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“And it was my fault. I was the target. My enemies attack the city because it is what I claimed as mine own. The people, even the humans, are under my protection. I failed to protect them. To protect you.”
“Why doesn’t anyone else remember?”
This might upset his little one, but Dante refused to lie. There had already been too much deceit between the two of them. “We had mages go house to house to check on the city residents and wipe their minds. It’s just easier for them not to remember. We did have to plant new memories. For the ones that lost a loved one we came up with the lie of a massive accident and pile-up. We financially took care of the families even if we couldn’t take away their pain.”
“That is better than them not knowing what happened to their loved one. Or them just disappearing,” Carver commented.
“I agree. It would be harder on them always waiting for someone who wasn’t coming back.”
“You obviously missed a few people,” Carver accused.
Dante scowled. He hadn’t considered that. “Or the memories failed?”
Carver shrugged. “It wasn’t too hard finding people online who knew like I did.”
“Like your friends Owen and Kenny.”
Carver gasped before gripping Dante’s shoulder hard and shaking him. “You can’t hurt them! This was all my idea. They didn’t have anything to do with the plan.”
Dante really wanted to sigh out his frustration. “Baby, you know I can smell your lies.”
“Well you can’t hurt them! They’re my family!” Carver’s voice rose with his panic.
“Calm down,” Dante ordered gently. “No one is going to hurt them. We’re not monsters.”
“But—”
“I am sorry about what you and your friends have gone through. If they are willing to talk to me, I will help you explain things. Help them move on,” Dante promised. As long as Carver’s friends didn’t interfere between them, they were safe from harm from anyone in the clan.
“You want to talk to them?”
“I’d like to get to know the people that you consider family,” Dante told him. “Where is your birth family?”
“I don’t talk to them. They couldn’t accept me being gay. I left them behind a long time ago,” Carver explained.
“I’m glad you had Owen and Kenny then. But, baby, you have me now. And the clan. Yulian, Nicholas, and Jesse. Syn. We would love to be your family too.”
“What about the gnomes?”
“Yes, even the wampire gnommies can be your family too.” Dante would give the boy the world if that was what Carver wanted.
Carver giggled as Dante intended. “They might be troublemakers but they are awesome.”
“I’m not sure that Nicolas agrees with you,” Dante pointed out. “Having little friends for Jesse will probably sway him to our side.”
“I think Owen and Jesse would get along well,” Carver offered.
“I’m glad to hear it. Jesse deserves more friends. I hate that that night still haunts him. All of you.” It was one of Dante’s biggest regrets in his long life. He’d changed things to be more aware of what was happening with the supernatural communities around the world. He wouldn’t be caught off guard ever again.
“It might not be so easy with Owen and Kenny. They hate you guys too.”
“I’m willing to risk it. It might take time, but the clan will welcome them into the family too,” Dante promised.
This time when Carver yawned, it was from exhaustion.
“Lie back down with me. We’ll go see your friends tonight after we wake up.” Leaning back, Dante brought Carver lower on the mattress with him.
“They’re going to be really mad at me,” Carver stated sadly.
