Page 41 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)
“Hey, folks, we’re back,” Hunter called out as he and Bert walked into the tattoo parlour.
“Hey,” Taha said, walking out of Hunter”s room, Owen following behind him.
“Gavin and Shelby shouldn’t be far behind us,” Hunter said.
“How did you get on with Max?” Owen asked.
“Met him, shook his hand, and he quickly dropped it before all but running away and hiding,” Bert told him.
“I messaged Dave so he could check on Max,” Hunter said.
Just then, Owen”s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Shelby ran in, carrying all the bags and looking panicked. “Gavin’s in trouble. He needs help.”
“Where?” Owen demanded.
“The second side street on the left,” Shelby panted out.
Quick as a flash, Owen vanished. Bert turned and ran after him with Hunter and Taha trying to keep up.
Owen reached the side street as a man was flinging his wand at Gavin, who was just standing up and shaking his head. Putting on a burst of speed, Owen ran at the man, throwing him into a wall.
As the man flew into the wall, he dropped his wand to the ground.
Bert arrived and saw the dropped wand, and rushing forward, picked it up, hoping it belonged to the man Owen was fighting.
The man jumped up. “You can’t stop me. I’ve got a spell on me, making me quicker and stronger.”
Bertrum stood in front of the man, holding up his wand. “I wonder what would happen if I broke this.”
“I will still be strong and powerful,” the man said, but something flickered in his eyes.
Bert smiled and, taking the wand in both hands, broke it in two just as Hunter and Taha came running to join them.
“See. I’m still standing,” the man said, opening his arms wide like he was showing off.
“You must be really strong to survive being attacked by vampires. Just how strong are you?” Taha asked, walking towards him.
“So much stronger than all of you combined,” the man boasted.
“Can I feel your chest to see how strong you are?” Taha asked, stepping closer.
The man shrugged. “Sure, why not? A handsome man wants to touch me up, so have at it.”
Owen hissed and went to move, but a shake of Hunter’s head stopped him.
Taha smiled at the man and touched his chest, placing his fingers in a circle and pressing, before moving them and pressing again. He took his hand away and stepped back. “Impressive.”
“How long?” Hunter asked him.
“Ten seconds,” Taha said, looking at Hunter and grinning.
“For what?” Bert asked just as a shocked expression passed over the man’s face before his eyes closed and he crashed to the ground.
“For that to happen,” Taha said.
Hunter ignored everyone and ran to Gavin’s side, pulling him into his arms.
“Are you injured?”
Gavin shook his head, wishing he hadn’t when his head started spinning. Pulling back, he signed.
“Let me look,” Hunter said, turning Gavin around to have a look and a prod. “You have a heck of a bump, sweetheart, which is bleeding but not gushing.”
“Who phoned you, Owen?” Taha asked him.
“David. He felt Gavin get hurt and phoned me as we were supposed to be together. I need to call him back,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“We need to lock this guy up,” Bert said, letting out a loud whistle. His two shadows ran into the side street. “Nice of you to join us. I thought you were supposed to be protecting me?”
“We knew the vampire was with you. You’re fine,” one of the guards said, waving his hand dismissively.
Bertrum ignored the sniggers from those around him. “Take him to my brother’s cells. They’re protected against magic.”
“Might be worth getting ours protected, as well,” the second guard said.
“I’ll talk to Gabriel. In the meantime, take him away.” He looked at Taha. “How long will he be out for?”
“About an hour,” Taha told him.
“Good, plenty of time then,” Bert said and watched one of his guards pick the unconscious man up and carry him away. Bert looked at the other guard who hadn’t moved. “Go with Oscar just in case anything happens.”
“But—” the other guard started to say.
“I will protect the Alpha King,” Owen said, hanging up the phone.
“Thanks.” And with a quick nod to Bert, the guard hurried off.
Owen walked over to Gavin, who was again wrapped up in Hunter”s arms and touched his back. “David felt your pain. He wants you to go back to the coven.”
Gavin shook his head, wincing as he did.
“Please, sweetheart? I’ll come with you,” Hunter said gently.
Gavin gave a silent sigh and nodded before wincing again.
“Definitely back to the coven for you, my friend,” Bert said.
“How about we pack up and all head to the coven house?” Taha suggested. He looked at Bert. “Max might even be there.”
“Are you sure none of you mind?” Bert asked.
“Not even a little,” Owen replied.
It didn’t take them long to get back to Area 51. Both Luke and Shelby were waiting for them in the reception area, Shelby pacing back and forth, nibbling on his thumbnail.
As soon as he saw Gavin, he rushed over and pulled him into a hug. “I was so worried, especially when you told me to run. I ran as fast as I could to get you help.” He pulled back. “Are you injured?”
Gavin held his thumb and forefinger apart.
“Do you need a doctor?” Luke asked, coming over and touching his shoulder.
Gavin mouthed, “No.”
Luke turned and looked at Owen. “Did you stop that horrid man?”
Hunter snorted. “No. Taha, the lowly human, stopped him.”
“Way to go, Ta,” Shelby said, high fiving him.
“We’re all taking off, though. We need to get Gavin home,” Hunter told them.
“Okay, hold on a sec.” Shelby dashed off towards the kitchen.
“Is anyone else hurt?” Luke asked.
“Well, the man who attacked Gavin is going to wake up to one hell of a headache, and Gavin’s got one, too, and maybe a concussion, but they were the only injuries,” Owen told him as Shelby came rushing back, carrying bags.
“These bags are all Gavin’s new clothes, and these two bags have your lunches in them,” Shelby said, handing the food bags to Taha and Gavin’s shopping bags to Hunter.
Owen took them before Hunter could. “You look after our Gavin, and I’ll carry the bags.”