A Chicago witch, uprooted.
Having just completed his government-sponsored apprenticeship, Bruin the Green Witch is on the hook for three years of public service. In a desperate attempt to avoid being drafted as a bureaucratic cog pumping out rote charms in a stuffy office, he takes a chance at a dangerous residency—Bastion Keep, a remote castle in the Rocky Mountains, and home to a small army of shifters.
While most of the rumors end up being true—yes, there are monthly spirit incursions, and yes, the wifi is terrible—the verdant outdoors and the cute werewolf neighbor more than make up for it. Now if only the local lord wasnt staring at him like he wants to bite his head off!
A stoic lord, overwrought.
Five years ago, Lord Sergiy took over as warlord for Bastions forces, and hes entirely devoted to his duties. All that matters to him is keeping his lands and people safe, managing the packs, and holding the line against the invasive shadows that periodically emerge from the Umbral realm. He has no time for personal entanglements, and he doesnt see that changing anytime soon.
But when he comes across an orc witch tending to his men after returning from a mission, something within his chest catches fire, and now his carefully cultivated discipline is in disarray. How is he supposed to do his job if hes distracted by the appearance of a promised mate? Especially when said mate doesnt quite see eye-to-eye about fate.
A gentle wolf, torn.
Russell is happy. He has a nice home at the castle, and he does useful work. Sometimes he helps his da with his High Priest duties, sometimes he helps carry heavy things for the staff, and sometimes he gets to see Ser around the castle—even if his lord doesnt want him anymore, its still nice to know that hes okay.
Russell is simply doing his job by showing the three new witches around, but then one of them seems to be paying him a lot of attention, and smells both friendly and interesting. And this little witch doesnt seem to mind that he doesnt talk a lot, isnt scared of his big wolf form, and also likes to dig holes in the grass.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the little witch belongs to Lord Sergiy. And if hes Sers, then the witch cant be his.
right?
