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“No!” Carver smacked Dante in the chest with the folder. “You did not mention that!”

“I hope you are at least going to be my date for this thing,” Dante said.

“At least?”

Dante tapped the folder. “Nicholas might not have been the best person to assign this responsibility to. I’m pretty sure Jesse has taken over most of it. Jesse could probably use some help.”

Carver brightened. “Owen used to have an event planning company. I’ll make him help!”

And it was all coming together. “What if Owen doesn’t want to finish planning a party for the vampire monster?”

“Owen loves parties! This will be great.” Carver let out a long breath. “This is really good actually. If Owen starts spiraling, we’ll just throw this folder at him.”

Dante chuckled. “What about Kenny?”

“We should have brought snacks, or juice boxes,” Carver said. “Although he would probably kill to play in Jesse’s playroom. I wish I’d thought to take pictures.”

Pulling out his phone, Dante sent a quick request. “We will have photos momentarily.”

Carver scooted closer and wrapped his arm around Dante’s. “Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem.” Dante would take any way to get in good with Carver’s friends.

Peering past Dante out the side window, Carver sighed. “This seems like an entirely different city on this side of the tracks.”

Dante nodded. “I built my house as far from the ports as possible. I wanted to be close to my businesses but also give the clan a real home.”

“I’d say that you did a good job.”

“Thanks.” Dante ran his hand down Carver’s back. “You know it is your home now too.”

“Dante.” Carver looked up at him.

“I can’t have you sleeping apart from me. You’re too vulnerable when you can’t go out in the sun,” Dante replied.

“I have Owen and Kenny,” Carver told him.

“I have entire teams of trained old vampires,” Dante countered.

Carver scoffed. “You don’t have to brag about it.”

“There is plenty of room for your friends as well,” Dante offered. “I can give them both nice big suites. They can decorate all they want.”

“How about we survive the first meeting before we go offering them a new place to live,” Carver suggested.

“If I have to.” Dante thought his idea had much more merit. He’d keep the idea in his back pocket just in case things went sideways.

‘It’s going to be fine,” Carver whispered.

Dante wasn’t sure who the boy was trying to convince.

Carver

This was a mistake. Everything was not going to be fine.

“We’re just supposed to believe that story?” Owen demanded.

“It’s not a story. It’s the truth,” Dante responded quietly.