Chapter 16
After saying goodnight to Kitty and Karl, Ivan led Jamie into his bedroom. The door had barely shut when Ivan pulled Jamie into his arms and kissed the stuffing out of him.
He had been so afraid that Jamie would leave him after hearing about Derrick. He internally shook his head. He should have had more faith in his precious mate.
As they kissed, Ivan started to strip Jamie out of his clothes, before stepping back and, quick as a flash, Ivan was naked.
Jamie looked at him in shock before grinning. “Nice,” Jamie commented, looking Ivan over, “and not just your super speedy stripping. You’re perfection and all mine.”
Ivan stepped forward and placed his hand on Jamie’s cheek. “You’re the perfect one. I was so scared that once you found out about Derrick, you’ll collect Karl and Kitty and leave, thinking I was a monster.”
Jamie frowned and put his hands on Ivan’s hips. “He was the monster, not you. You didn’t turn him into a lunatic; that’s on him. He killed those people, not you. I meant what I said earlier, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t done some questionable things in the past, I’d just want to know what.”
“My past is really quite boring. I shut myself away for a long time.”
“Why, because of Derrick?”
“Partly, but my grandmother went on a murdering rampage, vampire hunters ended up tracking and killing her.”
“Vampire hunters are real?” Jamie asked in surprise.
“They are, and we can talk more about them at a later date, because we’re currently both naked, and I desperately want to make love to you.”
Jamie grinned up at him. “So what are you waiting for?”
“Nothing,” Ivan said, kissing him and carrying Jamie to bed, to spend hours making love to his human.
Ivan pulled up outside the school. He saw Kevin, Ian and another woman waiting outside the school gates for them.
Jamie turned to look at Karl and Kitty. “Ready?”
They both nodded, and the four of them got out of the car and joined Seth, Gio, Louise, Jack, Spencer, and some vampire guards, who were standing close.
“Welcome, your majesty,” Kevin said, bowing his head.
“Call me Louise, dear,” she replied, smiling at him.
“Thanks,” he said, looking at Seth. “Problems?”
“Possibly, but we’re being cautious. Now let me introduce you. This is Jamie, Ivan’s mate, his brother Karl and his sister Kitty. They need a new school closer to our place. And this is Jack and Spencer,” Seth said to the unknown lady.
“Welcome to Sleepy Magna. I’m Kevin Mellor, Alpha of the village. This is my second Ian, and Ew Singleton, the Headmistress of the school.”
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Jamie said, before looking back at Kevin and Ian. “I saw you both after we arrived in the kitchen.”
“You did,” Ian confirmed.
“They plague our coven,” Seth said, grinning at them.
“It’s the food,” Ian confessed.
“But now, back to school things,” Louise said, bringing them all back to the matter at hand.
“Let me show you around. As you know, this is a pack run school, but we do have a couple of human children already studying here,” Mrs Singleton said. “This section is our secondary school.”
The guards waited outside while they followed the Headmistress around, asking questions along the way.
Two hours later, they left the school. Mrs Singleton had given them a list of school equipment and uniform needed and promised to get their school records sent over, and told them they could start after the spring half term, which was due to start the next day.
Because of their ages, Jack and Karl would be in year 8, while Kitty and Spencer would be in year 7.
“So that doesn’t seem so bad, does it?” Jamie asked them.
“No, and there are already human children there,” Karl replied.
“Don’t forget, me and Spencer will be there as well, just in case,” Jack reminded him.
Karl nodded.
“And we have a week to get you kitted out with everything you need for school,” Louise added.
“I see a shopping trip in our future,” Jamie said, trying not to worry about how he was going to afford everything.
Kevin looked at Seth. “What’s up?”
“Let’s let the others go on home. Jamie and Ivan can stay as it involves them,” he looked at Gio. “Okay?”
Gio nodded. “Yep, we’ll leave a car with you.”
Goodbyes were said, and Kevin led the way to the pack house kitchen, making drinks and bringing them over, while Ian got the biscuits out, putting them on the table.
“So vamp, what’s going on?” Kevin asked, after handing out the drinks and sitting down.
“You’re gonna love this…,” Seth said, grinning and told them everything.
“Seriously, count us in,” Ian said. “Plus, we’re coming with you to look around that old asylum.”
Kevin nodded. “We can take a day or two away from this organisation stuff. Shall we go tomorrow?”
“I’ll phone in sick tomorrow, and come as well,” Jamie said.
Ivan looked at him, ready to protest.
“I’m coming, deal with it,” he said stubbornly, forestalling him.
Ivan smiled at him. “Yes, dear.”
They arrived back at the coven house hours later. Jamie needed a moment of calm and decided to go to the secret library.
“Do you want to have a meltdown?” Ivan asked, looking concerned and capturing both Jamie’s hands.
Jamie gave a small smile. “No, but I need a moment of calm. I’m going to the super-secret library.”
Ivan pulled him into a kiss.
Jamie lost himself in the kiss, and soon they pulled back.
“I’ll be in the office if you need me,” Ivan said, touching his cheek.
Jamie turned his head and kissed Ivan’s hand. “Have fun researching.”
“Okay, Jay. Go have fun in the library.”
Jamie kissed his cheek. “Thanks, honey.”
Ivan watched as Jamie walked away, only slightly concerned. He needed to find out everything he could about Derrick; only then would Jamie, Kitty and Karl be safe.
Jamie sighed as he walked down the steps to the library. The lights were already on, so Dave must be down there. He saw Dave reading a book.
“Hey Dave,” he called as he got to the bottom of the stairs.
Dave looked up and smiled. “Good, you’re here, now you can tell me what’s going on. Max said a weirdo was stalking you.”
Jamie pulled out the chair next to him and sat down.
“Well, I’m not sure if he’s stalking me, Ivan or both of us. But let me tell you everything,” and he did.
Dave's mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”
Jamie nodded. “And tomorrow we’re off to the asylum to look around and see what we can find.”
“That sounds scary and fun, but why not just capture this Derrick chap and talk to him?”
“That sounds sensible, but I think they’re hoping to find some old patient records and see how mad this Derrick chap actually is, and how he is still alive.”
“I would say completely nuts to be honest, and Adrian’s going?”
Jamie nodded and grinned. “It was his idea. He looked excited at the prospect. Kevin and Ian, the wolves we met today, are coming along as well. I secretly think they just want a day not focusing on the organisation, and having fun in a mental asylum.”
Dave laughed. “That’s probably more like it. Those wolves never miss out on adventure time. What did you think of the school?”
“It looks good, and there are already a couple of human children there. The four of them can start after half term, so the week after next.”
“That’s one less thing to worry about then,” Dave said. “We have time before dinner, let’s have a look at the shelves and see if we can find anything on prolonging human lives, that doesn’t include mating, spells, curses or demons.”
“Yep,” Jamie said, jumping up. “Fingers crossed he’s not alive because of a weird scientist’s experiment.”
“With everything I’m learning about this world, nothing would surprise me.”
Seth walked into his office and, sitting behind his desk, called David. He answered on the first ring.
“Seth, how are things?”
“We're following up on leads and still searching properties. But that’s not why I called. You remember that lunatic from Ivan’s past? He’s still alive and stalking Ivan and Jamie.” He went on and told David everything. “So the wolves will join us tomorrow as they’ll have FOMO otherwise.”
“I’ll send Cairo and Troy back to help. I think we all need space from Troy.”
“He loves you too, bossman,” Seth teased.
David grumbled down the phone.
“What’s new on your end?”
“Still trawling through everything. A captain of the guards was involved in this as well. The General is not a happy man.”
“I can imagine.”
“Indeed. Be safe tomorrow and let me know how you get on.”
“Will do, chat tomorrow.” And with that, they hung up.
Seth checked his emails and, firing off instructions to others, decided he needed to check on Jack and Spencer. He still couldn’t believe he had a son, or indeed Gio, back in this life. He sent another prayer of thanks to whoever is listening.
He walked outside and had a look around until he saw the children kneeling beside Gio as he explained something to them. He hurried over to join them.
“Now, Karl, attach the red lead here,” Gio pointed out, and Seth saw Karl secure the lead where directed.
Seth watched as Gio pulled his phone out and tapped something. He felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out of his pocket to look, smiling when he read the message.
If you hear an explosion, don’t worry, the children and I are blowing the garden up.
Seth shook his head. Royston was already annoyed over the damage that had been done, courtesy of the fight with the super witches. Seth shrugged, just as well Royston hadn’t had time to start fixing it up yet then.
The next moment, a loud explosion was heard, along with the children jumping up and cheering, as debris from whatever just exploded went everywhere.
“And that class is how to make your first bomb,” Gio said, grinning his head off.
Seth joined them and slipped an arm around Jack, who leant into him. “So bomb making 101 going well then.”
“So much fun,” Jack agreed as the others talked over themselves, telling him all about it.
Finally, after thanking Gio, Spencer, Kitty and Karl went off to do something else. Jack stayed with them.
“Jack, are you okay?” Seth asked him softly.
“I guess,” he replied with a small shrug.
“Wanna talk about it?” Gio asked, stepping closer.
“I miss my gran and my fox. I mean, I can feel him getting stronger, and Adrian is doing what he can, but it’s not the same as having him just below the surface.”
“I can’t even imagine how strange that feels, but just focus on the fact that he is getting stronger. As for your gran, of course you’ll miss her, that’s allowed, you know?” Gio replied.
“You’re not mad?” Jack asked, looking at them.
“Why would we be mad at you missing your gran or any of your family? If you want to talk to us about them, you can, you know,” Seth added gently.
Jack turned and put his arm around Gio, so he was hugging them both. “Thanks, maybe after dinner we can spend some time together.”
“We can,” Gio said.
Jack pulled back, grinning. “We can play one of my new games.”
Seth nodded, “But not Vampire Academy, everyone gets stuck on level eleven.”