Page 98 of The Vampire and the Barista

“You’re so cute,” Mathis teased.

“At least I take my mate on dates, old bean, unlike the rest of you,” he countered.

“We’ve been busy,” David muttered.

“Whatever you say, fang boy,” he said, looking at Cairo. “Let’s go deal with the body and then go home to change.”

“Leave the body,” Kevin said. “My guys can deal with it. Go and enjoy your date.”

“Thanks, old bean,” Troy held his hand out to Cairo, who took it with a grin.

“See you all tomorrow,” Cairo said, walking out of the workroom.

“I’m a bad mate,” David muttered.

“Stop, you’re not, none of us are. We’re just focused on this organisation. But now we can remember to make time for our mates,” Seth said.

“Little Witch, is there anything else in here you want to look at?”

“No vampy. Let’s just go.”

Mathis held his hand out, and Gabe took it, and they left the workroom, the others leaving as well.

Ivan walked outside and to the outbuilding where Jamie’s dad’s body had been found. The state the body was in was disturbing. He watched two wolves find something to cover him up with, then one of them slung him over his shoulder, and then they left.

The wolves looked at Ivan. “We’re burying him in a cemetery and sending you the details. We’ll put him in an unmarked grave.”

Ivan nodded. “Thanks, Jeff.” He left them to it and started walking back towards the front of the house when he heard a noise from behind the outbuildings. He turned towards the noise and walked around the side to the back.

Standing there was Derrick, smirking at him.

Ivan stood there, stunned for a moment. From the Derrick he had seen the other day on the camera to today, Derrick had begun to age a lot.

“Derrick,” Ivan said in greeting.

“Ivan, did you miss me?” He asked, smiling.

Ivan shook his head. “Not really, no,” he paused. “I should thank you for helping my Jamie.”

Derrick smirked again. “I couldn’t let someone else kill Jamie when that’s my job.”

Ivan took a step forward. “Stay away from Jamie.”

“Or what?” Derrick asked. “You can’t hurt me. I’m immortal. I told you one day I would be.”

Ivan snorted. “No, you were immortal, but your soul was returned to you days ago. Why do you think you’re beginning to look old?”

Derrick took a step back in shock. “What do you mean, I’m beginning to look old?”

“I mean, you’re looking old, your face is wrinkled, your hair is thinning. Surely, you’ve noticed how much you’ve changed over the last few days?”

As Ivan was talking, Derrick started touching his face. “No, that’s not possible. I’m immortal.”

Ivan snorted. “The demon you sold your soul to at the asylum returned it back to you; your immortality is long gone.”

“I don’t believe you. You just don’t like the fact I became immortal, that I am now a vampire, strong and quick.”

“Magical potions will do that. Where did you get them? Plus, you’re still not a vampire.”

“A friend gave them to me. Jealous?” Derrick taunted.

“No, because my gifts are natural, yours come from a bottle, like some superhero wannabe.”

Derrick put his hand in his pocket. “Let me remind you that my gifts, however I came by them, helped save Jamie. I’ve decided that I’m going to let Jamie live. You can watch as I make him mine, while you, my dear Ivan, will have to watch the man you love become tied to me for eternity.”

“That will never happen,” Ivan said, rushing towards him.

Derrick quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket and threw something at Ivan.

Powder hit Ivan in the face just as he reached Derrick; straightaway, he fell to the ground unconscious.