said coolly. "He's older and more experienced, and you three are each what, barely into your twenties? Practically kittens. So make it happen."

The lady looked at each of the three of them in turn, then turned around to leave the library after her pronouncement, silence following her until she'd gone.

"I am so sorry about all of that," Arthur said, breaking the awkward silence as he put his hands together pleadingly.

Bruin wasn't sure if he was flushing, or just naturally red in the cheeks.

"She's a leader, so she's used to getting her way.

Obviously I'm not going to shoehorn my way into being top dog. "

"Thank you," Lux said. "As I said, we'll be delighted in working with you, and to learn from your expertise. As long as we are all open with one another, I'm sure only good things will happen."

The man seemed to turn even redder. "Ah, well. My name's Arthur McCorvin. Should we, um…"

"I think this calls for proper introductions, of course," Rosemary said, standing out of her chair. "Do you have any time obligations?"

"No, I have a pretty free leash. Lady Yi trusts me to make myself useful."

"High Priest Roland trusts us similarly." Rosemary bent down to grab her witch's bag, and then settled its strap over her shoulder. "Come! The library can wait an hour. Let us have tea and break bread together."

Rosemary began shooing them all away, barely giving Bruin time to gather his things. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Arthur falling into step, a bemused expression on his face.

With a swish of her black skirt, Rosemary led the way downstairs to the first floor of the Sage's Quarter and into the community room.

While Bruin and Lux went to the kitchen to grab a half loaf of homemade bread and several spreads, Rosemary gathered her tea carousel, complete with teapot, tea cups, and assorted loose blends in ornate containers decorated with black roses.

After everything was gathered, they reconvened into the sitting area, which was…

Huh. Very different from what Bruin remembered, somehow?

"What?" Bruin asked, using a jelly knife to gesture at a squat table surrounded by rugs and cushions, where once had sat several sofas and recliners.

"The beige couches offended me, so I burned them," Rosemary said as she set the tea down in the middle of the table, but Bruin could tell by the extra spring in her step that she was full of pride.

"But actually, I was exploring some of the castle's storage rooms, and I found some old shifter furniture, so I redecorated. "

Bruin put down his armload of cutlery and jars of spreads, then set out a plate for each of them before kneeling down.

"It looks Arabic," he said, trying out a long, flat cushion. "Or maybe Turkish? Like the castle baths?"

"It's possibly inspired by those cultures," Rosemary said, adjusting her skirt as she took a seat and began filling tea strainers with the dried blends that she procured herself.

"But if you look, you'll see that the cushions are longer and can kind of be molded, and the table has a pull out shelf to put, well, a dog bowl for lack of a better word.

It's ideal seating for shifters in their animal forms!

Also, I'm guessing you want hibiscus tea again? With honey?"

"Yes, and yes."

And now that Rosemary had pointed it out, he could imagine how this furniture would be more comfortable for shifters like Russell.

Couches were great, but maybe not as fun to get on and off of for a wolf, and he made a note to ask his boyfriend his opinion.

Maybe he should get some soft rugs like this for his own room!

Once each person was served a cup of tea and a slice of bread—Bruin slathered his in a strawberry marmalade until it was sopping—they shared a quick blessing.

"Peace be unto us, we who share this meal," Lux said, taking a polite bite of his bread before setting it back on its plate.

"And now, brother, introductions. My name is Lux Manus, head of our small coven for all that we three are equal members.

As a Celestial witch, I favor Sun and Moon workings. "

He reached out a hand and shook it with Arthur, who seemed to have adapted to the cushions remarkably well.

"With me is Rosemary, our Hearth witch," he continued, and she lifted her teacup towards Arthur.

"You can color me unsurprised," Arthur said, raising his own cup in turn with a laugh. "A perfect hostess such as yourself couldn't possibly be anything else. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rosemary, and by the way, you must tell me where you got your shawl."

"A garage sale," she said, and Bruin saw Arthur make a moue of disappointment.

"But I bought a dozen similar shawls and scarves, so if you like the style, I can lend you some.

Feel free to stop by my room when you have a moment, and we can have you try them on.

Fair warning, I think only one or two will match the painful vibrancy of your current outfit. "

Arthur made an exaggerated eye roll as he lifted a hand to finger the cerulean blue lapel of his outfit.

"Oh, I know, this color positively destroys my complexion. But Lady Yi insisted I wear House Rhindon colors to make a 'dominant first impression.' Her words, not mine. Luckily I packed some dark cashmere turtlenecks that I can change into later. Hmm, is something wrong?"

Arthur had turned his gaze to Bruin, and he realized that he'd accidentally winced.

"Sorry," Bruin said. "I was just thinking about how much shed fur they'd collect."

"Lint rollers and repel charms, my shirtless friend! Is that why you do without? Not that I'm complaining, of course. If rugged men want to run around half-naked, or all-naked, more power to them, just make sure they run by me!"

Bruin looked down at his chest, then back across the table, feeling his face heat. Before he could think of a less incriminating way to say that he was shirtless because he hadn't done laundry in weeks despite Sergiy's not-so-subtle hints, Lux came to his rescue.

"Bruin is a Green witch," he said. "He spends a good amount of time gardening, which can get dirty."

"Ah! So not just a literal green thumb, but a vocational one as well."

Bruin sent Lux a grateful smile. "Yes, exactly."

"As a Green witch," Lux continued, "Bruin has fallen into the role of Bastion's healer. If you or yours are injured, the infirmary should really be your first stop, but he can help in an emergency. Have you been shown to the infirmary yet? Or toured any of the rest of the castle?"