Page 7 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)

Everyone left the room to go downstairs and wait for Gavin. He wasn’t sure having a kill party was really the best thing to make him feel better, but knowing he’d hurt Annie’s feelings if he didn’t go, he walked to the mirror to make sure he looked presentable and to wipe off any tear tracks he had. He was more than thankful that vampires didn’t cry tears of blood. That was just nasty. Sure, everyone knew he’d cried his eyes out, but no one needed to see the evidence.

He was just about to leave when he remembered that he hadn’t thanked Hunter for the soup. He grabbed his phone and sent him a message.

Thank you for the soup. It tasted amazing and was really thoughtful.

He closed his messages and shoved his phone into his pocket, and with Bruno at his side, left the bedroom and walked downstairs to the ballroom.

The ballroom doors were open, and he saw everyone in there waiting for him. From what he could see, the room was decorated within an inch of its life with red balloons, red streamers, what looked like red teardrops cut out of cards, and a big banner.

He plastered on a smile and walked into the room. Everyone clapped when they saw him, and then David, Dave, Stefan, Louise, Gio, and Seth stepped forward.

“Gavin, we know that you’ve found it hard to deal with taking a life. You are the gentlest, sweetest person I think we all know,” David said. “But we are thankful you were with Ian when the witch tried to kill him, and none of us think differently of you. To us, you are still the gentlest, sweetest person we know.”

“We have all, in some way or another, celebrated our first kill. Indeed, it was Willard who pointed out to me that I went drinking with friends after my first kill, which was my celebration. But a party surrounded by friends and family is a much better alternative,” Stefan said.

“But know we are all here for you, even if it’s just to sit with you when the feelings get too much or to hold you when you need a cry. Whatever we can do to help you process, we will,” Seth concluded.

Gavin gave a wobbly smile and signed, and Dave came forward and translated.

“Gavin says, ‘Thank you for your support and for coming to my party and thank you for turning a horrible experience into a party everyone can share in. It’s true that killing that horrible man was hard, but I would do it again if it meant saving a friend.’”

“Well said,” Gabriel said, smiling at Gavin.

“Now that the talking part’s over with, let’s eat,” Seth said, grinning madly.

“That’s my darling, Seth, keeping it real,” Gio said, laughing and grabbing his mate”s hand, pulling him into his arms and kissing him.

“All right you two, break it up,” David said to them, shaking his head.

Gavin walked around his family and friends, keeping a wide smile on his face even if he didn’t feel it inside. He was touched that everyone had started learning sign language so they could understand him. He only needed his phone a few times when he used words that people didn’t know. And no one was treating him any differently.

Escaping from the vampire he was talking to, he headed for Gabriel and his friends just as Mathis, Raz, and Thiago appeared carrying plates of food.

Gavin grinned when he saw Thiago and hugged him.

“Sorry I’m late,” Thiago said to him.

Gavin shook his head and signed that he didn’t mind, as this party was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Then he pinched a sausage roll off the plate, making them all laugh.

“Your family are all so welcoming and friendly,” Sean said. “I honestly never thought I would see the day when vampires and witches became friends.”

“Or witches, vampires, and wolves,” Gabriel put in.

“Or demons,” Mathis said, smiling at Thiago.

“Who’s that man there?” Sean asked, pointing over to a group who were laughing and chatting. “He doesn’t seem like a wolf, and he doesn’t look like a vampire.”

Mathis laughed. “That’s Troy. He’s a cat shifter.”

“A house cat?” Kayden asked in surprise.

“Yep,” Raz said with a loud laugh.

“I am not a house cat,” Troy shouted over to them incredulously.

“Does anyone have a ball of wool?” David called out. “Looks like the kitty needs a bit of fun.”

Gabriel held his hand out and a ball of wool appeared. “Here you go, kitty. Have fun,” he said, throwing the ball at Troy.

“I hate you all so much,” Troy muttered, catching it.

“Scared a ball of wool will fell you?” David asked, laughing.

Troy grinned. “Not in the slightest, old bean. Not like the little scratch that did, in fact, fell you. How long were you out for, vamp?”

Chuckles were heard around the room as the smile fell off David’s face and he growled, much to Troy’s amusement.

“No killing the kitty,” Dave reminded him, patting his arm.

“I don’t need to. I’m sure one of our new witch friends could do something unspeakable to him if I ask nicely.”

“Well, would you look at the time? I’m sure there is something horrific going on at our coven that needs Gabe’s attention,” Sean said quickly.

Gabriel laughed, then sobered and sighed. “Yeah, there probably is. But it can wait until morning, and no, the kitty is safe from us witches.”

Troy laughed. “Bad luck, old bean. Maybe tomorrow.”