Kraken watched his witch’s father slam the kitchen door from his expert vantage spot, and came to one important conclusion.

The older witch didn’t smell right.

He smelled unnatural… almost as though he had been in contact with something or someone… fearsome.

Kraken blinked thoughtfully.

‘I need to go train the kittens, but… what can I do if my witch needs me?’

The other humans around his witch were all speaking heatedly, but they didn’t interest the young fluffy black feline. Only Fin’s reaction to his strange father.

Kraken tilted his head. His human looked stressed, and weary… apparently his mate could only do so much to soothe his worries.

Sauntering free of the potato sacks he had hidde- casually laid behind, the familiar made his way over to the redhead and immediately began nuzzling his shins.

Sure enough, the loving pets and scratches came, making the kitten begin to salviate in pleasure.

“-What cat is that?”

Kraken cracked open an eye.

There was another cat?

Glancing over to the open garden door, his body tensed. Tipper sat, his tail swishing slowly as his great yellow eyes watched him.

Fin glanced down at Kraken, and immediately frowned. It was unlike the arrogant kitten to react to another cat.

“Friend of yours?” the witch asked his feline who barely heard him.

“It’s Sylvia’s mate…” Kraken replied, sounding incredibly strained, but before Fin could ask about the elusive Sylvia, his familiar had bolted from the kitchen as fast as he could out the open window.

When the group turned to look back at the new cat, they found that he too had already left.

“I sometimes think that little beast has an entire secret life we know nothing about,” Sir Lewis observed while wearing a small frown.

Fin shook his head and let out a sigh.

“As I was saying, Hannah, while I appreciate you standing up for me, you really can’t make such… graphic threats to Aidan.”

“It was funny though you have to admit…” Sir Andrews started then trailed off when Fin shot him a warning look.

“That man is prideful. He will seek revenge. Hannah, I’m going to talk to Ruby about perhaps having you go lend a hand to my mother who is currently in hiding. I’ll try not to give Ruby the details about what happened so she doesn’t get angry with you,” Fin explained as he reached for the pork cutlet on the table then plunked it in the bowl of flour, breadcrumbs and herbs.

While he waited for the initial storm of Hannah’s reaction, the redhead was surprised when instead the petite blonde woman smiled.

“Oh, that sounds like a splendid idea! I think I’ll go pack my things.” As she moved to skip away, the redhead caught her by the back of her dress.

“Why aren’t you fighting me on this?”

Hannah smiled innocently and batted her long eyelashes up at him. “I am merely being the dutiful servant to my maste-”

“I think you just explained to my father a minute ago that you aren’t a dutiful servant to anyone,” Fin pointed out, clearly not impressed with her attempt at deceit as he resumed breading the cutlets.

“Well not for that troll with dung for eyes! But for you! My goodness, the Gods couldn’t have given me a better specimen of witch to be in charge of my work.”

“She’s scaring me,” Sir Andrews whispered to Sir Taylor, who nodded silently in agreement.

“Hannah, are you sick? Dying?” Peter asked with genuine concern on his face.

The blonde had done her best to keep her angelic facade going for as long as possible, but finally her shoulders slumped, and she let out a long sigh.

“It’s supposed to be a secret, but uh… I overheard the Captain and your mum talking about where she was going to go when I went to go visit her with some snacks.”

Fin glanced perplexed around at the aides, but no one else seemed to know what she was going to say.

“Your mother is staying with Lady Jenoure at her estate in Austice.”

The pork that had been in Fin’s hand fell into the bowl in a heap, and the redhead’s eyes widened substantially.

“How… Why… How?”

“You asked how already,” Hannah pointed out cheekily with a wink.

Fin braced his hands on the table and stared earnestly at the young woman.

“Good Gods woman he’s been through enough!” Peter blurted desperately.

“Alright alright! Apparently the Viscountess had requested to be kept informed about the proceedings surrounding her brother’s trial, but I think it’s just to check up on yo-”

Fin stopped her with a look, so she cleared her throat and continued.

“Anyway, the Captain mentioned that Mrs. Ashowan was going to be in hiding, and I guess Lady Jenoure offered to have her stay with her. Given that her keep is difficult to find and well protected from what the rumors say, it made the most sense.” Hannah finished her retelling with a small shrug before smiling deviously and adding on, “And I won’t say no to getting to go and see how that drama plays out.”

“You’re evil.” Sir Andrews shuddered.

Fin appeared catatonic, as his aides discussed the new discovery.

“I wonder how they’ll get along… I mean does your mother know you’re betrothed yet?” Hannah asked, her eyes glittering with interest.

“You’re betrothed?!” Sir Andrews exclaimed stunned.

“Congratulations!” Sir Lewis and Peter cheered, grinning.

“Well done, Ashowan.” Sir Taylor nodded and grinned.

“We’ll have to have a proper celebration once Sir Harris returns from his meeting regarding his Dukedom!” Peter added jovially before clapping Fin on the shoulder.

It was then the group realized that the redheaded witch had yet to speak, and he was still staring off into the unknown.

“I’m sure they’re getting along fine- I was just teasing!” Hannah remarked, a hint of nervousness entering her tone as she then looked around and realized that all magical cookery had ceased.

“The last…” Fin’s voice was hoarse. “The last time those two spoke, I wound up in a world of trouble, and now they are… staying… under the same roof… Oh Gods. No wonder Annika said she had to leave last night.” Fin’s hands snapped to his face as his panic fully set in.

“How often has she been staying overnight at your cottage?” Hannah asked with renewed delight.

“And here I thought you’d be the prudish type until marriage…” Sir Andrews muttered to both Sirs Lewis and Taylor who immediately nodded their agreement.

“Well, not all women look like Lady Jenoure,” Hannah reminded them. The men wisely held their tongues on commenting on how desirable the cook’s future wife was.

Fin dropped his elbows to his table, his face still covered with his hands as he tried not to assume the absolute worst scenarios happening between Annika and his mother.

Peter gingerly reached and out patted Fin on the shoulder before they all shifted awkwardly and began to resume their duties.

“Poor bastard,” Sir Andrews whispered to Sir Lewis who quietly agreed before they once again began hunting for the egg shells in their batter, and this time they decided not to complain quite as much as before… the poor cook could only take so much in a day.

*

Katelyn Ashowan sat uncomfortably in Annika’s solar and clutched her cup of tea, grateful to have something to do with her hands. The sun was setting, and the Viscountess sat across from her with a tray of fruits and cheese between them. The Lady looked every bit as uncomfortable as Kate felt, and she kept glancing out the window at the sea as though debating jumping from the great height.

“You said you saw Fin last night?” Kate asked, her voice strained.

“I did, yes. He seemed stressed. I suppose his father tried to talk with him.”

Kate clenched her teeth for a brief moment before lifting her teacup to her lips and taking a sip.

“We anticipated as much. His majesty hopes that Aidan will let something slip when talking with him...” Kate slowly lowered her teacup to the table in front of her before leaning back into her seat. “Thank you again for allowing me to stay here while my ex-husband is in Daxaria. I don’t like infringing on others' good will.”

Annika’s smile was pained. “It’s quite alright. While I can’t be open about my relationship with-”

The flash of irritation on Kate’s face made Annika hesitate, but with a quick gulp she continued.

“With… Fin… I still want to help however I can.”

Kate nodded, but it was clear she was already wanting to flee. Thus far since her arrival, the pair had managed to avoid running into each other, but Clara had… kindly… arranged for a small meal to be shared between them.

Letting out a long sigh, Annika leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees in a very unladylike posture, and fixed Kate with a weary defeated expression.

“I… I don’t like us feeling so strange around each other. I deeply regret announcing the betrothal that day in the Queen’s chamber. I should have let Fin be the one to tell you; I am deeply sorry.” Annika bowed her head slightly, and she heard Kate shift uncomfortably at being treated as more important than a Viscountess.

“Please don’t bow to me. This is already… far too disconcerting as is.”

Annika lifted her head with a weak smile. “I can maneuver many different types of scenarios with many different types of people, but I have not once ever had to be in a close knit family. I’m at a loss.”

Kate frowned. “I thought I heard you had family back in Troivackia.”

“My mother died shortly after giving birth to me, and my father was more interested in his boys. My brother Phillip murdered his twin, John, and my other brother Charles is well… he just wanted to stay on their good side…” Annika didn’t need to mention that Charlie had been left with next to nothing when her brother became Earl, and so was supported by his baby sister for being her ears in the Troivackian courts.

“Family is important to Fin. That much is obvious.” Annika’s smile turned a little more confident as she straightened in her seat and leaned back.

“It is… though other than with myself, it isn’t as though we have much experience being a family either. I’m not sure we can even call us close knit, so perhaps you can relax a little. My concerns are the class differences between the two of you and… well… your overnight… visits.”

Annika decided to reconsider her original urge to fling herself through the window right then and there.

With her cheeks deepening in color, she managed to force out her reply.

“I… understand… that… but… things will be fine.”

Just then a loud knock on the door broke the tension, forcing Annika to jump up in her seat.

“Come in!” she cried out, so grateful for the interruption she could’ve cried.

Clara swept into the room with Captain Antonio on her heels, the man looked incredibly grim.

“Lady Jenoure,” he greeted with a bow. “I do not mean to impose so suddenly on you, but I need to speak with Mrs. Ashowan immediately. A messenger from his majesty is down in your entrance with a missive.”

All at once Annika’s face turned stony, and she swept out of the room after giving only a brief farewell to both the Captain and Kate.

“Antonio, what is it? You look… angry.” Kate observed worriedly while reaching out to grasp the Captain’s hands.

“Yes, lass, I am furious. Please have a seat. I need to explain to you what Mr. Helmer is trying to do now.”

Seating herself hastily, the healer’s heart began to pound against her chest in an all too familiar wave of fear.

“He is trying to bargain for Finlay to join him in Troivackia. By any means necessary.”

Katelyn’s face paled, and for a moment she didn’t even bother breathing, then a slew of expletives left her mouth that left the Captain in shock, until he noticed that she was already beginning to cry.

“Godsdamnit Fin was right… he knew it… he knew Aidan wouldn’t just leave him be.”

“It’ll be alright, Kate. The worst case scenario is that we lose face and accept the horrendous terms the Troivackian King sent regarding punishment for Lord Piereva. We’ll all be disappointed, particularly Lady Jenoure, that it isn’t far more severe, but… we won’t let him hurt either of them.”

“Either of them?” Kate frowned, before a greater alarm started growing on her face. “Who else is he trying to drag to Troivackia?!”

“Lady Jenoure. I think King Matthais wants to try and cripple her influence here and use her connections and wealth that she has acquired for his own benefit. Most likely to help fund the war. Or, he suspects Lady Jenoure is manipulating politics by reporting her brother’s assault or rejecting the Troivackian suitor and wants to reign her in…”

“Wait… what assault? Why would Lady Jenoure be happy to see her elder brother punished severely?” The healer knew from what Annika had just said that her brother Phillip had already murdered a family member, but it felt as though there was something more.

Antonio paused. There was a desperation in Kate’s face that seemed odd… then again the two women had probably formed a bond already since the Viscountess had graciously offered to hide her.

With a sigh, the Captain decided to try and briefly explain the complexities surrounding Lady Jenoure and Lord Piereva.

“The Viscountess was always handled quite roughly by her family, but once she married Viscount Jenoure and became a Daxarian citizen, the abuse seemed to stop. Until Hank Jenoure passed away last year. Since then the Earl has grown… overly confident in his belief that Annika will bend to his will. His majesty caught him in the garden attempting to break her arm when he went to have him arrested.”

Kate clutched her skirts tightly as she listened, her ire deepening at the new information surrounding Annika.

“My dear, I need… I need time to absorb this information. Do you mind If I have a few moments to think by myself?”

Antonio smiled sadly and kissed her forehead. “Of course. I will need to head back to the castle immediately, but wanted to keep you updated. I doubt Fin would want you knowing, but both of you seem to always underestimate each other.”

Kate tried to smile but couldn’t, and so with another small shoulder squeeze, Antonio left his fiancée alone with her thoughts.

As soon as the door had closed, and the only sounds surrounding her were the peaceful lull of waves from the open window, Kate began to tremble. Anger, fear, and helplessness rose within her, choking her voice as she realized the magnitude of what was transpiring.

‘Aidan knows about Fin and Annika. He’s going to threaten her… and he’s going to make my boy leave. He’s going to get his way, because Fin will never… never let anything bad happen to his home or… or his beloved. Then… he’ll be powerless… and alone… and I can’t do a damn thing.’

Kate dropped her face to her hands as the absolute horror of the situation overwhelmed her.

Fin had been right from the beginning.

Aidan was coming for him, and he intended to kill him.

Kate broke down into sobs, and couldn’t stop her tears as the paralyzing notion that her son might not live to even see his own wedding, began to crush her heart.