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“I know, right!” Carver nudged his friend. “And he can kiss, and fuck, and⁠—”

“Eww.” Kenny shoved him.

“Sorry! I know you don’t like hearing about that stuff.”

“Some things should just be private,” Kenny said snottily.

“Oh we do plenty of it in private,” Carver teased.

“Dork.” Kenny grabbed his hand. “You really like him? The vampire leader?”

“I really do.” Carver winced as Owen yelled again. “And if he still likes me after Owen is done yelling at him, I think you’ll like him too. His house is just as amazing as we thought. There is a human little that lives there and he has an amazing playroom. He needs friends like us.”

“And he’s nice?” Kenny asked.

“Jesse is very nice. His vampire Daddy is a little grumpy but I guess that can be forgiven. There are gnommies in the garden that Jesse made vampire capes for and they painted on fangs. They’re silly and wonderful and I want you to meet them all.”

“I’d like to meet them. Does this mean that we can stop hunting the monsters?”

“It means that they aren’t the monsters we thought they were. Now we can try to live our lives,” Carver said. “Try to get back what we lost.”

“If that’s even possible.”

“It is possible!” Carver brought Kenny’s hand to his chest. “I was wrong about so many things. I won’t turn into a monster because I have best friends just like you. You wouldn’t have allowed me to hurt innocent people.”

Kenny nodded. “We’re family.”

“Yes. I just want Dante to be a part of your family too.”

“I guess that’s okay. If he comes with playrooms and vampire gnomes.” Kenny grinned.

“And snacks, all the juice boxes you could ever want, and a raven named Syn.”

“Dude,” Kenny drawled. “It’s been three nights. You’ve been busy.”

“Did I mention we get to call the gnomes wampire gnommies. The entire clan is calling them that now.”

“I love it,” Kenny said with a grin. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

Carver shrugged. “It just feels right.”

Kenny leaned against him, bringing with him the scent of cotton candy and apples. Carver’s friend was relieved and happy. Carver breathed deeply as the yelling continued outside of the blanket shield. Maybe things would work out after all.

Suddenly the blanket was ripped away.

“Hey!” Carver wrapped his arms around Kenny’s head, holding his friend close to his chest. “You know better than that, Owen!”

“Did you hear what your man just said?” Owen demanded.

Carver had stopped paying attention once he climbed under the blanket.

‘They can fix you!” Owen grabbed Kenny’s shoulders and shook him. “They can bring a mage and undo what they did.”

Kenny shook his head frantically. “No! No!”

“Shh,” Carver soothed him. He glared at Owen. “Why would you suggest that?”

Owen looked confused. “I didn’t. He did!” Owen pointed at Dante.