Page 23 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

Hunter sighed as his arms tightened around Gavin. Gavin was lying on top of him and moved his head to kiss Hunter”s chest.

“So, is my chomp mark going to scar? You know, like in those vampire films where they have two bite marks on their neck that they have to cover with fancy scarves?” Hunter asked with a smile in his voice.

Gavin looked up, nodded, and smiled. He moved and signed.

“No, sweetheart, I don’t mind. I also don’t care who sees it. You’re mine, I’m yours, the whole world can know for all I care.”

Gavin smiled, leant down, and kissed Hunter. He would try and heat things up, but after making love three times, he was tired and hungry. As proven by the loud rumble of his stomach.

Hunter pulled back and laughed. “Let’s shower and dress and then go and feed you.”

Gavin nodded but then flopped down on Hunter.

Hunter laughed. “That’s the opposite of getting up, sweetheart.”

Gavin lifted his head and poked his tongue out at Hunter before moving off him.

Hunter laughed and got off the bed, holding his hand out to Gavin, who took it. Hunter then pulled Gavin out of bed and into the bathroom.

Forty-five minutes later, hand in hand, Hunter and Gavin walked into the kitchen just as the final dish was being put down.

Dave saw them first and jumped up, hugging both Gavin and Hunter. “Well, you both look happy.”

“That could be because we are,” Hunter replied.

“Good. Dinners ready. Come sit,” Dave said walking back to his chair.

Gavin pulled Hunter to the table and they both sat down. He looked around but didn’t see his brothers, so he looked at David.

“Mathis, Gabe, and Raz are still with the pack rescuing the children,” David told him. He looked at Hunter. “Gabriel might also have a lead on the witch who threatened you, but he’s with the rescue mission at the moment.”

Hunter nodded. “The children need saving first.”

“Hey, Gavin, with your brother busy, can you help me go through some of the lemmings” gadgets?” Ivan asked.

Gavin nodded and then looked at Hunter.

“I don’t mind, sweetheart. Help your friend.”

“Ivan,” Ivan said.

“Hunter.”

“Thanks, Hunter.” He looked back at Gavin. “Can you do it straight after dinner?”

Gavin nodded.

“While you do that, I can pop home and get some more clothes.”

Gavin frowned.

“Hunter, until the witch is caught, I’d rather you didn’t leave the coven house or grounds. Can your friend drop off some clothes for you?” David asked.

Hunter sighed. “Yeah, he won’t mind,” he said, taking his phone out and sending Taha a message.

“It’s not forever,” Dave said. “How about after dinner, you and I go somewhere and chat about how we don’t get any superpowers after mating a vampire.”

Hunter laughed. “Yes, let’s do that.”

“Thomaz, how did you and Dave get on seeing the puppy?” Stefan asked.

Gavin sat up straighter and signed, “Puppy?”

“Yes, a puppy, a German Shepherd puppy. I thought Bruno needed a friend. The puppy was so cute and snuggly, and Bruno liked him. We pick him up at the weekend,” Thomaz replied, smiling.

“He didn’t snuggle with me, but he latched onto Thomaz,” Dave said.

“And we have time to buy everything we need for the little guy,” Thomaz said.

Gavin signed.

“If you want a puppy, I’m sure we can find you one,” Hunter said. “You know puppies are hard work, right? They need training and walking, and they pee everywhere.”

“Not if they are trained properly,” Dave put in. “Plus, Bruno will help.”

As they were talking, dishes were passed around, and suddenly Thiago appeared, smiling.

“Just in time for dinner, Thiago,” Annie said, smiling at him.

Gavin jumped up and gave him a hug.

“Hello, everyone.” He looked around. “Where’s Raz?”

“He and some others went with Kevin and his pack to rescue some kidnapped children,” David told him.

“Then I will go and help.” And just as suddenly as he arrived, Thiago vanished.

* * *

Gabriel was still strugglingwith closing the portal. He had managed to stop anyone else from coming out but still couldn’t shut it down. Each time he thought he had it and could close it, more magic poured in from the other side, and Gabe was getting tired. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep a hold on the portal, but he needed to close it.

“What can I do, little witch?” Mathis asked gently.

“Nothing. Whoever is on the other side of this portal is strong. I’m still trying to close it. I can’t leave it open, vampy.”

“Can you find the end, so we know where it originated?”

Gabe shook his head. “No, I’m stuck in the middle. I’ll keep trying.”

While Gabe was dealing with the portal, it didn’t take long for Kevin and his team to incapacitate the new guards. Once done, they thoroughly searched their end of the warehouse. All the rooms were empty.

Kevin sent his team to go and help Seth’s. He walked over to the room where Gabe and Mathis were and saw Gabe struggling to close the portal. “Don’t forget, Gabe, you can do this,” he said from the doorway.

“I can. It’s just taking time,” Gabe replied, not looking away from the portal.

Kevin left him to it and went to join the others at the back and looked around.

“Where is Seth and Raz?” he asked.

Bailey nodded towards a room off to the side. “Some children were taken in here. Seth and Raz went to help them.”

Kevin rushed to the room, Creed at his side. They found Raz standing guard in front of five children and Seth fighting with a guard. The speed at which they are fighting meant Seth was fighting a vampire.

“Creed, help Raz to get the children out and put them with the others.”

Creed ran over, and once they gathered the children, Raz and Creed rushed out of the room.

Just then, Gio came running into the room, took one look at the fight, and jumped into the fray. The next moment, Seth was falling into Kevin after being shoved out of the way by Gio.

Kevin caught him before they could both fall to the floor.

Seth was fuming. “Oh, he did not just shove me out of a fight.”

Kevin patted his head. “There, there.”

Seth swatted his hand away. “Giovanni, you are so sleeping on the sofa tonight,” he shouted angrily.

A loud growl was heard from Gio, and the next moment, the other vampire was thrown into the wall. He went through the wall and lay unconscious. half in and out of it. Gio turned to look at Seth.

“Don’t even talk to me right now,” Seth said to him.

“But my Seth—” Gio started, but Seth turned and stomped out of the room.

Kevin looked at Gio and shook his head. “Oh, Gio.”

Gio looked a bit sheepish. “I guess I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No. This is what Seth does and he’s good at his job,” Kevin said.

“I know, but I’ve not been there for over thirty years. I just want to keep him safe,” Gio explained.

“Talk to him and grovel nicely,” Kevin said, offering those words of encouragement as he walked out of the room with Gio following.

“We need to get the children somewhere safe,” Creed said.

“Gabe can help. He can create a portal for us,” Ian said.

“Gabe was trying to close that other portal,” Kevin said.

“Maybe I can help,” Thiago said, appearing next to him and looking around.

Raz smiled and walked to his side just as a loud explosion sounded from the direction of the portal.

They took off at a run. The vampires reached them first, followed closely by the shifters.

The room was filled with smoke, and with a wave of his hand, Thiago got rid of the smoke and saw both Gabe and Mathis on the floor near the far wall, eyes closed.

Raz ran to his brother and Kevin to Gabe with the others crowding around.

“Gabe?” Kevin said, kneeling next to him.

“I closed the portal,” he said, opening his eyes and rubbing the back of his head. “Mathis?”

“I’m here, little witch. I would just like to go on record as saying that hurt.” He moved and let Raz and Thiago help him up just as Kevin and Ian were helping Gabe.

“But I closed the portal,” Gabe said, waving his hand around to show the portal was gone.

“Can whoever opened it re-establish the portal into the warehouse?” Kevin asked.

“No, I took care of that,” Thiago said.

“Hey, Thiago,” Gabe said, walking to his side and hugging him.

Mathis pulled him into a hug, as well. “When did you turn up?”

“A few moments ago. I went to the coven house to join Raz for dinner when David told me you were all here. I came to see if you needed help.”

“Now that the portal is closed, we should be good to get the children out of here,” Gabe said.

“Where can we take them?” Creed asked.

“We’ll take them back to the pack house. Our healer can check them out and we can keep them safe while we look for their families,” Kevin replied.

“We can help you protect them, as well, if needed,” Seth offered.

“Thanks, I’ll let you know,” Kevin said, resting his hand on Seth’s shoulder for a moment. He turned and walked towards the children where some of his pack were still in wolf form surrounding and protecting them.

“Okay, children. My name is Kevin, and my pack is protecting you. We’ve gotten rid of all the guards and will get you all out of here in a moment. For now, you’ll come with me to my pack while we look for your families.”

The children gave an excited mutter. The one who spoke to Seth stepped forward, looking at Kevin as if sizing him up. “How do we know we can trust you? Those guards said the same thing, that we were being taken to our homes, but we knew they were lying.”

“I swear to you on my honour as an Alpha, I will help you all to find your families and get you home.”

“So will I,” Seth said. “Along with my coven.”

“As will I,” Gabe said.

The boy stared at them all for a moment before turning to the other children. “This guy says he can find our families and get us home. Let’s go with him. If we don’t like it, we can run away.”

Ian snorted out a laugh. “That you can, my young friend. Now, how about we get out of here. I’m sure if we ask someone nicely, they can provide bacon sandwiches and cakes.”

“Plus, you know, maybe a bath and clean clothes,” Gio added, looking over the children who were wearing dirty clothes and, going by the smell, none had washed in a while.

Gabe turned and opened a portal to the pack house. “This will take you home. I need to go back to my coven, but call if you need me, and I’ll update you on everything the others found out.”

“Thanks, witch. We’ll talk tomorrow. All those coming to the pack house, through the portal. Ian, you first,” Kevin said.

Ian grinned at the children and walked through the portal, motioning them to follow. It took a while, but finally Kevin kissed Creed and walked through, Gabe closing the portal behind them.

Gio looked at Creed. “You didn’t want to go with him?”

“I did, but I have his car keys. I’ll drive his car over to the pack house, but if you need me for anything, just call.”

“We will,” Seth said. “I’ve got my car, so I’ll drive back to the coven house. Anyone want a lift?”

“I’ll come with you, my Seth,” Gio said, smiling at his mate.

Seth scowled at him. “Anyone except Giovanni, who will be sleeping on the sofa tonight.”

“But—” Gio started to say, but Seth stomped off.

“I’ll come with you, Seth,” Gabe said, walking to catch up with him.

“I’m joining them,” Mathis said, pointing to Gabe and Seth.

“I have my car, so I’ll drive back,” Cairo said.

“And I’m going with him,” Troy said.

Gabe paused and turned round, opening a portal to the vampire coven. “It will close when the last person walks through,” he called back.

“I guess I’m using the portal,” Gio grumped out, walking through it first, the others following.