Page 63 of Forever Together

Turney flinched, his head protesting loudly at the noise. “Now?” he asked.

“Of course!”

“With all the people still passed out in the ballroom?”

Octavius blinked. “Oh, right… EMERGENCY MEETING IN ONE HOUR!”

He groaned as the crazy bat once again yelled loudly. “Can you please be softer?”

“Oh, is my poor zombie bun dealing with a hangover?” the male asked with wide innocent eyes, as if he hadn’t been the one to egg on his fledglings and contribute to it.

“Yes…” he said slowly.

“No worries,” Octavius whispered. “I’ll be softer. Now, let’s get Henry up so he can get all these people the hell out of my house.”

“It’s Scarlett’s house.”

The vampire began to pout. “Yes, but I am living here right now, so that makes it my house too.”

Turney snorted and then groaned, as the sound caused everything to hurt. “Oh, my head.”

“Oh, my poor zombie… Come here.” Octavius opened his arms, but there was an odd look in his eyes.

He squinted at him. “No…”

The vampire repeated, “Come here.”

Nope, he wasn’t trusting this.

“No.”

“Come here and let me love you!” Octavius huffed.

“No!” Turney hissed and ran.

The vampire squawked in outrage. “GET BACK HERE AND LET ME LOVE YOU!”

* * *

Octavius smiled,humming happily as he settled in his seat at the head of Scarlett’s dining room table. Sitting in front of him was his laptop and the small box the courier had brought. The letter he kept in hand. Octavius eyed the decorations, so pleased with how they turned out. It currently looked like the perfect table for a group of cannibals.

“When the hell did you decorate this room?” Scarlett asked, eyes narrowed.

Octavius met her gaze with an innocent smile. “When you weren’t looking.”

She sighed. His friend looked tired. As did everyone else. Scarlett, Min-ji, and Theo, who was with Sprinkle, sat to Octavius’ left. While Turney, Cormac, and Henry were to his right. Henry had decided to join in on the fun. Hmm, perhaps he was getting bored staying at home so much? Well, getting out and about would do Henry good.

Octavius eyed Turney, the zombie was squinting... He didn’t understand why his bunny was being so stubborn! Octavius was sure his plan would work! Vampire saliva did healing things. Surely, him licking Turney’s forehead would help!

His gaze flicked to the other, obviously hungover, member of their team. Cormac sat there next to Turney looking like he was about to slump over. The wolf was even swaying a bit. Henry seemed slightly concerned for him. Well, concerned as in watching Cormac with a brow raised but no other expression. Octavius considered such a look from Henry to be him showing concern.

Humming, he shook his head and cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone’s eyes to him.

“We have a new case, and boy is it going to be fun!” Octavius slammed the letter he had in his hand on the table.

Turney and Cormac flinched, but he ignored them. Served Turney right! The zombie should have let him lick him!

“Makes sense why the letter was addressed to the whole agency,” Turney mumbled softly. “But aren’t we on vacation?”

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