Waltzing With Witches: A Sweet Small-Town Vampire Romance, page 1
WALTZING WITH WITCHES
HAVEN EVER AFTER - BOOK FOUR
HAZEL MACK
COPYRIGHT
© Hazel Mack Author 2024
EBook ISBN: 978-1-957873-52-7
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-957873-53-4
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. However, if I get the chance to become Ever’s newest resident, I’ll take it!
I don’t support the use of AI in book, book cover or book graphic creation. If you love human generated books, please feel free to learn more at my website here. I do not approve the creation of derivative works based on this book or series without consent.
Editing - Krista Venero at Mountains Wanted
Proofreading - Marcelle - BooksChecked
Cover - Anna Fury Author
Cover Art - Linda Noeran (@linda.noeran)
Created with Vellum
SYNOPSIS
THE KEEPER
Morgan Hector is mine, but for her own safety, I can never claim the pretty witch. I can never sate myself on her blood or bring her to bliss with my teeth. We’ll never be anything more than friends.
But when I discover she’s homeless and living in my office, I do what I shouldn’t—I bring her home. Being in close proximity with the mate I hold at arm’s length is the most devastating torture. She’s smart and kind with the mouth of a sailor. Plus she smells good enough to eat, and I’d give my right fang to devour her.
The longer we spend under the same roof, the more my control begins to fray. But the secrets I harbor protect innocent lives—including Morgan’s. No matter how much I long for her, I can’t give into temptation.
Just when I think I’ve wrestled back my desire, a dangerous warlock makes his final play against me. When Morgan ends up in his crosshairs, I have impossible decisions to make. In a war between duty and love, can I make the choice that’s right for her? Or will I doom us both to loss in the name of protecting Ever?
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CONTENT NOTICE
While this book is very sweet and lighthearted, there are a couple heavy themes to mention. In particular, there’s reference to recent parental death by accident and terminal illness.
If you have any particular questions, feel free to reach out to me at author@annafury.com!
To every reader who ever wrote me a DM or message about how fucked up the Keeper was. You’re right. He’s a damn mess. But this is the book where you find out why. I’m going to take you on a rollercoaster ride—fair warning—but the HEA is worth it. I promise.
Happily EVER after has never been this sweet…
CONTENTS
THE KEEPING COMMANDMENTS
1. Morgan
2. Morgan
3. Morgan
4. Keeper
5. Morgan
6. Morgan
7. Keeper
8. Morgan
9. Keeper
10. Morgan
11. Morgan
12. Keeper
13. Morgan
14. Keeper
15. Morgan
16. Keeper
17. Morgan
18. Keeper
19. Morgan
20. Keeper
21. Morgan
22. Keeper
23. Morgan
24. Keeper
25. Morgan
26. Keeper
27. Morgan
28. Abe
29. Morgan
Books by Anna Fury (my other pen name)
About the Author
THE KEEPING COMMANDMENTS
RULE #1: Serve only the greater good
RULE #2: Make decisions with others’ best interests at heart
RULE #3: Cast useless thoughts from your mind
RULE #4: Do no harm
**as officially approved by Hearth HQ through the Cerinvalla Act**
CHAPTER ONE
MORGAN
Idrag a fry absentmindedly through my ketchup, the red substance smearing across the plate. The splash of crimson gives me pause. Shit, everything red gives me pause.
I blame him for that.
Something pulls my gaze out of the Galloping Green Bean’s front window. As if I conjured him up by thought alone, a shadowy figure stalks past the diner’s front door, nodding curtly at a group of gathered centaurs waiting for a table. The figure halts and turns to face me, slipping both hands into the pockets of tight black slacks.
His physique is tall yet muscular, his shoulders broad and thick with slabs of muscle. Eyes the color of rubies glitter in the fading evening light. The way he silently stares at me through the window is undeniably predatory. He’s so still, too still—a starkly beautiful statue in a way a human never could be.
Probably because he’s not human.
My nipples harden, pressing painfully against the fabric of my tee. Heat curls deep and insidiously between my thighs. I don’t want to be this attracted to him, but it’s impossible not to be. I blame it on his position. He reminds me of my male doctor counterparts back home—powerful assholes—and, damn my vagina, but she finds that really hot.
A shout drifts from up Sycamore Street. The male turns to look, giving me a perfect view of a long, aquiline nose and gelled-back blond hair. I know he won’t turn to me now that he’s focused elsewhere. I won’t get another look at the dark brows framing those shocking eyes, or the scar that slashes down the left side of his face, tugging one side of his mouth up into a permanent sneer.
A sneer he’s directed at me plenty of times.
Dickhead.
He yanks his hands out of his pockets and heads toward the noise. Big, powerful strides eat up the distance between him and whatever he’s looking at. I resist the urge to press my face to the glass and watch him go.
I’ve watched him go every day since I arrived in the tiny New England town of Ever with my sisters. Bitterness sours my gut, anger and irritation twin flames that burn bright in the furthest corners of my heart.
“Mor, honey, are you okay?” a sugar-sweet but concerned-sounding voice breaks through my fog.
I blink several times and return my gaze to the table. My aunt Lou—my mother’s youngest sister, who’s closer in age to me than my mother—stares at me with a worried expression. Warm chocolate eyes are wide, her dark blonde brows pressed together in apparent concern.
Next to her sits my sister Wren, happily munching on her fries. My other triplet Thea reaches under the table and squeezes my knee.
It’s like I’m the kid who fell and scraped something, and my family has all gathered around to coddle me and set me back on my feet. I guess that’s not too far from the truth.
Something hits the back of my head with a thunk, forcing me forward until my face nearly hits my plate. I whirl to my left on the red-and-turquoise bench seat, looking around my snickering triplet.
“Ouch!” I hiss. “What was that for?”
Thea’s mate, Shepherd, smirks as he pops a handful of fries in his mouth. He chews slowly, withdrawing the spade-shaped tail he just slapped me with.
Fucking gargoyles. Way more appendages than anyone could possibly need. And I’ve heard way too much about what he can do in the bedroom with the wings, tail, claws, etc.
I pick up my fork and brandish it at him. “Watch it, sir, or I’m gonna put a hole in those pretty wings.”
“Aww,” Thea says in a soothing tone. “Don’t hurt my man. He’s far too beautiful to be on the receiving end of violence. Look at this jawline. Look at those gorgeous black locks! And don’t forget all the snacks he brings us!”
I roll my eyes. “Being on the receiving end of violence is literally his job, what with him basically being a cop and all.”
Thea snorts and reaches over to stroke her way down Shepherd’s purpley-gray jaw. “Yeah, but don’t damage this face. I mean, look at it!”
Wren and Lou groan simultaneously. Wren is also newly mated—to a troll—but, unlike Thea, she doesn’t seem to need to remind me every two seconds.
Shepherd clears his throat and gives me a pointed look. “Don’t act like you don’t know why we’re here.” He points at Lou with the tip of his tail. “You too! You owe us details, missy.” He looks over at me. “And we obviously need the tea on your breakfast with the Keeper. You haven’t said a word, and I need to know, damnit! I’ve been exceedingly patient.” He grabs another handful of fries and shoves them in his mouth.
I give him an unimpressed look. I’d like to get the attention off me and the somewhat disastrous breakfast he’s referencing, so I gesture at Lou and clear my throat. “Shep’s right about one thing. We need the details, Lou. You ready to share?”
Aunt Lou arrived in Ever in dramatic fashion, chased by a pack of soul-sucking evil thralls. She was bitten and scratched in the
I’m so relieved she’s alright. I can’t lose anybody else, or what remains of my sanity will be fully ripped to pieces.
Lou lets out a beleaguered sigh and pushes her half-eaten cheeseburger away. Normally she’s jovial, fun-loving, and—dare I say—mischievous, but she doesn’t look it now. In fact, I haven’t seen her look this serious since our parents’ funeral seven months ago.
Shepherd tosses a fry across the table. It hits Lou square in the forehead and slips down her nose onto her plate.
“Cheer up, buttercup,” he says with a smirk. He’s taken to making up all sorts of humanish sayings.
Thea chuckles. Wren holds back a grin. Lou sputters but grabs a handful of fries and throws them back at him.
With practiced precision, he jerks around with his mouth open, catching most of them like a dog and beaming at her. His tail is going to start wagging in a sec, I just know it.
“Nothing to say, really,” she begins. “If I don’t seem surprised by this place being a hidden monster town, it’s because I’ve been to a haven before.”
We’ve guessed as much in the week since Lou arrived. The way she was unafraid of Shepherd and others. The way she says “godsdamn” with the extra ‘s’ like the monsters do.
Wren reaches up and yanks on Lou’s golden-red braid. “‘Fess up, bitch! You’re being obtuse as hell, and we need deets. Specifically—what haven have you been to and why? How’d you find out it existed? And did you always know we were witches? Are you a witch? Was our mom a witch?”
We all pause as Wren’s string of questions sinks in. Even Shepherd seems to be holding his breath as Lou considers her response.
She nips at her pink lower lip, but as she opens her mouth to speak, a figure slinks up the aisle to the table. He grabs a chair and flops down into it, folding pale blue arms over the back as he leans in conspiratorially. Bright blue eyes flash, his hair waving above his head like a wreath of blue flame.
He grabs a fry off Wren’s plate and shoves it in his mouth. “Are we about to hear the wild and wonderful tale of Louanna and how she came to know about the haven system?”
Lou rolls her eyes, but pink dusts her cheeks. “Hello, Dirk, and yes. I was about to share the story with my family.” She gestures at us as if he’s not part of that group, and not welcome, but he simply grabs another fry off Wren’s plate and tosses it in his mouth with a wink.
“Ferget I’m even here, my beauty,” he chirps. “Consider me a fly on the wall, if yeh will.” He glances over at me. “That’s a human saying, is it not? Later, one of yeh can explain to me why yeh’ve got flies on yer walls.”
Lou purses her lips and narrows her eyes at the big sylph, hesitating for a moment. Silence stretches long, but when it’s clear Dirk has no plans to leave, she peers around the table, tucking her sweater around her torso.
“The girls will tell you I was always witchy, even when we were kids. I was always interested in the supernatural. I always believed there was more to the world than what we could see. I consider myself a witch, although not in the way of actual witches in havens.”
When the table remains silent, Lou continues, “Two human world years ago, I was driving home from work, and I hit something with my car. I assumed it was a dog or cat, but when I got out, it was a person. He was a gnome.”
“And yeh didn’t kill him?” Dirk’s voice is soft, almost careful, his ice-chip eyes focused with hard intensity on Lou.
She shakes her head. “I wasn’t going very fast. I think it’s more like he ran into me. He was running from something else. There were noises that night, like wolves.”
“Thralls,” Shepherd snarls. “You’re lucky you weren’t hurt, Lou.”
She nods slowly, gnawing again at her lip. “Anyways, I leaped out of the car and scooped him up—at first I thought he was a child. It was dark, and he was small, but I wasn’t terribly far from a hospital. By the time I got there, he came to and explained what he was and how he was trying to get home to a hidden world called a haven. He begged me to take him there instead of the hospital.”
I’m fucking gobsmacked. “How come you never told us any of this, Lou?”
Betrayal sinks in good and hard. Of the three of us triplets, I’m the closest to Lou. I think she saw how Wren was closest to our mother, and Thea became a detective and worked with our father, following in his footsteps. I was always the odd triplet out, except for with Lou.
She must see the hurt in my eyes, because her gaze softens. “I couldn’t tell you, honey. Gerald asked me not to tell anyone in order to protect the haven’s safety. It’s in the middle of the city. I couldn’t betray his trust.”
My mouth falls open. “There’s a fucking haven in the middle of New York City, and you didn’t tell us?” I look around Thea to Shepherd, who’s slowly nodding. “Dude,” I bark. “You know we’re from the city. You never thought to mention this?”
He shrugs. “To be honest, it didn’t occur to me. Rainbow’s gorgeous but it’s wildly different from Ever.” He grins. “Plus, I was very consumed with courting Thea. I spent days with my nose in recipe books. Days, I tell ya!”
I snort and look back at Lou in disbelief. “Let me get really clear. There’s a hidden monster town called Rainbow, and it’s in the city where we’re from, and you never mentioned it because the gnome who you hit with your car told you not to? Do I have that right?”
Lou’s voice is sorrowful. “Don’t be mad, Mor. Please?”
Dirk speaks up before I get a chance to answer, “Good on yeh, keeping their secret. Most wouldn’t have.”
Lou cuts him a curious look. “I’ve always had an affinity for protecting things; it seems hardwired into me. It’s why I’m so protective with the girls. But I’ve spent haven years in Rainbow, getting to know the monsters there and learning how havens work.”
Years. She’s spent fucking years in havens and never told us.
I cross my arms. “Are you a witch? Was Mom?”
Lou mirrors my move but props her elbows on the tabletop. “I never spoke with your mom, or anyone, about Rainbow. I don’t know if she was a witch, but I’m not. I got tested plenty while I was there. Gerald, the gnome I hit, was certain I must be, but I’m not. I’m just a human.”
“Don’t be like that, Louanna,” Dirk croons. “There’s nothing ‘just’ about yeh, about any of yeh. All are welcome here, human and monster alike.”
She gives him a soft smile. I’m surprised she hasn’t corrected him for using her full first name. Then again, Dirk seems to get away with about ten times as much bullshit as anyone else in town.
A snort from Shepherd breaks the silence. “What are you, Dirk, the new Ever welcome committee?”
Dirks grins, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. “Jest being friendly, Protector.”
“I need a minute to process this,” Wren deadpans, green eyes flicking to mine. “Your turn to talk, sis.”
I inwardly groan as I slump into my chair, picking back up with the ketchup art.
After a long, awkward silence, Lou reaches across the table and pats the back of my hand. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, Mor.”
I look up and around the table at the well-intentioned but curious looks from my sisters and Shepherd and even Dirk, whose typical self-satisfied smirk has disappeared.
“Breakfast was a bust,” I admit. “We sat down, and the castle called him due to a ward alarm. He left right after we got to the table.”
Wren sighs. Lou purses her lips together.
Thea’s grip on my thigh tightens. She looks up at me with sorrowful blue eyes. “So he never came back or anything?”
“That’s a Keeper for yeh, to be honest,” Dirk breaks in. “The training does zap ’em of some empathy and emotion. It’s unfortunate.”
“So everyone has said,” I repeat for the millionth time. I’m sick to death of everyone making an excuse for why Ever’s de facto mayor has been so cold to me since I arrived in town. Especially considering he fucking called us here in the first place!
