Chapter 8
Ivan awoke to the sound of his alarm and quickly hit the snooze button.
He moved about and settled onto his back, one arm bent and resting on the back of his head as he thought back over the previous evening.
He could never understand parents who hurt their children.
Children were precious and should be cared for and protected, especially by their parents.
He was glad that Karl and Kitty were now safe here in the coven.
Next, he thought about Jamie and how perfect he was.
Ivan let out a big sigh. He would have to tell Jamie about Derrick at some point.
David had assured him that what happened with Derrick wasn’t his fault, but Ivan wasn’t so sure.
His one fear was that Jamie would turn out the same way.
Ivan shook his head. That would never happen.
Jamie was nothing like Derrick and never would be.
He remembered Jamie’s dream of working with old books and manuscripts, sure he wouldn’t be a curator of a museum, but the coven library had old manuscripts and texts.
He wondered if Dave and Max would welcome Jamie’s help.
He’d have to talk to Dave later and see what he thought.
Before that, though, he needed to get up.
Ivan kicked his covers off and got up, walking into his bathroom, so he could start his day.
Jamie gave a full body stretch. He’d never slept on such a comfortable bed or slept in such a large bedroom before, and he had his own en-suite.
He lay there staring at the ceiling, thinking over everything that had happened yesterday.
He had never been so scared as he was when Karl had phoned to say their mum had broken Kitty’s arm.
The next emotion was terror when Kitty phoned, thinking Karl was dead.
He flung an arm over his eyes, as if he could block out the sight of Karl laying unconscious and bleeding on the floor.
Thank goodness for unexpected, powerful friends.
Jamie checked the time. He needed to get up, get Karl and Kitty up, and ring for a taxi so he could get to work later.
He got up and walked across the hall to Kitty’s room.
He would wake her up first, as she would be the easiest to wake.
He knocked lightly on the door before entering.
He smiled to himself as he saw his sister wrapped up like a sausage roll, with just her head poking out of the covers.
He gently stroked her head. “Hey, Kitty Kat, time to wake up.”
Kitty slowly came awake and opened her eyes, smiling when she saw her brother.
“I don’t need to ask if you slept well,” Jamie said, sitting on the side of the bed.
Kitty untangled herself from the covers. “This bed is like sleeping on a cloud.”
“Mine was just as comfy, but it’s time to get up now. How are you feeling?”
Kitty sat up. “My arm doesn’t hurt, and honestly, I feel safe, for the first time in ages.”
“Sorry, Kitty Kat. I was trying to save up and get you both out.”
Kitty moved to his side and hugged him. “I know, but now you can stop worrying.”
Jamie kissed the side of her head. “That’s true. Right, time to get up. I’ll meet you in the hall in half an hour.”
“Okay, good luck waking Karl up.”
Jamie laughed as he stood up. “Thanks.”
He left Kitty’s room and walked to Karl’s door, again knocking before walking in.
Jamie laughed when he saw his brother, who was lying sideways, fast asleep.
Where Kitty rolled herself up in her covers, Karl didn’t.
He moved around a lot in his sleep, hence him now being sideways across his bed, his sheet tangled around him.
Jamie shook him awake. “Time to wake up, Karly.”
Karl groaned and tried to push his hand away. “Still sleeping.”
“If you’re talking, you’re not sleeping,” Jamie pointed out, sitting on the side of the bed.
“So picky,” Karl replied, cracking open an eye and glaring at his brother.
“I know, I'm such a horrible brother. How did you sleep and how are you feeling?”
Karl untangled himself, sat up and crossed his legs with a yawn. “I slept really well, this bed is amazing, and I feel good. I’m trying not to think about the fact I nearly died yesterday, and I’m just focusing on you having some super cool friends and we’re safe now.”
“Me too. I didn’t find out what Ivan was until yesterday. How mad is it that the paranormal world is real?”
Karl shrugged. “Maybe all those films were paving the way for us mere humans to know about them.”
“Probably. Anyway, get washed and dressed, and I’ll meet you in the hall in twenty minutes.”
“Will do.”
Jamie walked out of Karl’s room and back into his, walking straight into his bathroom.
He sighed as the shower water hit him. The shower was incredible.
He was thankful the bathroom had, as Ivan said, been fully stocked and happily used everything supplied.
He wanted to linger, but he remembered Kitty and Karl would be waiting for him.
But another dream has come true, his own bathroom.
Not one he had to share with four other people, or having to listen out for when the bathroom was free so he could use it.
Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed in his borrowed clothes from Dave and walked out of the bedroom. He saw Ivan walking out of his bedroom and smiled.
Ivan turned and saw Jamie and returned the smile as he strode over to him. “Morning.” Before Jamie could answer, Ivan dipped his head and kissed him.
Jamie wrapped his arms around Ivan and happily kissed him back. Ivan was a head taller than Jamie, not that it mattered; Jamie had always liked taller men.
“Really? In the hall?” Karl said, walking out of his room, with Kitty next to him.
Ivan tapered the kiss and pulled away.
“Morning, Ivan,” Jamie said, happily.
Ivan laughed and took Jamie’s hand before looking at Kitty and Karl. ”Did you all sleep well?”
“I did,” Karl replied.
“Me too,” Kitty added.
“Me three,” Jamie said. “You?”
“Always,” Ivan replied. “Let’s go and have breakfast.”
They walked down the stairs towards the kitchen.
“I need to ring for a taxi, so I can get to work later, and then sort out my car, or phone in sick today.”
“If you want to go to work, I can drive you,” Ivan offered as they walked into the kitchen.
“How? Your car is still in that carpark.” Jamie queried.
“Royston and Olly brought it back for Ivan last night,” Seth replied for him.
“Thanks,” Ivan said, looking at the two men.
There were a lot of people at the table having breakfast. Jamie recognised a few from the library.
“Everyone, this is Jamie, Ivan’s mate and Jamie’s siblings, Karl and Kitty. Guys, meet everyone,” Dave said, waving his hand around the table.
Kitty moved closer to Ivan’s side.
Ivan put his arm around her shoulders and looked at her. “This is my family, no one here will hurt you.”
“I know,” Kitty said softly.
“Come and sit, help yourselves to breakfast,” Annie said, bustling over and ushering them to the table.
They sat down, and dishes were handed out. Jamie caught Hunter’s eye. “Morning, Hunter.”
Hunter smiled. “Hey Jamie, welcome to the family. This is my Gavin.”
“Thanks,” he said, looking at Gavin. “Hi Gavin, I think I saw you at the library.”
Gavin nodded and signed.
“I’m sorry, Gavin, I don’t know sign language,” Jamie told him.
“Jay, Gavin said it is nice to meet you as well, and he remembered seeing you at the library,” Kitty said.
Gavin smiled at her and signed.
“I’ve been teaching myself online, sorry if I misinterpret anything.”
Gavin signed again.
Kitty smiled. “Thanks.”
Jamie looked at her.
“Gavin said not to worry if I get words wrong.”
“We all still get words wrong,” Ivan told her.
“Kitty, can you send me the website you use, then I can learn as well,” Jamie asked.
Kitty nodded. “I can do that.”
“Thanks,” he said, looking at Gavin. “I’ll start learning today.”
“Thank you,” Gavin signed.
“What time are you working today, Jamie?” Dave asked.
“Twelve till closing. I have a list of things I need to sort out first, though,” he looked at his siblings. “We need to figure out schooling for you both.”
“We’re looking at either homeschooling Spencer and Jack or sending them to school with the wolves,” Seth told them.
“Wolves? Like shifter wolves?” Karl asked.
Seth nodded. “Yes. I know you’re both human, but you know about our world, and Jack and Spencer will be with you.”
“Are you wolf shifters?” Kitty asks them.
“Nope, I’m a fox, and Spencer is a pine martin,” Jack replied.
“Are we okay being here as we are human?” Karl asked.
“It’s completely fine,” Dave said. “I’m human, so are my parents, and Hunter’s parents. Hunter and Taha are human; Max is human as well. Mind you, Hunter, Taha and I have a support group going for humans who mate with vampires and don’t get anything apart from vampire hickeys.”
Jamie looked at Ivan. “Seriously, nothing?”
Ivan shook his head and laughed. “Sorry.”
“I want to lodge a formal protest,” Jamie griped.
“We’ve all lodged one, but we still got nothing,” Taha told him. “This is my mate, Owen.”
“Hi, Owen. Taha, you work with Hunter, right?”
Taha nods. “Yep, and we’ll need to leave soon, Hunt.”
Hunter glanced at the time. “Yep, I just need to finish my coffee,” he says, picking it up and drinking it down. He looked at Gavin. “Have a good day, sweetheart. If you have time, come to the studio for lunch. Shell and Luke will love to see you.”
“Same for you, Owen,” Taha told his mate.
Gavin nodded and signed.
Hunter pulled Gavin into his arms and kissed him. He pulled back. “Love you, too.”
Hunter looked at Taha and Owen and rolled his eyes. “Any time now, Ta.”
Finally, Taha pulled back. “Not sure I want to go to work now.”
“Eww,” Karl said, shaking his head.
“And on that note, we’re both going,” Hunter said, grabbing Taha’s arm and pulling him up and out of the room. “Bye, folks.”
Owen looked at Karl. “Sorry, but I love my mate.”
“Just maybe don’t love him at the breakfast table,” AJ said, shaking his head.
Owen grinned. “Sorry, not sorry.”
Jamie looked at Karl and Kitty. “This is what a normal family looks like.”
Dave snorted. “Yep, vampires are totally normal.”
“We are, it’s you humans that are weird,” Seth commented, grinning at Dave, who laughed. He turned to look at Jamie. “I have a friend who is a mechanic, pick your car up last night. He’ll have a look at what needs doing and fix it up for you.”
Jamie nodded. “Thanks, I’ll need to get a costing first.”
“We’ll see,” Seth replied.
Jamie went to protest.
“It’s a coven, mate thing,” Ivan told him.
“So much to learn,” Jamie said, leaning into Ivan’s side.
“You will. No one expects you to know everything now,” Ivan assured him.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Jack, Spencer, can you guys show Karl and Kitty around? I’m sure the four of you can find mischief to get into,” Louise said.
“We can do that. We still need to blow something up; we’ve not done that yet,” Spencer replied.
“Blow something up?” Karl and Kitty asked, looking excited, while Jamie said it with confusion and some apprehension.
“I told them they could blow something up as long as it wasn’t the house and they had adult supervision,” Louise replied. “I’m Louise, by the way, David, Giovanni and Spencer’s mother.”
Spencer beamed at her.
“Hi Louise, and as long as they’re supervised,” Jamie said, sounding relieved. “Have fun.”
“Come on, let’s take our stuff to the sink and go find Gio, he’s outside already,” Jack said, jumping up.
“You should have sword fighting lessons as well, Jack and I are learning. You two should know how to defend yourselves,” Spencer said, standing up and collecting his cup and plate.
“Yeah, we really do. Our dad nearly killed me yesterday, and our mum broke Kitty’s arm. Learning to defend ourselves would stop that from happening again,” Karl said, picking up his cup and plate.
“Maybe we could learn to make bombs, that would be amazeballs,” Kitty put in, standing up and taking her bits to the sink.
Everyone watched in silence as the four of them left the kitchen, chatting happily about bomb building.
Jamie looked around the table at the amused looks. “Should I be worried?”
Louise shook her head. “No, dear, our guards are well-trained and will ensure the children are kept safe.”
Jamie nodded. “Okay, then I’ll not worry.”
Dave laughed. “You’ll worry, but all the guards, plus these guys, know how to protect and do damage, and not just by ripping someone’s throat out or draining someone. They’ll be the best trainers the children could have.”
“Okay, thanks.” Jamie looked across the table at Gavin, who had his head down and was wiping his eyes. “Gavin, are you okay?” he asked softly.
Without looking up, Gavin shook his head.
Owen moved down a seat and put his arm around him. “It’s okay, little brother, we’ve got you.”
“Sorry, Gavin,” Dave said, jumping up and quickly walking to his side and hugging him from behind, while texting Hunter.
Jamie looked at Ivan with concern.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Jamie nodded as Thomaz stood up, holding Diablo.
“Here, Gav, have puppy snuggles,” he said, handing the puppy to him as Bruno walked over and laid his head on Gavin’s lap.
Gavin took the puppy and mouthed, ‘thank you’, rubbing his cheek on the puppy’s head, while stroking Bruno.
Tyres were heard screeching to a halt outside, and a moment later, Hunter and Taha came running back in.
Dave and Owen moved out of the way, and Hunter dropped to his knees beside Gavin.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he said softly, pulling Gavin into his arms, being careful of Diablo. “Let’s go upstairs, okay?”
Gavin nodded and pulled back, giving Bruno’s head a final stroke and handing Diablo to Dave.
“Hunt, I’ll contact your clients for you and rearrange all of them,” Taha said to him.
“Thanks, Ta,” Hunter replied, standing up and holding out his hand to Gavin, who took it and stood up. He waved to everyone and let Hunter lead him out of the kitchen.
“I’m off, or I’ll be late,” Taha said, looking concerned.
“He’ll be fine with Hunter,” Louise assured him. “Dave, maybe in a bit you can message Raz and Mathis.”
Dave nodded. “I can do that.”