Page 19 of Help Wanted, Vampires Inquire Within (Ours Evermore #6)

Jack

The moment the sun went down, Jack left the house to go looking for Skyler. As expected, he found her in the garden. The smell of oranges hung heavy in the warm summer night air from the grove beyond.

Skyler was kneeling next to a bed of lavender, her eyes closed, and her fingers sunk into the soil.

Next to the lavender was a massive sage plant.

He’d been amused when she’d talked to it like a child while pulling it from a small pot and planting it in the herb garden.

She’d almost wanted to sleep out in the garden next to the tiny sage, but Mason reminded her that gargoyles needed their sleep, and he couldn’t sleep without her.

The guilt worked. Skyler slept in a bed with them and the plant survived the night fine.

Jack would never get tired of watching her work in the garden or orchard. Unlike when he’d first met her, she’d filled out a little, and her skin had deepened into a darker golden tan. The haunted look was long gone, and her aura was bright and happy.

She was the picture of a content nymph.

Sensing him, she opened her eyes and looked up at him, a wide smile breaking out across her face. “The sun’s barely set.”

“I know, but with our bond, I’m stronger now,” he reminded her. “I can handle some errant rays.”

Pulling her hands from the soil, she dusted them off and stood. “Have you fed?”

Jack nodded. “A little while ago.”

Since their soul bonding, Jack noticed he didn’t need to consume as much blood and was more powerful.

Being bonded to Skyler and Mason had changed him more than he expected.

He knew a soul bond would center him, but he never expected to become so much stronger overnight.

He could even resist the sun's rays for several seconds at a time. He’d found that out by accident when someone opened a door at their new house.

He’d been standing in the wrong spot and full morning sun bathed his left hand.

He’d pulled back right away, but that brief encounter should’ve left him burned and blistered.

To his amazement, his hand was fine. Not even a sunburn!

It was good to know he had some immunity now, though he never wanted to test the full extent of his resistance.

When Skyler stepped close, he wrapped his arms around her. “I missed you.”

“I’ve only been out here a few hours,” Skyler countered.

Jack hugged her tighter and gave a dramatic sigh. “Hours, days, they're almost the same when I don’t have you in my arms.”

“Are we going to that book club thing or not?” Remy said, coming up behind Jack. “It’s a long drive to get to the Downward Dog so we need to leave soon if we’re going to be there on time.”

“That’s why I came out to get Skyler,” Jack said, turning to face Remy with Skyler still held in his arms.

She pretended to struggle. “Jack, let go.”

“Can’t,” Jack said. “I’m suffering from flock withdrawal and only you and Mason together can fix it.”

“Fix what?” Mason asked, striding up with an eager expression on his face.

“Jack thinks you can fix him,” Remy said. “But I’m pretty sure he’s unredeemable.”

“That’s my best quality,” Jack sang out.

Mason covered the last few strides in one long step and swept him and Skyler up in his big, gargoyle arms. Mason pressed his lips to hers. It wasn’t much of a kiss because she couldn’t stop giggling.

Affection and joy from Skyler and Mason flooded the bonds, filling Jack. He hadn’t realized how empty he’d been before them.

“Are they going to do it in the garden?” Kayla asked, walking up to stand next to Remy. “Because then I need to keep the kids inside.”

Remy shrugged. “I don’t know, and what kids?”

“I was thinking of Marcus and Toby. They’re so immature they’d probably giggle,” Kayla said. “That would break the mood.”

“And a bunch of wolf shifters standing around watching isn’t a mood killer?” Remy asked.

“Book club!” Sklyer said, wiggling in Mason’s grip. “I want to go! Mila’s going to be there with pastries. And I want to see everyone! I haven’t seen Imani, Briar, or Cora in forever!”

Mason set her and Jack down. Jack held onto Skyler for a second longer, then let go.

“I’ve got to get cleaned up and change,” Skyler said, giving Mason and then Jack a peck on their cheeks.

Then she ran off to the main house. They had a large room in the back on the first floor.

Most of the pack took up the rest of the second and third floor.

Except, of course, Manny who lived in one of the small houses.

It only took a month to turn the barn into an office building, and Mason had moved his cyber security into one of the cubicles there. He worked part time for Clover Technological Industries while finishing out his obligations to other companies.

Even after working for so many years alone, Mason fit in perfectly with the Clover Pack computer nerds. He confessed that he looked forward to going to work every day instead of being annoyed the moment he woke up.

Skyler was thrilled to spend all day, every day working on the land. They had a lush garden, a flourishing orange grove, and a budding grove of avocado, plum, peach, and nectarine trees.

Life didn’t get much better than this.

“Marcus, Gail, and Miller want to go too,” Remy said. “I’ll go tell them we’re leaving soon.” He left in the direction of the converted barn.

“Some of us have a life and are going to head to Club Gaudium for some drinks and dancing. You guys have fun with your book club,” Kayla said. “Nerds!”

“Like you’re not,” Remy scoffed as Kayla bounced off with a laugh. All the members of the pack embraced every type of nerdiness. This was the place for nerds of all kinds including the computer, book, manga, anima, ren faire, and LARPers. Kayla’s cosplay was infamous in certain groups.

While Remy and Kayla shouted a few more friendly insults, Jack took Mason’s hand, tangling their fingers together.

“Are you hungry?” he asked the gargoyle as they strolled to the house.

“Nah,” Mason said. “It was pizza Friday. Damn but the Clover Pack has some strange taste in pizza toppings.”

Jack sniffed the air. “Thank you for not trying the sardine pizza.”

“That wasn’t hard,” Mason said. “But I also stayed away from the garlic, just for you.”

Jack squeezed his hand. “That’s sweet. Not that garlic hurts vampires, but I’m not fond of the smell.”

“I know. I was there when Marcel made that creamy garlic pasta, and you left the room as soon as the serving bowl hit the table. I wish you’d told me why. I wouldn’t have eaten it that night.”

“My dislike of garlic would never be enough to keep me from kissing you or Skyler,” Jack said. “Nothing could stop me from being with either of you. Even that disgusting bulb.”

He couldn’t keep the distaste out of his tone or the shudder. By now, they’d reached the house, and Skyler was already out front in a fresh outfit and ready to go. Remy soon appeared with the wolves who wanted to visit the Downward Dog.

The three of them took up the second row in the SUV while the wolves piled in front and behind. Skyler sat between him and Mason, right where she belonged. She might be far more powerful now than most nymphs, but neither of them could stop thinking of her as the vulnerable one.

Especially since she never protested and loved snuggling between them.

Mason

The sign on the door of the Downard Dog said the bar was closed for a private event. Despite the sign, Remy didn’t hesitate. He stepped around Mason, opened the door, and walked right in.

“I guess we’re the private event,” Mason said, leading his mates into the bar.

It was smaller and with less amenities than the other bar the Lobo Gris Pack owned.

Still, it was clean with a good selection of beer and a favorite hangout for many non-humans who lacked community or needed a safe place.

The running joke was that Lobo Gris was only half wolf shifters, and the rest were adopted from other species, including humans, a pixie, and a druid.

The room was shaped in an L with the bar running down half the length of the long wall. The bottom of the L was the larger front section of the bar with a row of picture windows similar to Joy, but without any wards or spells. This place was open to anyone who wanted a drink.

Once they were inside, Mason noticed a distinct division in the room.

Most people present were gathered in the front section with a tightly packed group in the back .

Everyone was sitting in chairs except for one person in an old wingback chair.

Because the chair’s back was turned, Mason couldn’t see who was in it but he had a guess from stories he’d heard.

“I see Maddy and Tag!” Skyler declared. She slipped past Mason and rushed to the back.

Mason tried to go after her, but Jack grabbed him and pulled him back. “I see a hobgoblin aura over there. I think it’s in the big chair!”

“Yeah, I know,” Mason said as they watched Skyler round the wingback and turn to face the occupant.

Looking over at Jack, he almost chuckled at the vampire's expression.

There was nothing more powerful than a hobgoblin, except perhaps demi-gods.

Everyone used magic, but hobgoblins could draw directly from the void, where all magic originated.

“Sopek!” Skyler cried out and leaned over with her arms open.

“Sopek?” Jack whispered. “How does she know the hobgoblin's name?”

It was Mason’s turn to be surprised. “I have no idea.”

Tobias, an old and powerful vampire, stepped close. “Jack, Mason, it’s good to see you both.”

They turned to face him. “How does Skyler know Sopek?” Jack asked the other vampire.

“You’ll have to ask her,” Tobias said, then held up a warning hand. “But only after the book club is over. Do not disturb the book club or you might not live to regret it.”