Love with Fangs (The Witching Hour Series Book 1)

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

My grandmother’s nostrils flared, and her mouth tightened. She let me in, and I slipped into the warm house, wondering whether Nathaniel had left any kind of mark on my body.

  My grandparents’ house dated back to 1860. They lived in a small village near Canterbury, where everyone knew each other, and everyone was supernatural. When I was little, I was always afraid of this house; the squeaky staircase, and the voices in the dark rooms. I was convinced the house was haunted and even now in my mid-twenties, I was uncomfortable staying here more than one night.

  "There is my Julia." Grandpa Fred embraced me in a breathless hug. He smelled of whiskey and cinnamon.

  "How are you, Grandpa?" I asked him, staring at his bright, wrinkled face. He was also a full elf, but now bald. Five years older than my grandmother, he suffered from arthritis in his knee.

  "Good, marvellous. I was waiting for you to play chess with me," he said, then leaned in, whispering, "No magic allowed."

  My parents were already sitting on the wide sofa near a blazing fire. A large painting on the wall displayed my grandparents wedding day held in the back of the house. I spotted a large live Christmas tree in the right corner with glossy wrapped presents. The magical objects my grandmother collected throughout her life were placed on the windowsill; I could have sworn I saw an old figure moving slightly. Antique furniture that cost a fortune filled the room.

  "Of course, Grandpa, after dinner." Magic filled this house, and I knew that my mother could feel it, because her eyes were twinkling at the corners and she was looking around as if she saw insects, but she would never admit to us what she felt. Dad got up and started pouring some champagne for everyone.

  "Barbra, how is your housing association meeting going?" Mum asked, trying to make conversation. Grandma frowned, then smiled, trying to think about her answer.

  The truth was that Grandma and Mum never had anything in common, but they were always polite to each other. As far as I knew, Grandma insisted on me going to a certain school. She used to meddle in my upbringing and my mum didn’t like it.

  Grandma wanted to use magic all the time, but she couldn’t do that in front of a human. My grandmother was the head of the family and from a very early age, I knew that I wasn’t like her at all.

  They chatted for a while, the conversation awkward, then while my parents were nodding, listening to Grandma, my grandpa said, "Let’s open some presents, Julia. Otherwise I will fall asleep."

  "I thought you would never ask." I giggled, then sat on the floor, checking the packages. Dad had purchased all our presents a few weeks ago; I never liked to buy anything at the last minute. This year, I gave Grandpa a new wallet and of course, as usual, warm socks.

  "So, how is your work, child? I can’t see how that giant is making his business profitable in this economic climate."

  "The business is great, but the last couple of weeks were hectic. I’m glad I could have some time off," I explained, ripping off the wrapping paper of a new urban fantasy series.

  "This is the one in which a vampire falls in love with a human girl. Very unrealistic, I must tell you." Grandpa knew that I liked reading and he often tried to make a point that humans had no idea what they were talking about in fantasy books. I laughed, and before we knew it, Grandma and my parents joined us.

  Half an hour later, I ended up with a new watch, five new books, a makeup set, and something that looked like a pen.

  "What’s this?" I asked Grandpa while Mum was busy showing Grandma how to use a new mixer that she’d bought her. From Grandma’s expression, she didn’t look pleased.

  "It’s made from a unicorn antler. It’s supposed to protect the person it’s given to. It was your grandmother’s idea; she had some dark visions," Grandpa explained. I nodded without saying any more and slipped the magical object into my pocket, hoping to examine it later on.

  After one o’clock, everyone was pretty hungry. We weren’t a standard elf family because my father married a human, so everything had to be done the traditional way—without magic. Grandma didn’t have much patience for cooking; she found it disgraceful, so Grandpa took charge in the kitchen.

  Soon, I was enjoying a delicious turkey, and everyone began to relax. I always liked spending Christmas with my grandparents. Although conversations about magic were prohibited, we always found something that would entertain us.

  "Mum, do you need help with moving some stuff from the attic?" Dad asked, polishing off his second serving of turkey. I was stuffed and pushed my plate away. I wasn’t sure whether I would have any space for Christmas pudding. Mum was chatting away with Grandpa Fred about her new recipe she’d found online.

  "Mr. Nibble will come over after Christmas, so not to worry," Grandma said, then she waved her hand—I think to get some more gravy—but my father stopped her just in time.

  "I don’t understand why you need to get this old antique dealer involved. We will be here until Sunday, so we can take care of it," Dad insisted.

  "Don’t be silly; you have to rest. You have been working too much—"

  Before my father could do anything, Grandma was already muttering a suspension spell, and as I expected, my mother stopped talking and became immobile within seconds. I hated when she did that. I really thought that after all these years, she needed to know the truth that we all had magical powers.

  "Mum, I told you that you can’t do this to her. She is part of the family and this spell might have side effects." Dad was furious.

  Grandma cut him off. “I couldn’t wait any longer to ask you about these odd kidnappings and Claudia, for heaven’s sake. We have been worried sick. And this spell is safe. She won’t even remember anything."

  Grandma charmed her every time she wanted to talk about something important when Mum couldn’t be included in the conversation. Only Grandma was able to produce that kind of spell, and she was the most stubborn elf that I’d ever known. If she wanted to talk about the kidnappings in London, then nothing would stop her, not even Dad.

  "Mum, you know that I can’t talk about this right now. The investigation is still pending. We’re doing everything we can," Dad said, irritated, pursing his lips.

  “I’m the head of the Elves Association, young man, so don’t try to teach me about protocol. I’ve got elves and fairies ringing me from all over London, asking what the hell is going on and my own grandchild has vanished. What if Claudia is already dead?"

  "We still haven’t found anyone, but we suspect a few paranormals. As I said yesterday afternoon, you need to leave this to me.” Dad finished his wine looking angry—as I suspected—he’d already had this conversation with her yesterday.

  "Then go to the Vampires Association and demand an answer! Nothing like this has ever happened in the past. Personally, I think that it has something to do with that Lucrative Shot, the vampire blood that allows them to keep away from humans. Maybe whoever is behind the production is draining Claudia."

  I felt like I needed more air.

  How would Grandma know about Lucrative Shot? La Caz Pharmaceutical only just began the production.

  I was waiting with anticipation for Dad to say more, but he was hesitating.

  "I haven’t got any evidence yet, Mum. I need to handle this carefully. Claudia’s life and the lives of those fairies and elves that vanished are the most important at the moment, so I can’t just act like vampires are to blame. I already investigated this lead and as far as I know, the production is clear."

  "Vampires are always craving our blood and you can’t ignore them. We don’t even know how the Lucrative Shot is being produced and from—"

  "Mum, I know exactly how this shot is produced, and you need to remember that I’m the police. I won’t have this conversation during dinner, so can you please release my wife from this charm?" Dad demanded in a serious tone. "Otherwise we’re leaving."

  Grandma wanted to say more, but she knew my father wouldn’t hesitate to leave, so she clapped her hands and my mother flinched.

  "Can someon
e pass me some water? I think I feel dizzy," Mum said, looking confused.

  "Here, darling." Grandpa passed her a glass of water, giving his wife a stern look. The suspension charm wasn’t dangerous, but my dad didn’t like it when his mother used magic on his wife. His jaw was tensed, but for Grandma, this conversation wasn’t finished.

  I suddenly lost my appetite. She couldn’t be serious. Lucrative Shot produced by Nathaniel couldn’t be made of elf and fairy blood. I didn’t believe for a second that he could be capable of doing something like that. When Mum went to the kitchen to help Grandpa with the pudding, I thought about Lucrative Shot and Nathaniel. The one that had been found where Claudia had vanished contained fairy blood, but Nathaniel mentioned that his van had been highjacked, so anyone could have produced that.

  La Caz hadn’t contacted me since our dinner, and in the evening, I used Grandpa’s old-school computer to check my emails. But he didn’t write to me either, which was kind of disappointing. I sat back, frustrated, in my grandparents’ library, wondering if I had made a mistake.

  I went to bed around midnight; I was exhausted and overindulged with food. When my head touched the pillow, I didn’t want to think about London or about Nathaniel. He sparked wild emotions in my belly, but I was afraid to disappoint my family and dishonour the caste of elves. My mind and body continued to war within itself. I honestly didn’t know what to do.

  I always had trouble sleeping the first night at my grandparents. I had my own bedroom, which I’d decorated myself when I was fifteen. I had a wardrobe filled with clothes and magic. A few hours later, I fell asleep, thinking about the odd noises above me. It was probably magic and the energy that the house kept hidden from the human who was staying here: my mother.

  The next day, I didn’t wake up until late. I had two whole days of comfort, but Grandma would probably insist on teaching me new spells. I didn’t mind. Grandpa was cleaning using magic when I showed up downstairs. When I asked him about my parents, he waved his hand too quickly and everything turned upside down and went straight to the floor.

  "No distractions, young lady. I was always terrible with these prep spells," Grandpa said. "Come on, fix it. Let’s see if you remember."

  I put my hands together and concentrated on my energy. I was never good at cleaning; that’s why I always did my housework the traditional way, as my grandmother called it, a "boring and inefficient task."

  I felt my skin glimmer and my fingers started shimmering; I whispered the spell in my mind. Then I heard a noise and opened my eyes. I didn’t clean anything; I burned the pot instead.

  "Never mind, sugar, I never liked that pot anyway." Grandpa Fred chuckled, and with one quick movement, the floor was clean, and the pot was in the bin.

  "I don’t think I’ll ever learn this. Besides, I’m used to cooking without magic." I was mortified. "Where are Mum and Dad, by the way?"

  "Went with your grandmother to visit her cousin Rosie’s grave. They should be back for lunch."

  Aunt Rosie was my grandmother’s sister. She was also a full-blooded elf, but had died at an early age when she killed herself in the attic. Even during this festive period, my grandmother had to visit her grave.

  "I think I’ll take a walk to the village,” I said. “I want to get those charmed biscuits that change into marshmallows after you put them into your mouth.”

  "Just make sure you don’t give them to your mum because then, we would have to use a memory charm and your father won’t be happy about that."

  "Not to worry, Grandpa." I giggled and kissed him on the cheek.

  Chapter nineteen

  More steam.

  It was still snowing when I left the house. I passed the gate and the long field, stepping onto the wide country road. Memories from my childhood were flashing through my mind. I still felt like I didn’t belong here. Maybe I was a changeling, and I was switched at birth. In comparison to my family, my attention span was poor, so everything in the past was possible. Every time my grandmother had tried to teach me control, I’d burned or broken her antique furniture and then she would be pissed. It was a never ending vicious circle.

  The village was surrounded by fields that were now covered with snow. I had to walk for at least a mile before I made it to the street with small family-run boutiques. Everyone who lived there was supernatural. This community was always close to magic because generations of paranormal families had lived here for centuries. My grandmother was well known in the village because of her status within the Elves Association.

  I felt guilty that we were all enjoying Christmas and Claudia was out there somewhere alone. My father needed to do more. I was planning to see Roger as soon as I arrived back in the city, because surely, Nathaniel wasn’t planning to do anything else.

  The cold brisk wind was howling from the west when I moved between the houses. On Boxing Day, the couple who ran the sweet shop always made something special. Last year, it was a toffee that made my tongue shine. This year, I was hoping to get the biscuits I was telling Grandpa about.

  My blond hair was flowing in the wind and I shoved my hands into my pockets. I reached the more inhabited part of the village. All the houses were detached with beautiful Christmas lights. I spotted a few children who were running around, excited about the snow. Most of the creatures who lived here worked in London, but some of them were in agriculture.

  I reached a few pubs and a sweet shop called, Little Gem. My shoes were soaking wet and I was freezing. I saw a few cars parked outside the pub. I was hoping that the couple who ran the sweet shop would have some of that special hot chocolate, so I could warm up.

  “Julia.”

  I heard my name and turned around to see Nathaniel, looking even more glorious in this grey weather. My jaw dropped, and I stared at him in utter disbelief.

  I was shocked seeing him here, but heat instantly rushed down my spine. Our brief kiss flashed through my mind. His pupils expanded and with the speed of a vampire, I was in his arms, drinking him in. My body failed me again because it stopped responding. When he kissed me, I forgot where I was and what was happening to me. His lips pressed hard against mine as his warm hand slipped under my coat, searching for my bare skin. I let out a groan of pleasure when his tongue probed inside my mouth. His hand brushed against my breast. This was crazy, I had to pull myself together.

  Someone on the street called out, “Get a room,” so, I quickly pulled away from him. I glanced at two teenagers who were rushing away, laughing. Nathaniel’s eyes were darker than they were a second ago. I was surprised that he was controlling himself so well around me. I’d just fallen into his arms like nothing else mattered.

  “What are you doing here? Don’t expect me to believe a story about you being in the neighbourhood.”

  I sounded hoarse, and lost my head for him, yet again.

  “Let’s talk in my car. I can see you’re shivering,” he said in a husky tone. I looked around and saw an elf on the other side of the street who was staring at me. I hoped he had no idea who I was, otherwise my grandma would give me hell later on.

  I nodded only because I didn’t want to be seen by anyone else. As it turned out, Nathaniel’s Aston Martin was parked a few metres away. He’d obviously gotten it fixed because it looked like new. He opened the door for me and I slipped inside. My hands were sparkling with electricity, and once he was sitting inside, I looked at him.

  “What are you doing here, Nathaniel?” I pressed, biting the bottom of my lip. Flakes of snow were still in his hair, and his rosy cheeks only made him look more human.

  “I wanted to see you again,” he said, grinning.

  “How did you even know I would be here? Have you been stalking me again with black magic?”

  “You told me you were going to Kent, but I didn’t know when, so I had to ask my wizard friend to give me some directions.” He reached for my hand. But I wasn’t going to be charmed by him, no matter how much my body wanted it. “I stood here for at least two hours and
finally, I decided to ask where your grandmother lived. I was ready to knock on her door.”

  “My grandmother wouldn’t even let you in the house. She would cast a spell on you, and I would be in a lot of trouble.” I laughed, feeling warmer. “Besides, she thinks that you have something to do with Claudia’s disappearance—because of the Lucrative Shot. I have no idea how she knows about this.”

  He chuckled. “She’s worried; that’s understandable that she would make the same assumptions. Your grandmother has a reputation here. When I asked about the Taylor family, the wizard looked shocked.” His eyes shimmered.

  “Nathaniel, why are you here? After our last date, you gave me the impression that I shouldn’t expect anything.”

  “You don’t know me well, Julia. I don’t give up so easily. I still want to fuck you, but I'm a gentleman, so I’ll play this dating game you want.” He cocked his head to the side. I felt claustrophobic, locked in this brand-new car with the hottest vampire I’d ever known.

  “I need to get back and I still have to get sweets,” I said, ready to leave him. This wasn’t the life I wanted, and for this half vampire, I knew sex was a priority. Maybe it was stupid, but I was romantic, wanting to have love and a family. He needed to prove to me that he was ready to date me, not just simple words. When I placed my hand on the door handle, Nathaniel moved towards me too fast for me to react. His face pressed on my cheek and I stopped breathing, feeling desire wash over me like a shooting star. The warmth of his skin was driving me crazy. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me again, this time with such passion that I melted away under his touch. When he let me go, he didn’t move away but continued to stare into my eyes.

  “I want you, Julia Taylor, and you want me. Don’t deny it,” he whispered with a delicious grin.

  “We both want different things, Nathaniel. I don’t sleep with men just because they want me to. I'm looking for love, not a one-night stand and I can’t imagine finding this in you.”