Page 24 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

The portal brought them out into the kitchen where dinner was still being eaten.

“Welcome back,” David said, looking them all over.

Dave jumped up and hugged everyone. He looked around. “We’re missing people. Where are they? And are the children safe?”

“Everyone is safe. We took no serious injuries. The children are with the pack,” Raz said, smiling at Gavin. “The others are driving back.”

“Gio, where’s Seth?” Louise asked.

“Driving back with Gabe and Mathis. I wasn’t allowed to go with him,” Gio grumbled as he sat down at the table.

“What did you do?” Dave asked him, grinning. “I bet you did something. Did you stop him fighting or demand he stayed hidden?”

“I pushed him out of a fight and took over,” Gio admitted.

Everyone at the table groaned.

“Oh, Gio,” Stefan said. “Are you sleeping on the sofa, as well?”

Gio nodded. “I was only trying to protect him. I’ve not been able to do that in forever.”

“He knows that darling. But remember, this is what Seth does,” Louise told him.

“I know,” Gio said with a big, heartfelt sigh.

“There’s plenty of food for you all. Dig in,” Annie told them.

“Then, once you’ve eaten, you can tell us everything,” Dave says.

Raz looked up and saw Gavin staring at him. “I promise, Mathis and Gabe are fine. They were knocked out for a few moments when a portal blew up, but they are both fine.”

Gavin’s fingers started flying.

“Gavin asked how the portal blew up,” Dave translated.

Raz shook his head. “No idea. Gabe can tell us when he gets back here. You look happy, little brother.”

Gavin signed.

Hunter grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it. “You make me happy, too, sweetheart.”

“I look forward to getting to know you, Hunter,” Raz said, sending him a smile.

“Thanks. I look forward to getting to know you, as well.”

* * *

Seth was driving home silentlyfuming.

“What did Gio do?” Gabe asked.

“He threw me into Kevin so he could take over fighting the vampire,” Seth spat out. “You know, because I’ve never fought a vampire in my life. If he doesn’t trust my skills, we’re going to have problems.”

Mathis leant forward from the back seat and touched Seth’s shoulder. “Did you ever think that he just wanted to protect you? He’s not been able to do that for a long time.”

“He knows you can fight and know what to do. But think of how he feels. He’s just gotten you back, Seth, so of course he wants to protect you,” Gabe added.

“Stop talking sense. Now I can’t stay mad at him,” Seth huffed out.

Mathis and Gabe laughed. “Make up sex,” they both said at the same time.

Seth grinned and drove faster.

* * *

Kevin lookedat the children sitting around the large pack table, eating sandwiches as if they were starving, which they probably were.

“Once they’ve eaten, we’ll find them beds for the night, and I have some pack members getting clothes. When they’ve had a bath we can get them to bed,” Lissa said. “Your healer isn’t here at the moment but should be back tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Mum. Is king loser back yet?”

Lissa shook her head. “No, your brother is still away. He won’t be back until tomorrow, but he phoned to get me to remind you to phone him.”

“I’ll call him now,” Kevin said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialling his brother.

“About time you phone, dweeb,” his brother said.

“What’s up Dirty Gerty?” Kevin replied.

Ian snorted out a laugh and Lissa rolled her eyes.

“What have I said about you calling me that?”

“To call you that all the time,” Kevin said, laughing down the phone.

“You’re such a dick,” his brother grumbled.

“So, I’m calling you back as you demanded. What’s up?”

“What’s up? How about my brother ignoring all my calls and messages. How about Ian ignoring them as well. You can’t leave me a message saying you’re celebrating finding your mate and having your consciousness back and not tell me the details.”

“There is too much to tell you over the phone. So, the Cliff Notes version is we’re friends and working with the D’Angelo coven. It was there I met my mate, Creed. We’re also friends with the Augusta witch’s coven.”

“You’re friends with Roberto Augusta?” Bert queried in astonishment.

Kevin snorted out a laugh. “Hell no. He’s dead, never to return after having his heart ripped out. No, with Gabriel, his brother, who is now head of the coven and head of the Southern Witches. It was while we were helping Gabe that we discovered kidnapped children and a lot of other dodgy stuff that we’re all working together to sort out. I’ve also invited Annie and Louise to come and play with our pups.”

“I’ve heard of Annie. She’s the human who keeps feeding the pack.”

“She is.”

“Who is Louise?”

“The vampire queen,”

“So since I’ve been gone, you’ve made friends with witches and vampires?” Bert queried.

“And a jaguar,” Kevin added.

“Please tell me it’s not Troy Nettles.”

Kevin laughed. “If it helps, David D’Angelo wants to either maim or kill him.”

“So why doesn’t he?”

“Dave, his mate, won’t let him. Listen PITA, I have to run. I’ll give you full details when you get back.”

“And you can introduce me to your mate and new friends. It’s about time we all worked together, and I would like to meet the vampiric Royal family.”

“You will soon enough. Be safe and chat soon.” And before his brother could say anything else, Kevin hung up.

Ian looked over at him and laughed. “He’ll get you back for that.”

Kevin shrugged. “He can try. I’ll just set Dave on him.”

Lissa shook her head. “One day I hope the three of you have sons who are just like you.”

“Mum, that’s just mean,” Kevin complained.

“Welcome to my world, darling.”