Page 37 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)
The shield took the full impact but didn’t break as the three witches kept sending out their magic.
Everyone exclaimed or gave a startled yelp, and Hunter hugged Gavin tighter.
Hunter looked up and saw Taha was in Owens”s arms, Mathis was stood by Gabe, Dave was wrapped up in David’s arms, and Kevin was standing by Creed, holding hands.
Seth and Gio surrounded Jack.
“Sean, Kayden, keep the shield up for a moment as I deal with the flames,” Gabe commanded.
A moment later, they could all see the flames dying down until they’d all gone.
“Guys, release the shield,” Gabe told them.
Sean and Kayden pulled their magic back and the shield dropped.
Everyone looked around at the devastated garden where the explosion had destroyed it. The ground looked like several bombs had gone off, and the only part of the garden left in its former glory was where the shield had been.
“What the hell!” Ian exclaimed.
“Anyone hurt?” Kevin asked, looking around.
“Only the garden,” Dave said, pulling out of David’s arms and looking around.
Gabriel pushed his magic out, and soon the garden was once again pristine and perfect.
Kevin looked at the three witches. “Thank you for protecting our home and us and Gabe for fixing the garden.”
“You’re welcome.”
Bertrum looked at Jake. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say your plan just failed.”
Jake paled.
“I know you protected the pack house, as well, but I’m going to check on those inside,” Ian said.
“No need,” Willard said, walking out. “We’re all fine. What was the explosion?”
“A pathetic attempt to kill us,” Bertrum said.
Willard looked at the still unconscious Giles. “Who punched him?”
“I did,” Gio said proudly.
“Probably should have punched that one, as well,” he said pointing to Jake.
“We will. We need answers first,” David told him.
“Jack, why don’t you come with me back to the kitchen? Lissa is about to pull sausage rolls out of the oven and we need another taste tester.”
Gio looked at Jack. “Hot sausage rolls are the best.”
Jack nodded. “They are. Thanks, Willard.”
Willard nodded and they both walked back into the pack house.
“I love your dad, Dave,” Seth said.
Dave smiled. “Me, too.”
“So, Jake, tell us everything you know,” Bertrum said.
“You’ll get nothing from me.”
Bertrum wasn’t the only one who laughed at that. “Oh, Jakey boy, I can either beat the information out of you or the vampires can literally rip the information from your head. The choice is yours, and to help you decide, I’m going to destroy your family and those who tried to blow my brother’s pack up. If I wanted my brother dead, I’d kill him myself.”
“Love you, too, Gerty,” Kevin replied from just behind him.
“Can you imagine the lecture Mum would give me if someone else killed you?” Bert said to him.
“You’d probably get a bigger one if you killed Kevin yourself,” Seth helpfully pointed out.
“Justifiable killing. She’d understand,” Bert replied.
Kevin wasn’t the only one to laugh at that.
Bertrum partially shifted and stepped forward, picking Jake up by his neck, his wolf claws piercing his flesh. “Now, start from the beginning and tell me everything.”
Jake went ghost white and a wet patch formed on the front of his trousers, then shaking, he told them everything.
Sometime later, the lemmings, Giles and Jake were back down in the wolf cells.
“We need to confirm everything he said and all the names he gave us. Have everything documented,” Stefan said.
“I wish we had recorded everything he said,” Bertrum lamented. “We could have used that as evidence.”
“Gavin did,” Hunter said as everyone turned to look at him. “He pulled his phone out as soon as you grabbed Jake by the neck.”
“Nice, bro,” Mathis said to him.
“Yeah, thanks, Gav. Can you send us all copies of the recordings?” Kevin asked.
Gavin nodded and started attaching the recording to an email and sent it to everyone present he had numbers for.
Phones started beeping.
“Thanks, Gavin,” Kevin said, looking at the email.
“Can you send it to me?” Bert asked his brother.
“Already have,” Kevin replied.
“Thanks.” He looked around the group. “Can you copy me in on all the information and reports that have already been compiled?”
“We can,” David assured him.
“If you need more help going through physical copies of paperwork, I have people that can help.”
“Thanks, Bert, I’ll let you know,” Gabriel said.
“In the meantime, I’ll send some guards out to see what they can find,” Bert said, walking over to them.
“Ian, go inside and check on the food status, it must be time to light the BBQ. I don’t think I’m the only one who needs a good party now.”
* * *
The BBQ wasin full swing, and the scent of cooking meat was in the air. The garden was decorated, courtesy of Gabe, with balloons and a congratulatory sign for Sean and Kayden.
Laughter could be heard from all around them.
“Thanks for having your anniversary today. I think we all needed this BBQ,” Seth said to Sean and Kayden.
He was standing with them, Hunter, and Gavin.
“We can celebrate again if you want. Or we could have a party when the adoption goes through,” Kayden commented.
Seth shook his head. “My life is weird. A few days ago, I was dying and Gio was cursed, and now we’re both healthy, happy and have a son.”
“Is it rude to ask what kind of paranormal he is?” Hunter asked. “There are probably a lot of rules I need to learn.”
“Not really. We try and keep the paranormal world a secret, but it’s like an open secret nowadays,” Seth replied. “As for what paranormal Jack is, he’s a red fox.”
“So awesome,” Sean said.
They heard a burst of laughter and saw Gio, Dave, Spencer, and Jack playing together.
“I had given up on ever hearing Gio laugh like that again,” Seth said softly.
“But he’s laughing and having fun,” Creed said, joining them. “He’s back to the old Gio he once was.”
“We should thank Roberto. Because of him, we are all now friends,” Sean said.
“I think I’ll pass on thanking him, but I’m glad we all met,” Seth replied.
Just then, Bertrum walked over. “Mind if I join you?”
“Nope,” Creed said. “You can tell me all your brother”s secrets.”
Bert laughed. “I can, and I have embarrassing photos.”
“You have to share them,” Sean said, grinning at him.
“I will.”
Gavin passed his plate to Hunter and started signing.
“I’m doing all right actually,” Bert said.
Gavin grinned at him.
“Yes, I know sign language. I’m a bit rusty, but it will all come back. It’s nice to know I have a mate out there, but if he doesn’t like the paranormal world, I’ll have to proceed with caution.”
“Max is nice. He works at the local library for the moment, but he’ll be leaving soon to help Dave in the coven library,” Hunter told him.
“I might have to visit the library and make his acquaintance.”
“I can meet you there if you want. We can grab a coffee inside, and you can meet him,” Hunter offered.
“Thank you. I might take you up on that offer. We can swap numbers in a bit,” Bertrum said before looking back at Gavin. “While you’re here, Gavin, you’ve got to tell me how to get off level eleven of Vampire Hunters.”
Everyone laughed, with Gavin giving a silent chuckle.
He signed to Bert.
“Really? Then I’ll go and ask him.” And with that, Bert walked off.
“What did you tell him, Gav?” Sean asked.
“To ask Stefan,” Hunter replied for him.
Gavin nodded and gave a silent laugh before signing.
“I don’t blame you,” Kayden said. “I wouldn’t have told him how to do it, either.”
The others laughed and Hunter dropped a kiss on Gavin’s head.
“It’s amazing the different types of people that play your games,” Sean said to him.
Gavin signed again and Kayden translated. “I try not to pigeonhole my games, so they appeal to everyone.”
“And you do it well,” Seth said to him. He looked at Hunter. “How are you coping with today?”
“Surprisingly well,” Hunter said. “But I might freak out later.”
Gavin looked at him in concern.
Hunter put the plates he was holding on the table behind them and pulled Gavin into his arms. “I’ll be fine, sweetheart,” he assured, only half believing it.
“We’re all here if you do have one,” Seth replied.
“Thanks.”