Page 30 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)
Kevin was standing with David off to one side.
“We should gather the others and have a catch-up,” David said. “We can update everyone on what’s been found.”
“That sounds good. Shall we call them here now?”
David nodded. “Yes, it would be easier. I’ll message Ivan if you want to message Gabe.”
They both got their phones out of their pockets and sent messages.
Within a few moments, a portal opened, and Gabe, Mathis, Sean, Kaden and Neill arrived.
“Did you miss us?” Sean asked, smiling at everyone.
“If they didn’t, I did,” Dave said, hurrying over and hugging them all.
“Gabe, can you open a portal from the coven for Ivan and Gavin?” David asked.
“I can,” he said, swirling his hand. The next moment, a portal opened, and Ivan and Gavin walked through.
Gavin saw his brother and rushed over to hug first him and then the others.
“Where is Raz?” Mathis asked.
“Thiago took your brother off to visit the underworld and to get permission for us all to visit,” David replied.
“See if I can come, vamp. That would be an amazing trip,” Kevin said with a grin.
“I’ll ask Thiago when he comes back,” David assured him.
“Where’s the kitty?” Ian asked, walking over to join them.
“He and Cairo are looking for the witch Jake Conway. They’ve gone to look at the Goodsir house,” David replied.
Ian nodded. “Makes sense to hide out there.”
“Let’s move this over to that seating area there,” Kevin suggested, pointing to a large round outdoor dining table that was already set up with cold drinks and covered cakes.
As they sat down, Stefan came over and joined them, as did Gio and Seth. Everyone else was playing with the children, and Annie, Louise, and Lissa were sat on the floor with wolf puppies jumping all over them, talking and laughing.
“Looks like the mums are bonding,” Seth said, smiling their way.
“Good, it might keep my mum round for a while,” Kevin said, looking over at them.
“She doesn’t live here?” David asked, surprised.
Kevin shook his head. “No, she still lives in our old pack. I keep asking her to move here, so hopefully she will now.”
“I’m sure Mum and Annie can work their magic on her,” Gio said, sounding full of confidence.
“I take it your brother isn’t back,” Seth asked him.
“No, thank goodness. Hopefully, he’ll not be back today, either.”
Creed laughed. “I hope he is. I can’t wait to meet him.”
Kevin just shook his head and looked at the others. “We thought we would have a catch-up and fill everyone in on what we currently know.”
“As you can see, we rescued all the children that were in the warehouse. They were kept in crates before being taken off to a separate room,” Seth told them.
“What happened in that room?” Mathis asked.
“I don’t know. But whatever it was, it wasn’t good,” Seth said, just as Jack wandered over and leant against his chair.
“I don’t know what happened in there, either. None of us do. But there was a lot of screaming and crying and then silence. Those that were taken in there were never seen again,” Jack told them.
Seth slipped an arm around him. “When Raz and I went in to look for the children, they were huddled in the corner of the room and a guard was walking towards them. Needless to say, he didn’t get to them.”
“I closed the portal that was being used to bring guards into the warehouse. It was a struggle to close, as it had demon magic attached to it,” Gabe added.
“So we have a demon to deal with, as well?” Stefan asked.
“Possibly. Thiago said he would see if he could find the demon involved,” Gabe said.
“We’ve not found any more records of children being taken after these ones, but it still might be worth checking the addresses we found just to be on the safe side,” Kayden suggested.
“We were moved from a house to the warehouse if that helps,” Jack said.
“It does, thank you, young man,” Mathis said.
“Jack,” Jack said.
Mathis nodded.
“Did you find everyone’s families?” Jack asked.
“Most of them. If you’re Jack Martins, we couldn’t find yours or a boy called Spencer Stevenson’s,” Ivan replied.
“Spencer told me last night his family is all dead and he kept running away from his foster parent’s place. He said that’s how he was taken because he was walking the streets one evening trying to get away,” Jack told them.
“What about your family?” Seth asked him gently.
“It was only me and my grandma. She died and it was just me in the cottage for a bit before I was taken.” He looked at Seth. “Can I come and live with you?”
Before Seth could answer, Gio said, “Sure you can. Seth and I will look after you.”
Seth and Jack, well, everyone turned to stare at Gio with different looks on their faces from humour to shock.
Gio grinned at David. “I’m now the favourite son. I just gave Mum and Dad a grandson.”
David laughed and Stefan looked at Jack. “Welcome to the family, Jack. I’m Stefan, Gio and David’s father.”
“Not to mention king of the vampires,” Dave happily added.
Jack”s mouth dropped open. “For real? A real king?”
“For real,” Stefan replied, smiling.
“If you ask nicely, he might even show you his crown,” Seth added.
Jack smiled. “Would you?”
“I think that can be arranged. We will also sort out the paperwork so Seth and Gio can formally adopt you,” Stefan said.
Jack looked from Seth to Gio; Seth still had his arm around Jack. “Would you do that? You don’t know me.”
“You don’t really know me either,” Seth pointed out. “But you feel safe with me and hopefully Gio, as well.”
“I do,” Jack replied, nodding. “Thanks, but what about Spencer? He needs a family, as well. Can he come with me?”
“If he wants to, yes, but the decision needs to be his,” David said.
“Thanks, I’ll go and talk to him.” And with that, Jack rushed off to find Spencer.
“Congratulations, it’s a boy,” Ian said, laughing at Seth and Gio.
Gio grabbed Seth’s hand. “Is that okay, my Seth?”
Seth nodded. “I was going to ask you if he could come and live with us.”
Gio blew out a sigh of relief and everyone laughed and offered congratulations.