What A Witch Claims

Chapter 2

Friday evening, at the barbecue

Ferdie manned the grill and checked out the crowd gathered on the bridge and along the tributary's banks. The residents of Assjacket and the surrounding valley had turned out in full force and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Glancing at the food table, he noted he'd better turn out some more platters of chicken breasts, burgers, and pork loins. The meat-eating Shifters had been heavily chowing down.

"Ferdie?" The sweet voice with a French accent belonged to one of the fairies. He couldn't keep their names straight, so he called them all "sweetheart." They didn't seem to mind.

"Yes, sweetheart. What do you need?" He knew it wasn't meat. The fairies' diet consisted of mostly vegetables, fruits, and lots and lots of carbs, all washed down with their drink of choice—Diet Pepsi.

"Is there more of your watercress lasagna?" The blonde fairy fluttered her silver-dusted wings as she hovered in front of his face. "We love your lasagna."

"There are another two pans in the refrigerator." He gave her a smile. "I'll just pop in and nuke one of them in the microwave."

Herne's balls, he loved the new kitchen Raisa had talked him into when she'd helped him decorate his place. It was amazing how good friends and a refurbished home with all the mod cons had taken the edge off his oft-surly attitude. Now, he was only occasionally surly.

"We'll be watching." The fairy flittered away, calling over her shoulder. " Merci ."

"No problem, sweetheart." Ferdie turned and found the kangaroo Shifter Jeeves who often popped in to offer up tasty dishes at the Assjacket Diner, replenishing the charcuterie trays he and his witch-mate Sassy had brought. "Hey, Jeeves, could you do me a favor and watch the grill? I need to heat up some more of the lasagna for the fairies."

"Sure. And, if you have enough, heat some up for me, too. I didn't get any earlier. Between the fairies and the other herbivore Shifters, I missed out. I'd also love to know how you make a watercress lasagna taste almost meaty."

Ferdie slapped Jeeves across the back when he reached the grill. "I'll share the recipe, if you'll share yours for the beef bourguignonne you make."

"Deal." Jeeves gave him a sweet smile. Everyone loved Jeeves who was very good-looking and was just plain nice. Well, everyone but demons who made the mistake of moving into the valley. Jeeves was the last Marsupial Demon Slayer.

When Ferdie returned with two sheet pans of watercress lasagna and another warmed loaf of his herb bread with garlic butter, the fairies swarmed him chanting, "Me, me, me."

He placed the dishes on the table set aside for entree-type dishes and said, "Patience, little ones, there's enough for you and Jeeves. Plus, you need to save room for the desserts to be had."

"Dessert, dessert, dessert," the fairies chanted, filling the air with a sibilant sound that mimicked the buzzing of bees.

The hairs on Ferdie's neck stood up. That was odd. He'd never reacted physically to the fairies' buzzing before. His nerve endings sizzled as if he'd stuck his finger in an electrical outlet. And he suddenly had the hardest erection he'd ever experienced in his five hundred years of existence.

Look , the deep, sonorous voice of the relic ordered.

Look? Where? Was she finally here? Hope blossoming in his heart, he eagerly scanned the area. But all he could see were crowds of happy Assjacket residents eating and talking. Then he noted the fairies had gone completely quiet and were looking at something behind him.

"Dessert?" Bran said. "It looks as if my cousin Morticia is arriving at just the right time."

Ferdie turned, glad that his chef's apron masked his massive hard-on. "Hey, Bran, glad to see you finally could make it. Raisa said you'd be along. Your cousin? I didn't know you had relatives in the valley, well, other than your mate."

"He didn't know I lived here either until after he arrived …" The low, sultry voice came from beyond Bran, whose large frame blocked the speaker from Ferdie's view, but didn't block the effect her voice had on him.

Ferdie's heart raced and he couldn't catch his breath. He swallowed hard and froze in place. Was Bran's cousin really his mate? His body reacted as if she were.

Something witchy this way has arrived, the relic snickered.

While Ferdie was having a life-changing epiphany, his mate-to-be had kept on talking, scolding Bran.

"—and if he doesn't stop calling me Morticia, I'll geld him and that would be the end of his branch of the MacFebals."

"Ouch." Bran winced, but his voice held laughter. "Okay, Ticia MacFebal, let me introduce you to your host, Ferdie."

When Bran finally stepped aside, Ferdie's mouth dropped open at the vision standing in front of him. He felt faint. The world spun around him. Now, he could move, but staggered as all strength left his knees and he collapsed.

Bran's cousin—Ticia—was definitely his mate. She was so gorgeous. What had he done in his life to deserve such beauty? She was tall, taller than his five and a half feet by a head with a body that could only be described as lush. Her eyes were the green of newly sprouted watercress, and her hair was long, thick, and the most glorious red he'd ever seen.

She was perfect. Too perfect.

His Goddess-blessed mate was so far above him in all respects he wanted to cry, and he couldn't recall the last time he'd cried. She was much too magnificent for a short, sometimes foul-mouthed and occasionally surly-tempered half-troll.

My son, the Goddess doesn't make mistakes.

He wasn't so sure about that.

"Um, Ferdie? Are you okay?" Ticia's voice held concern. Healing magic surrounded him as if she were checking him for an injury or illness.

Herne's hairy hooves, she was even powerful. Far too powerful for him.

Why had the Goddess ordained a witch like Ticia for a troll like him? Was this a cosmic joke? Maybe he'd done something in his past to be tortured this way?

Because he didn't see an ice cube's chance in the fiery pits of Hell that she'd want to live with him in his home under the bridge, let alone bump uglies with him and bear his children.

Bran crouched down to look Ferdie in the eyes."Ferdie, can you hear us?"

"Yeah." Ferdie started to rise, but Ticia touched his shoulder. He froze in place. The mere touch of her fingers had his erection harden even more, to the point of pain. He groaned. Her touch was exquisite torture.

"Stay still," she ordered gently. "I bet you've been feeding all the guests and not had a single bit of food for yourself."

She wasn't wrong. But currently he wasn't hungry for food. The only thing he wanted to eat up was Ticia until she writhed beneath him and begged to be fully mated. She might not have become aware of the bonds yet. But he was. Their mind and spirit bonds had already joined so solidly that he doubted the ties could even be broken by the Goddess or Death.

He frowned. Why hadn't she felt it? The connection had almost knocked him on his ass.

Testosterone, the voice of the relic intoned. You have more than most. She also has a good poker face.

Which meant she felt something, but what?

"Here. Eat." She held out a macaroon that held the sweet smell of strawberries and cream and something herb-ish. "Have one of my cookies—"

He groaned. She really had to stop talking, because every word had him hungering for her more.

"It has loads of sugar in it and should bring up your blood glucose. Plus," she gave him a smile, her lips the color of juicy raspberries, "I think the fairies are going to swarm this plate in a second and then you wouldn't get to taste one."

Ferdie took the cookie just as the flutter of fairies did indeed swarm Ticia's plate of berry-colored macaroons. One fairy looked between him and Ticia and gave him a wink. Then she giggled. He winced as did everyone else in the vicinity since fairy giggles sounded like nails scraping on a chalkboard. However, the sound did a lot to lessen his mate-lust.

He bit into the cookie. "So good." The different taste sensations melted on his tongue and then blended for an explosion of flavor. "You used basil and paired it with the strawberries. I often use mint and sometimes lavender with strawberries to give them more depth, but never basil. Is it Genovese Basil?"

Ticia's smile widened, her eyes glittered with—could it be?—interest. If he hadn't already been kneeling, the look she gave him would've knocked him on his ass.

"Why, yes. You have excellent taste awareness. Are you a trained chef?" she asked.

He could tell she was intrigued.

"No, that's Jeeves. But I do like to cook and garden." He added quickly, "And I like to read about both and experiment with recipes."

"So do I," she said.

Aha! A shared interest in cooking could pave the way to a wonderful friendship. He wanted, no, needed to be close to her as often as possible, even if they were just cooking buddies. He still couldn't envision her wanting him the way he wanted her. True mates didn't always have to complete the full bond. There were all sorts of stories throughout the history of the preternatural world where often true mates couldn't physically join for all sorts of reasons.

And far more do complete the physical bond, just not right away, he reminded himself. Raisa and Bran were the perfect example of that. They had been separated for almost five and a half years before completing their bond.

"Ferdie, did you hear what I asked?" Ticia said.

"No, sorry. I guess my brain is fuzzy from lack of eating. What was your question?"

"I asked if I could see your gardens. You said you liked to garden." She glanced toward the shallows near his home. "I noticed your lovely watercress patch, but one of the fairies just told me you have a huge garden in the hills. Since I've only been here for a few months and have been busy getting settled in, I haven't managed to start a garden."

At the mention of moving here, he heard anxiety in her tone. Was she running from something or someone? Many who lived in Assjacket and the valley had come here for the security of living in a place protected by Baba Yaga. Or maybe he was reading too much into her words.

My child. You're listening with your heart and soul. Trust in what you hear and know. She is your mate. Keep her close.

"Of course, I'd love to show you my gardens," Ferdie said. "I also have a greenhouse. I'd be happy to share plant starts for your garden." She could have anything she wanted or needed from him.

Ticia squealed. "A tour and plant starts! Would tomorrow be too soon? You must let me buy you lunch at the diner in exchange for the tour and starts."

"Oh, you don't need to do that." He chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I'm more than happy to show you around my land."

Bran snorted and Ferdie thought he heard the warlock mutter, "I bet."

Ticia gave Ferdie a wide smile as she jabbed her elbow into Bran's gut. "No, I absolutely want to take you to lunch. Then you can show me around your land. Deal?"

"Deal." Ferdie took the hand she held out and gently shook it. There was that sizzle again, like sheet lightning over his skin.

He looked at their joined hands. His were big and thick-fingered. Hers were so fine boned he was afraid he'd break her.

A dark wind of doubt swept through him and chilled his heated reaction to her. There was no way she'd physically survive being his mate, even if she accepted they were mates. Trolls had dense bones and were more than energetic in their lovemaking.

Being her friend was likely the best he could do. But, by Herne's pointy horns, he'd be the best friend ever.

Don't be so dense. My child is not a quitter.

Yes, he was. His mother hadn't been in his mind for two and a half centuries. A lot could change in that span of time.

His mother snorted before the sense of her vanished.

Bran and Ticia looked over the top of his head at something behind him. Both were laughing.

Ferdie turned his head. As he'd predicted Ticia's macaroons were gone with not a single crumb left on the plate. Ferdie's lasagna and bread were almost gone and would've been if Ticia's cookies hadn't distracted the little bottomless fairy pits.

One of the fairies flew to Ticia and hovered. In her hand she held a piece of Ferdie's specialty lasagna. "Here, Ticia. Try Ferdie's lasagna. He makes carbs almost as good as yours."

Ticia laughed. The sound unlike the fairies screeching was like a balmy breeze traveling over his skin and producing a fizzy, fruity alcoholic beverage high. It had him thinking that maybe Baba Yaga was right about his property needing a beach.

Ticia shared a grin with him and took a bite of the lasagna. Her eyes widened and she hummed, then took another bite. After she swallowed, she said, "Watercress lasagna noodles? I've never thought of that. They taste so much better than spinach or kale. I must get this recipe and have you show me your technique for making it."

"Sure. Anything. You want it, you've got it."

"Anything?" Ticia's lips curved upward in what he could only interpret as a mischievous grin. "Better watch out, Ferdie. I might ask for something you aren't willing to give."

Little did she know he'd give her anything and everything she asked for.

****

Ticia couldn't stop smiling at Ferdie. She'd met trolls before, but none like him. His features were those of someone who had seen his share of fights, but he still managed to look cute. His eyes sparkled with good humor and intelligence and were the most beautiful shade of jade green. His dark hair was thick and healthy and touched his very broad shoulders.

But what made him far, far different from other trolls she had met, was his aura; it glowed with an innate goodness. And the way he treated the fairies was lovely, even tolerating their raucous giggling and laughter with a kind smile and only a slight wince. That said a lot about his character. She suspected that he'd made extra of the wonderful, mouth-watering lasagna just for them. That showed kindness.

Yes, Ferdie was a puzzle. Ticia liked puzzles. And for some reason she wanted to know everything about this troll who wasn't totally a troll, because his aura also held magic, possibly ancient magic like the kind she shared with Bran.

Her cousin had warned her that Ferdie's language could be slightly salty, but so far, she hadn't heard any evidence of that. What she'd seen for a second or two was something in him that attracted her on a physical level. Since that rarely happened to her with anyone, including humans or warlocks or other magical creatures, she wanted to investigate the feeling more, see where it might lead.

Ticia was in no hurry, though. Her last romantic interest with a human had gone horribly wrong, and she was still terribly gun-shy.

Since both she and Ferdie had shared interests in cooking and cultivating the ingredients to put into their dishes, she knew they'd be good friends. Friendship was something that her last relationship had not had.

Lunch and a tour of his garden were good ways to get to know him better.

Sitting with the fairies, she found herself frequently seeking Ferdie. She told herself it was because he'd collapsed, and she was concerned about a relapse. But she was fooling herself. She was intrigued. He seemed to know everyone as he exchanged words and laughter with them.

When Bran took Ferdie the plate of food she'd prepared for him, because one macaroon was not going to sustain his powerful body for long, she smiled at the pleased surprise on his face. The smile he'd sent her way warmed her to her bones. Okay, she wasn't going to think about why that was, but it still felt good. Instead, she chalked her reaction up to the fact she liked feeding people, all sorts of people. It was the only thing she missed about having a restaurant, a small, intimate restaurant like the one with which she'd first begun her career. She didn't miss her last restaurant in Paris which had evolved into a huge headache for so many reasons, not the least of which was her horrible partner.

Ticia tilted her face to the sun. Today for the first time in a very long time, she felt happy. Hiding away in her aerie had fulfilled her need to create her videos and work on her cookbooks, but she now realized she needed companionship, too.

Assjacket was turning into more than a safe place to live away from the disaster her life in Paris had become. It turned out this safe place had also provided her the chance to live a more well-rounded life, one that would allow her to share her love of food not only with her online followers, but possibly also with the locals.

"So here you are." Fee jumped onto Ticia's lap and made biscuits before circling two times and sitting down.

"And where have you been?" She petted her purring familiar.

"Hanging out with the other familiars." Fee sniffed. "The witches who own that store that caters to humans have three rag dolls who call themselves The Meowigan. Pretentious much?"

Ticia laughed. "Fee, be very careful because they do have ties to the Morrigan."

Fee raised her head and blinked. "Really? Those twee kitties?" When Ticia nodded, the cat laid her head on her paws. "Okay, then they'll have to be my best buds, because Zelda's familiars are weird."

"This is going to be our home, Fee. Try to make friends, not enemies," Ticia admonished. "Okay?"

"Got it." Fee closed her eyes and was snoring softly when one of the fairies flew over.

"Ticia—" The blonde fairy who'd shared the bite of lasagna with her settled onto the grass at Ticia's feet and sniffed delicately. "You smell like Ferdie." The little fairy gave her a sly smile. "I bet Ferdie smells like you, too."

Ticia knew where this was going but wasn't inclined to admit anything. It was far too soon. Instead, she said, "It's probably the barbecue. You can't help but smell like charcoal and smoked meat."

Fee snorted and said telepathically, Nice try, Miss In-Denial.

Ticia ignored her cat.

"Nope." The fairy shook her head. "Your aura reaches for Ferdie. That's okay, because Ferdie's aura reaches right back. So—" The fairy seemed to grow in size and her demeanor turned serious, almost menacing. In a growling tone that would've done Fee justice. "Keep in mind, Ferdie is our friend. We protect our friends. Do not hurt him."

Ticia angled her head and studied the suddenly ferocious little creature. Leaning down, she whispered, "I won't. I'd also like to be his friend."

The fairy shook her head. "You are very beautiful, but not very good at playing dense, cherie . Me? I think you and Ferdie are destined to be very good friends."

The fairy giggled, the sound shredding the air around Ticia, and flitted off to join the other fairies who soon were chortling up a storm.

She read you like a book , Fee said. But did you have to incite them to giggling. My ears!