One Hundred and Twenty-three

As Tyler swept into the room, Devon pushed past them both and ran around the bed to check on his dad. He quickly took Izabella’s spot, curling into Bram’s side where he cried, resting his head on Bram’s shoulder. Tyler sat beside Bram’s legs, letting Devon rest his feet on his lap. Gavin’s eyes rested on the Priest sitting in the red chair. The guy looked completely uncomfortable. His eyes were currently glued to the floor. Gavin’s arms were wrapped around the large tome they’d recovered from the other hunters.

Clearing his throat, he gave the most welcoming smile he could muster. “Thank you. I know you didn’t have to come here to help Bram. I’m sure that your very instinct and core screamed at you for doing so. But really, you’ve made a huge difference in the lives of the kids here, and Izabella too.”

The priest looked up at him in surprise. “Y-yeah. No problem.”

“Are you going to be able to help Eudom too?” Gavin asked. Walking into the room, he set the massive book on the top of a dresser. Leaning against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Eudom?” Tom looked at him with confusion.

“Um, yeah. He’s the shadowy thing that brough you here. He was hurt by the same weapon. Though, I suppose I could look through this and see if Izabella’s father left hints about how to do what you just did for Bram.” His smile faded, as the priest looked at him with those large blue eyes. Overall, he was a good looking guy, but that rabbit caught in a trap by a fox look left an itch in his jaw.

Rubbing is bald head, he laughed nervously. “I mean, I’d have to take a look at him. I wasn’t sure this was going to work, but if the ritual I preformed tonight doesn’t, like you said, Matt might have left something for us to follow in the book. I’m a bit too exhausted to do anything now, but I can take a look in the morning. Do you know where that spare room Izzy was talking about is? I’m exhausted. I haven’t stayed up this late since I was a teenager.” Lifting the dagger, his eyes scanned it. Gavin could tell by its smell it was pure iron in the blade, but it was gilded with gold and jewels like the sword Bram had used in the catacombs.

Gavin knew the icy look he normally wore had slid over his features. But he wasn’t a fan of a stranger sitting in the room with a weapon that could do what that blade did to Bram. Other than this last week, he’d never seen anything like the wounds Bram had gotten from Gabe, or what he’d inflicted on his father. That burning, boiling black wasn’t something he wanted to learn about firsthand. “I do. I’d be happy to take you to it, but before I can do that. I have to ask you to put that dagger down first.”

The priest looked up at him in surprise, his features falling into a sheepish grin as he laid the dagger on the table beside him. “Yeah, I wasn’t thinking. Sorry. It probably makes you just as nervous with me sitting here playing with that, as being in the same house with you makes me.” His face scrunched as his lips pressed together.

Well, at least Gavin could understand that. “I know it probably doesn’t mean much, but you have our word that no one here will hurt you. And we all respect and love Izabella. She’s made a world of difference in our lives. All of ours.” Gavin stepped forward, holding out his hand. “And she brought you here for a reason. No one questions that. Hand that to me handle first, and I’ll carry it to your room for you. You can keep it beside the bed if it will make you feel more comfortable.”

This interaction brought about Tyler’s interest, as he turned to watch. His green eyes narrowed on the dagger. A questioning brow raised at Gavin. Where his hand had rested on Bram’s ankle, it now squeezed, his knuckles turning almost white. He wasn’t a fan of this conversation at all.

Clearing his throat, the priest stood. “Now, even though that’s very hospitable of you, I wouldn’t feel right taking a weapon to my room when you’re not being threatening in the slightest. I mean—”

“We are the weapons.” Gavin deadpanned. “Honestly, if it will make you feel better, we’re okay with it. Just don’t try to leave your room holding that. Someone may get the wrong idea.” The priest looked at him in silent shock for a moment, his mouth dangling at an odd angle.

A nervous giggle came from the doorway as Izabella flittered in. “Sorry. I got caught up with Eudom. Honestly, Tom, that’s just Gavin’s nature. He works as Bram’s lawyer. In an office full of humans. He really won’t hurt you. And Tyler still looks at me sometimes like I stole his puppy.” Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, Gavin smiled at her.

“You have the best timing.” He smirked, relaxing now that she was in the room with them.

Sticking her tongue out at him, Izabella made a face. “You know, your sarcasm can be seething sometimes.”

Gavin couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic. Your timing really was perfect. Though, I can see where you might think that. He’d probably be happier if you showed him the room anyway. I’m going to tear Tyler away from Bram for the night so that you can lay down and hopefully get some rest.” He looked over at the bed. “Tyler, why don’t you carry Devon to bed. There won’t be enough room for Izabella there if he stays.”

“He’ll be happier with his dad. I’ll sleep in the chair.” She said, holding out her hand to help the priest up.

Rolling his eyes, Gavin leveled his best, unimpressed stare at her. “If anyone hasn’t slept properly since the party, it’s you dear. Now if you would—”

“It’s actually you.” She countered, crossing her arms under her breast. “You haven’t slept once since it happened.”

Slapping a hand against his cheeks, he rolled his eyes back, giving an exasperated sigh. “Izabella, I’m a vampire. I don’t need sleep. You, on the other hand, do sweety. Come on, Tyler. Up you go.”

“Wait, just one quick question that I hope ya’ll don’t kill me for. How is everyone related? I mean, you’re the lawyer? That seems so… normal, I guess. Not that you’re hanging out in the house with the family but…”

Running a hand through his hair, Tyler finally smiled. “You want the short and confusing story?” Gavin groaned. “Well, I am Bram’s best friend, Tyler. Devon’s his son. Izabella was hired on to be his nanny. Things got a little wild for a bit, until Bram realized she was his mate. Since I was in love with him too, I realized I needed to move on. Then this amazing, beautiful man,” Gavin could feel his scowl deepening with every word Tyler said, “was able to give me the peace I needed.” As Tyler went in for a kiss, Gavin pushed the heal of his palm in his face.

“Respect you mule.” Turning back, he was surprised to find Izabella nearly choaking on a laugh, and the priest looking all too uncomfortable. “If anything comes out of his mouth, it’s best to ignore it.”

“He does make a pretty good damsel in distress though. And he’s definitely full of hot air.” Izabella whispered at the bald guy. Not that it was any use. Tyler immediately went red, and Gavin had to laugh aloud.

The poor guy looked so lost and confused, Gavin had to take pity on him. “Anyway, it really is time to sleep. Tyler, grab Devon. Izabella, you just lay down with Bram, unless, of course our guest is happier to have you walk him to the spare room?” looking over at him. “I’m Gavin, by the way.” He held out his hand. “I guess I haven’t caught your name?”

Taking it tentatively, he smiled. “I’m…” His eyes shot to Izabella, before slowly meeting Gavin’s gaze, “Tom. Just call me, Tom.” They both flinched as they shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Gavin.” His tone said otherwise. “I don’t really care who shows me to the spare room, I just want to lie-down.”

Gavin nodded, waiving at him. “Don’t forget Devon, Tyler.” Depositing Tom in his room, he could see Izabella crawling into the bed beside Bram. The moment she laid beside him, he rolled over, curling into her embrace. Tyler came out of Devon’s room just as Gavin was pulling their door closed for them. Gavin heard him coming up behind him as his hands circled his waist and he placed kisses on his shoulder and up his neck. “It’s late, and you need your rest too.”

“Yeah, but I don’t have to wake up in the morning, and you don’t need sleep.” Gavin leaned back into him a moment. Sighing. He really did wish he could stay here with Tyler. Since Bram had been attacked they hadn’t been intimate. Not that a week was completely awful, Gavin had certainly gone longer, but now that he’d been spoiled, he didn’t want to go back.

“Mmm.” As Tyler’s hand started to pull at the button on the front of his pants, Gavin slapped his hand. “I still need to go check on Jen. I can’t leave her at the bar completely alone with him too much longer. I’ve been every night, and she messaged me earlier to ask if I could come by.”

“You’re acting like she’s your kid.” Tyler grumbled. Pulling away.

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, Bram and Izabella have their hands full as it is. I can’t exactly just leave her on her own. She’s a good kid who ended up with the shit end of the stick. I can’t just leave her on her own.” As they entered the little side apartment, Tyler pushed Gavin against the wall.

“Let me treat you. You’ve been so busy helping everyone else. You’ve delt with my shitty attitude. You haven’t complained or argued. Seriously,” Tyler pulled his shirt off, kissing him deeply. Working his way from his lips to his ear, and down his jawline, “we would have drowned without you by now.” Tyler pulled Gavin’s shirt off, taking a moment to explore his chest, stomach and abdomen as he licked his skin and suckled on his nipple. Gavin’s fingers curled in Tyler’s long blonde hair, letting his eyes close. Tyler worked the buckled of Gavin’s belt, pulling his pants and boxers off in one fell swoop.

Shivering as Tyler’s tongue ran up the inside of his thigh, he felt himself throbbing with excitement. Oh, he’d definitely needed this. A moan escaped his lips as Tyler’s tongue found his balls, flicking them with his tongue before suckling gently. “I’m definitely not going to stop you. I’ve been craving you for days.” Tyler’s tongue followed the vein up his cock, flicking the end of it before blowing on him. “You’re such a tease.”

Stepping back, Tyler pulled his own belt out with a flourish. Gavin pressed his palms against the wall, watching as Tyler put the end of his shirt in his mouth, turning around to shake his ass as he pulled off his shirt provocatively. “Someday, I’m going to learn how to do a real strip tease, just for you.” Tyler said, dropping his jeans and tossing them aside.

“One of these days, I’m going to have to teach you.” Gavin smirked, loving the shock on Tyler’s face. “I was a fucking sex slave for hundreds of years. I learned a thing or two.”

“Oh, I can’t wait for that.” Tyler was nearly giddy as he moved back to Gavin, pulling him up into his arms to carry him over to the sofa. “But right now. This is all about you. You want me to suck you, fuck you, or let you have your way with me?”