Fangs and Fur- Beta Read Along
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2025 by LA Magill. All distribution rights reserved for the exclusive use of Wicked Women LLC.
Hadrian set her down gently almost a hundred yards from her back garden wall. She pushed away from him when her feet touched the ground. It felt important to do so right away since she’d been curled up against his chest so tightly.
“Enjoyed it that much, did you?” Hadrian smirked.
“Nearly vomited,” Dili said stiffly, instead of rising to his bait. She should have turned heel and stomped toward home, too.
“Nearly vomiting is better than definitely defecat—”
“You overstepped,” Dili interrupted him.
“You didn’t object,” he pointed out.
She grunted for lack of any retort, since he was, unfortunately, correct. She hadn’t said no, or demanded he let go. Thankfully, Hadrian didn’t let the awkward pause last.
“Though I far prefer your company, I must take my leave,” he said.
“Finally,” she said with genuine relief. She wouldn’t be able to ignore the growing needy sensation much longer.
Hadrian swept his arm across his body and bowed. “Toad will watch over the girl until I return. Until next time.”
Fleeting cold pressed against the back of her hand again, but she hadn’t seen him move or take her hand or anything. He’d simply vanished, leaving the evidence to tingle on her skin.
The witch scowled, turned on her heel, and stomped toward home. Each time one of her many questions or musings or imaginings inspired by Hadrian tried to surface, she ground it down into the dirt.
Dili marched down the hill toward town an hour before sunset. She stopped at the clinic before heading toward the Henderson house.
Vanessa wasn’t in, but Dili had expected as much. She left a note explaining that she would still be absent, but at least Jasmine was doing better. Rather than tell Vanessa not to worry, which Dili knew she would, the witch suggested they meet in a week’s time for breakfast before the clinic opened. She hoped that would be enough time to resolve the lingering issues from Jasmine’s disappearance, which Dili also expected.
The witch then made her way around the edge of town toward the back of the Henderson’s property. She didn’t want to involve any of Jasmine’s family if she could help it. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were not unfriendly to witches, but no parent was understanding when they learned their child had been abducted by paranormal parties.
Thankfully, Jasmine was waiting by the chicken coop, which lay a good bit away from the house. Toad perched on top of the coop, his ears held flat out in annoyance. The urge to hunt must have been awfully tempting, but he was on his very best behavior.
Dili would have beckoned Toad down to praise him for his diligence and restraint, but it was not the time nor the place. Instead, they shared a brief look that Dili wished could be more. She hoped he saw how proud she was of him.
Jasmine held a full-sized egg carton in her hands. She notably wasn’t wearing her signature purple beanie, and her uncovered head hung low. Still, Dili saw the ruddy tearstains on her cheeks.
“We agreed on three,” Dili said, eyeing the carton.
“That was before,” Jasmine said.
Dili hesitated, but she held out her hand, and Jasmine gave her the carton. Inside were a dozen large eggs.
“I picked the biggest ones out for you,” the girl muttered.
“Thank you. How are you doing?”
“F-fine, I guess. I mean…” Jasmine’s head darted up. Her gaze met Dili’s for a second before looking down again. Her eyes had looked red.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Dili,” the girl said in a rush. “Everything just spiraled out of control so fast. I should never have made a deal with that skinshifter. I didn’t mean to worry anyone, or to yell at that vampire, or to—I’m just really sorry.”
The apology was nice, but Dili cared about the last bit Jasmine had left out at the end. She knew the unspoken part was where the lingering issues lay. So, the witch held back a sigh and put on a small smile.
“It sounds like you had quite an adventure. Why don’t you come by tomorrow after school for a cup of tea.” It wasn’t a question, even if Dili had phrased it as one.
“I, uh…” She sniffed. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Very well. Right after school, mind you,” Dili said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jasmine said meekly.
Dili took the three largest eggs out of the carton and put them in her right pocket, then she pushed the rest back into Jasmine’s unwilling hands.
“But… you deserve more,” the girl protested.
“We had an agreement, Jasmine Henderson,” Dili said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Dili didn’t hear from Hadrian, Toad, or the lingering issues that night, the following morning, or even the next afternoon. She had hoped that meant she’d be able to question Jasmine alone, but she had a gut feeling they would have company, and she was usually right about gut feelings. Dili set the small iron table in the back garden with three mugs, a plate of biscuits, and a saucer with a small pile of tuna morsels.
At half-past three, the witch stood by the front gate. She couldn’t help but reflect on how different her life had been mere days ago when she and Toad had been waiting at that exact spot for Jasmine to come up the hill.
Just like that morning, the purple beanie came up the hill at a brisk walk, but this time, Toad followed behind Jasmine instead of waiting with Dili. The black cat trotted along, his tail carried as high as it had been when he strolled out of the cave.
Clearly, her familiar thought the interim hours had gone well. Dili wished she could’ve talked to him plainly like they used to. It would have been easier to understand Jasmine’s involvement if she could have corroborated the girl’s answers with Toad’s findings.
“Everything’s set up in the garden,” Dili said, meeting them at the gate. She pointed behind her. “Go on. Help yourselves.”
Jasmine walked by with a nervous nod. She jammed her hands into her pockets so deep that Dili practically heard the fibers tearing. At least she was wearing the purple beanie again.
Toad paused and jumped up on the wall to butt his head against hers. She pressed a kiss on his forehead and rubbed his ear affectionately. The sweet moment was too short, but Toad knew not to let Jasmine fidget all on her lonesome for too long. He gave Dili a happy chirp before trotting off along the wall.
Dili could have followed Toad and taken advantage of the time alone with Jasmine, but she hesitated. The feeling that someone was still coming wouldn’t go away, and it felt important that she waited. She grumbled about it internally, but she didn’t ignore the feeling.
Minutes passed with no sign of the vampire. Dili began to think she actually was wrong until she heard the faint whine of a car engine. After several more seconds, Dili was sure the sound was coming closer.
A familiar old grey SUV rolled up to Dili’s front gate. The emergency brake squeaked, the car lurched backward into park, and then the driver’s window rolled down. Vanessa brandished a box of takeaway pizza, and the tantalizing scent of onion, sausage, and cheese filled the air.
“You free? I could use a little girl time,” her best friend said.
Dili beamed. “Your timing is perfect.”
The witch quickly explained the situation and promised to make time for the two of them after Jasmine had left.
“So just give her the stare and back you up? I can do that,” Vanessa said confidently. “But this pizza isn’t big enough for three.”
“Not to worry. You two can split it,” Dili assured her. “And I can make us more later, if we want.”
She knew Jasmine would have an appetite once she’d come clean. Tea and biscuits always did the trick, but pizza would be just as comforting and more enticing to a modern stomach. Dili would have to thank Vanessa for giving her a new idea, which was always a gift at the witch’s age.
Jasmine already sat at the small table, and Toad sat opposite her, though on top of the table. The plate with his tuna had been scooted off to the side, licked clean. Dili was pleased to see that he still enjoyed some of his favorite treats. She wondered if he always would or if vampiric design would overtake his preferences with time. It was hard, even for her. Vampires had been made to modify humans, not cats.
Jasmine had poured herself some tea, but had touched none of the biscuits. She gulped, though, when she caught sight of the pizza. She sniffed, and pained longing in her eyes. The teenage stomach was as predictable as it was powerful.
“Hungry?” Vanessa asked.
Jasmine suddenly noticed who was carrying the pizza, and flushed deep red.
“Oh, hi, Ms. Rufino.”
“Embarrassed, are we?” Vanessa continued.
“I thought we were going to be alone, Ms. Dili,” she mumbled.
“We can be, if you want,” Dili said.
Jasmine looked between Dili and Vanessa, clearly wishing for privacy, and definitely unwilling to ask for it.
“Telling me to leave can’t be half as hard as what you’ve been through, can it?” Vanessa asked.
“No,” Jasmine said, though her mouth must have answered without her brain’s approval because she sank lower in her chair.
“Well… mind if I have some tea while you get your nerve back?” Vanessa asked.
“Yeah, I guess.” Jasmine pressed her hands over her face.
“Thanks.” Vanessa sat in the nearest chair. “Want some pizza?”
Next chapter on Friday, November 14.