Page 31 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

Once everyone had calmed down, they carried on catching up.

“So, all the records we’ve been through so far in Leonard’s secret office — and let me tell you, there are thousands of them — detail everything he was into but give no names, just initials,” Kayden said. “Quintus’ initials feature in a lot of them, but there are some I don’t recognise. It might be worth cross-referencing them against the covens Kay and Jake came from.”

“We can do that,” Ivan said. “Shoot them over to me and I’ll do a dig.”

“Will do,” Kayden replied. “Last night I typed up a lot of notes, giving as much information about all the activities we’ve uncovered and breaking it down as much as I could. There’s still more to add, but I can send you all copies if you want.”

Gabe looked at his friend. “Did you sleep at all?”

Kayden nodded. “I did.”

Sean huffed out a sigh and grabbed Kayden’s hand. “Not much, though.”

“Wait… I’ve just remembered. It’s your wedding anniversary today,” Gabe suddenly said, looking at his two friends. “You should be off enjoying your day. Leave this for now and go and have fun.”

Sean shook his head. “No, we spoke about taking some time off from all this, but we didn’t want to. There’s still so much to sort out.”

“In that case, we shall have a celebration BBQ for you both here today,” Kevin said. “I’m sure Gabe can arrange the decorations, and we always have enough food for a BBQ.”

“Oh, wow, thank you. But you don’t need to,” Kayden replied, looking surprised.

“Babe, Wolfie wants to throw us a party. Just smile and say thank you,” Sean said, grinning.

“Wolfie?” Dave questioned, sitting forward with a beaming smile.

“This is now a no-party zone,” Kevin grumbled out as the others laughed.

Annie walked over with Spencer and Jack. “You’re having a party?” she asked.

“Well, we were going to have a celebration for Sean and Kayden’s wedding anniversary today, but not anymore,” Kevin told her.

“Oh, how exciting. Let me grab Louise and Lissa and we can start making cakes. Jack, you and Spencer can come and help.” And just that quickly, Annie rushed them off in the direction of Louise and Lissa.

Kevin shook his head. “No one listens to me anymore,” he lamented.

“That’s probably because you’re a dweeb,” a voice said from behind him.

“Gah,” Kevin mumbled, looking over his shoulder at his older brother. “What’s up, Gerty Berty?”

“For once in your life, behave,” Bertrum said, scowling at him.

“Hey, Mum, Gerty Berty’s being annoying,” Kevin shouted to his mother.

“You’re such a PITA,” Bert muttered.

“Behave, boys. Don’t make me come over there,” Lissa warned.

Kevin laughed and stood up to hug his brother. “I suppose it’s good that you’re back. Let me introduce you around,” he said, pulling back.

Everyone at the table stood. “King Stefan D’Angelo of the vampires, meet Alpha King Bertrum Mellor.”

The two men shook hands.

“It’s good to finally meet you, Alpha King,” Stefan said.

“The same, but please call me?—.”

“Gerty Berty,” Kevin supplied quickly.

Bert’s hand shot out and hit the back of Kevin’s head. “No,” he said, scowling at his brother before looking back at Stefan. “Bert will be fine.”

Stefan laughed. “And you must call me Stefan. Let me introduce you to everyone.”

The others came forward and hands were shaken.

Dave held his hand out and shook Bert’s when Bert suddenly jerked him closer and took a sniff, and he growled.

Quick as a flash, David rushed forward and pulled Dave away, shoving Dave behind him.

Seth and Gio moved to flank Dave as Gabriel moved in front of them, wand at the ready.

“What the hell, wolf? Dave is my mate,” David growled out angrily, his eyes turning red as he shifted into his vampire form, now practically nose to nose with the Alpha King.

“Bertrum?” Kevin queried as Bert’s Beta and guards came to stand behind them, the vampire guards standing by Dave.

“The human smells like my mate,” Bert replied.

“Shit,” Kevin said, running a hand down his face.

“You don’t smell like my mate,” David spits out.

“It doesn’t matter. He still smells like my mate,” Bert shot out.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” David demanded angrily.

“Everyone, Gavin is trying to say something,” Gio announced.

They all turned to look at him and he quickly started signing.

“Gav, slow down. I’m missing half of what you’re saying,” Mathis complained.

“Gavin is saying that earlier this morning, Dave hugged Max. It could be that Max is the Alpha King”s mate,” Kayden translated.

Silence met this announcement before Dave sniggered, then he moved forward and touched David’s arm. “Relax, babe. We know we’re mates and it’s just the two of us, but what Gavin says makes sense.” He turned to look at Bertrum. “Could that be it?”

Bertrum nodded, taking a step back from David. “It could be, yes, as the scent is getting fainter. Who is Max and why were you hugging him?” he demanded.

Dave narrowed his eyes, and without looking away, he said, “Kevin, I see what you mean about your brother. Now look here, wolf; you don’t get to use that tone with me. Max is my best friend, my human best friend. We hug, get used to it. Max is also freaked out about the paranormal world, and you having this crappy attitude won’t help. Now, we are in the middle of a serious meeting, so leave us be so we can carry on.” And with that, Dave turned his back on Bertrum and walked back to his seat at the table.

“I so want to be you when I grow up,” Sean said, walking over and joining him at the table.

Bertrum stood there for a moment, not sure what he should do.

“You should apologise for being a dick,” Jack said from behind them.

Bertrum turned and looked at Jack. “I wasn’t being a dick,” he protested.

Jack wasn’t the only one who snorted.

Bertrum rolled his eyes and turned back to the group. “I apologise for my behaviour. I was stunned when I smelt my mate, and my brain took a dump.”

David settled down. “Apology accepted. I would probably have done the same thing,” he grudgingly admitted.

“Thank you,” Bert said.

“Don’t you have something urgent you need to do at, like, in the other end of the country?” Kevin asked him.

“No, Bacon, I don’t, but maybe I can help with whatever you’re discussing,” Bert offered, hoping that would show he really was sorry.

There were sniggers around the table.

“Bacon?” Gabe queried, smirking.

“Don’t ask,” Kevin said.

Gavin silently laughed and started signing.

Kayden snorted out a laugh. “That would make sense.”

“What did Gavin say?” Sean asked.

“Gavin says Bacon refers to Kevin Bacon,” Stefan told them.

“O.M.G., I think that’s even better than wolfie,” Dave said, grinning like mad.

“I hate you so much right now,” Kevin said to his brother.

“Pull up a chair and join us,” Stefan said to Bert.

“Thank you,” Bert replied, pulling a spare chair over and sitting at the table. His second, Drake, came to stand behind him as all the guards moved back out of the way.

“Before you start the meeting again, Annie asked how long you’ve been married for?” Jack asked, looking at Sean and Kayden.

“Ten years,” Kayden said at the same time Sean said, “Nine years.”

“Good to see you both know how long you’ve been married,” Ian said, laughing at them.

“Ten years?” Sean asked, looking at Kayden.

Kayden laughed. “Yeah, sweetheart, it’s ten years.”

“My only excuse is that time has no meaning when I’m with you,” Sean tells him.

“Nice save,” Gabe said, laughing at him.

Kayden and Sean laughed. “Ten years,” Kayden said to Jack.

“Thanks, I’ll tell Annie,” Jack said, then walked away.