Chapter 19

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.”
I chose my words carefully and I didn’t move my gaze, even though his scent and the way his body was riddled with confidence made me want to agree to one-night with him.
“Oh, Julia, I’m not going to leave you alone after just one night. I don’t do well in relationships, but I’m willing to try. Come with me for this official dinner at the end of January and we’ll see where this is going to take us. Besides, I’m still doing my own little investigation that involves finding your cousin.” He sank back into his seat, licking his upper lip, drawing a long breath.
“A dinner?”
“I have a few international guests from Romania. The main director is an elf, so you would fit well with your intelligence and odd sense of humour.” He clasped my hand again. “I’ll pick you up from work and then drop you home. I will be on my best behaviour.”
“Fine, one dinner.” I gasped, wanting to bite my tongue. He looked innocent when he gazed at me like that.
“You’re saying yes because it’s another date, or have you been enjoying my company so much that you can’t wait to see me again? I can smell your excitement. Your blood gets warmer,” he murmured, smiling and stroking my lips with his thumb. I shivered, and he groaned with pleasure. “See—even my touch drives you insane. Can you imagine how you would feel if I had you in my bed?”
“Be careful or I’m going to change my mind.” My voice was too high with the mere thought of his words echoing in my mind. “I need to get back.”
“Let me drive you home. Your shoes are soaked and it’s too cold for walking.”
“I told you before, I’m fine. I can take care of myself. Plus, my grandmother already knows about our kiss, so I need to make up some kind of story.”
He raised his left eyebrow. “Why don’t you just tell her the truth? I thought you weren’t afraid of commitment.”
“My dad is an operations lieutenant of the Paranormal Unit for the British Police and my grandmother is the head of the Elves Association. I love them too much to even think about upsetting them.”
“I don’t care what your family thinks. I’m dropping you home,” he snapped and started the engine. I wasn’t sure whether I should start crying or laughing when he took a sharp right. The atmosphere in the car was charged with my flowing magic. I stared out the window, trying to calm down.
I told him to stop a few metres from the house. My mind was still pounding as I walked back. When his car pulled away, I sighed with relief.
Fortunately, my dad’s car was parked in the driveway, and when I walked in, my mum was busy in the kitchen with Grandpa. No one questioned me when I sat in the living room.
In the evening, my parents decided we would leave early morning the next day. I talked a little to Aunt Dorothy; she didn’t sound good. She cried most of the time, still hoping that her daughter would be found soon.
When I went to bed, I had a text message from an unknown number.
Sleep well and think about our first night together.
I smiled, and my heartbeat quickened. Somehow, the alpha male got ahold of my number. I thought about the way I reacted when I was around him. He set fire to my magic, sometimes too much. Even when I was with Jasper, I’d always been calm, and my magical abilities were in control. Everything changed as soon I met Nathaniel. I knew that I didn’t have a future with him where my family was concerned, but I wanted to dream about the what ifs. Maybe it was time to call Nicky and ask her if what I was doing was sane or not. But a tiny voice in my head kept saying this had nothing to do with my friend and I needed to make a decision. Today, I’d agreed to go out with him again.