Page 6 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)
Mathis was sitting in what was now Gabriel’s office. Kaydan, Sean, Kevin, Ian, Cairo, and Troy were with them, Stefan having left earlier.
“How did the coven take the news?” Mathis asked him.
“There were a few disgruntled looks, but on the whole, everyone was shocked at first and then fine with us looking into them,” he paused. “I’ve sealed Leonard’s room, plus Kay’s room is sealed, as are the lemming’s, so only I can get in there at the moment.”
“What do you want us to do?” Ian asked.
“Nothing for tonight. We should all go to Gavin’s party. He needs all the friends he can get at the moment.”
“Are you sure, little witch?” Mathis asked him. “Will you not be needed here?”
“I really don’t care. Gavin needs us. The coven can do without me for one night.”
“And us,” Kaydan said. “Gavin’s our friend, as well.”
“Plus, we’ve never been to a kill party before. This will be fun,” Sean said, grinning.
“In that case, let’s all head back to the coven now,” Gabriel said, standing up.
“Can you send us to our cars first?” Kevin asked.
Gabriel nodded and swirled his hand, opening a portal.
“See you all soon,” Ian said, walking through the portal, Kevin, Cairo, and Troy following behind him. Once they were all through, Gabriel closed the portal before opening a new one to the vampire coven.
The four of them walked through and came out in the vampires’ kitchen.
“It smells amazing in here,” Kayden said, taking a sniff.
“Hot sausage rolls just out of the oven. You can have one each, but only one,” Annie told them. “The rest are for the party.”
“Thanks, Annie,” Sean said, grabbing two and handing one to Kayden before Gabriel and Mathis took one each.
Annie wiped her hands and rushed around the kitchen island, pulling Gabriel into a hug. “Are you alright?”
Gabriel hugged her back and smiled. “I am for the moment, but I’m surrounded by friends who will be helping me.”
Annie pulled back. “That you are. I should be throwing you a party, as well as a congratulations.”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, Gavin’s need is greater than mine.”
“Silly boy, we”ll just have your celebration another day. Now Gavin is still in his room.”
“Then we’ll go and see him. Thanks, Annie,” Kayden said.
The others thanked her, as well, before Mathis led them upstairs to his brother”s room, munching on the sausage rolls as they went.
Mathis knocked on the door, and without waiting for a reply from anyone inside, opened the door and walked in, Gabriel, Sean, and Kayden following.
Gavin was just putting down his empty soup bowl when his brother and the others walked in. He jumped up and pulled Gabriel into a hug.
Gabriel hugged him back. “We’ve come for your kill party,” he said as he pulled back, grinning.
Gavin gave a silent laugh before pulling Sean and Kayden into hugs.
He released them and then looked at Gabriel and started signing.
Gabriel gave a rude snort. “Gavin, you’re my friend and my brother. You are much more important than my coven, and there is nowhere I would rather be than here with you tonight, helping you celebrate your first kill. And no, I never thought I would say anything like that or even attend a kill party.”
Everyone laughed.
“Mum decided on the party to try and cheer Gav up. She sent Dad out for a lot of red decorations because, you’re not allowed to cry at your own party,” Dave told them, grinning.
“I love your mum. Do you think she’ll adopt me for real?” Sean asked him.
“I don’t see why not. I mean, she’s adopted the vamps and Kevin and Ian. Pretty sure she’s adopted Troy, as well,” Dave replied.
“Why were you eating soup when Annie and Thomaz are downstairs cooking up a storm?” Mathis asked Gavin, changing the subject.
He was surprised when Gavin blushed.
“His tattooist sent him chicken soup, hoping it would make him feel better,” Raz replied before Gavin could say anything.
“Damn, I”m going to have to like him now,” Mathis said begrudgingly.
Raz laughed. “I said the same thing.”
Gavin got a sad look in his eyes and started signing.
“Gav, stop,” Mathis said, gently stopping his hands from signing. “He’s not too good for you. Stop that line of thinking right now.”
“Yeah, Gavin, listen to your brother. We’ve only recently met, like, very recently, and neither me nor Sean thinks any differently of you now that you’ve killed someone,” Kayden told him, touching his arm.
“He’s right. You’re our friend and nothing will change that. And your man, the man who sent you chicken soup to help you feel better, won’t change his mind about you, either,” Sean added.
Gavin sighed and leaned into Mathis.
“I know it will take time for you to come to terms with what happened, but all of us are here for you,” a voice said from the doorway.
Everyone looked round and saw Ian and Kevin standing just inside the bedroom.
Kevin strode forward and pulled Gavin into his arms, hugging him. “You saved my best friend and second. I make this promise to you. I will help you with whatever I can to help you process what you went through or any situation you get into in the future.”
Gavin hugged him back before signing his thanks. Just as he finished, Ian pulled him into a hug.
“I owe you a debt, so many debts. If you ever need my help, call me. I can’t thank you enough for saving my life. Your quick thinking saved both of us and stopped an evil man. I don’t think any less of you for having to kill someone to save my life. But, if we are ever in that situation again, let me kill the bad guy. I have a tough reputation to keep.”
Kevin snorted. “Yeah, he’s such a badarse he’s ignoring calls from our king.”
Ian turned to look at Kevin and scowled. “So are you. But that’s fine; the next time he calls I’ll answer, and when he asks what’s been going on, I’ll tell him everything.”
“Hey now, there’s no need to do that,” Kevin protested while the others laughed.
“It’s only fair, babe,” Creed said, walking into the room.
“Betrayed by my own mate and best friend,” Kevin said, shaking his head sadly.
“There, there,” Creed said, patting his arm. “Annie said to tell you everything is ready for the party and to come down when you want.”