Page 52 of Gavin

Twenty-One

Gavin was able to return to his human form by the time their things had been moved from Midas and Maya’s home to his and Sadie’s and the security team had set up an advanced security system. Sadie was quiet while the system was installed, sometimes pacing the family room floor and sometimes standing at the picture window and staring out into nothing.

There was a knock on the door just as Gavin was able to return to his human self. He grabbed jeans and tugged them on, then answered the door.

“Hi, guys,” Maya said. She and Midas stood on the front porch and he held a large glass jar in his hands. “I know it’s late, but I saw the light on and knew the guys were still working on installing your upgrades, so I told Midas I wanted to pop over.”

“Of course, come on in.”

Sadie turned from the window and smiled. She was clearly worn out, but when he offered to let her rest while he stayed up until the work was finished, she refused, saying she wasn’t ready to sleep yet.

Maya gave Sadie a hug and rested her hands on her shoulders as she pushed her to arm’s length. “You look like you’re about to drop, hon. Are you afraid to go to sleep?”

“I don’t know if it’s that exactly, I just feel restless.”

“I understand, trust me. I was abducted by Brent Foley and his assholes. And so was Ashley, Romeo’s mate, so she can empathize with you on that feeling.” Maya glanced at Gavin. “It’s like you don’t feel like you can settle down, even though you might feel safe in your home with the doors locked, it’s a feeling you can’t quite place.”

Sadie nodded and her eyes glistened with tears.

Maya stepped back and let Gavin comfort his mate.

“So the reason we’re here,” Midas prompted.

“Oh, right!” Maya said. “Gavin, your mom suggested we reach out to Aeryn and see if they had any ideas about finding Brent and Victor, Midas suggested we talk to Brone, who is the head of security for the coven. Have you heard of him, Sadie?”

When Sadie shook her head, Midas said, “He’s a thousand-year-old vampire and he’s an imposing male. He’s mated to a Wiccan named Arissa.”

“Right,” Maya said. “Brone told Midas that he would send over suggestions for upgrading all the homes in Whisper Creek with a few things, starting with our home, yours, and Melo’s family since they’re unique white tigers.”

“What sort of security upgrades?” he asked, thinking the team was already putting motion detecting lights and cameras around the exterior of the house.

“We’re going to rewire the whole town with surveillance cameras, not just what we did on the advice of the wolves but a whole new system,” Midas said. “There will be a central control room that will be manned twenty-four-seven, and the team is going to go through security training as well with the vampires to be better trained to handle these kinds of things. We tend to rely on our strength and speed when someone comes at us with violent intentions, but we need to have a better, more well-rounded knowledge of security in general. That will happen in afew weeks. Anyway, along with the upgraded surveillance, we’re going to install reinforced doors and windows on every home. My construction company will handle the installation as soon as the items are ordered. The doors are high quality steel and the windows will be shatterproof, and all the doors on homes will have fingerprint entry so we won’t have to worry about anyone losing a key or someone being able to pick a lock.”

“That sounds amazing,” Gavin said.

“Also,” Maya said, “when I was talking to Arissa, she suggested I make a Witch Glass.” She tapped the jar that Midas held. It was filled with clear liquid and had a bunch of things in it. “This is an ancient protection spell. I didn’t even think of it, actually, I was looking for spells in my books and didn’t see anything that fit what I was looking for to protect each individual home. When Arissa suggested it, she sent me her spell. We’re going to dig a hole at the foundation of your house and bury the witch glass. When I cast the spell, no one with evil intentions will be able to cross into your home or they’ll be hurt.”

They followed the couple outside where Gavin helped Midas dig a hole at the corner of the building down about six feet. Maya let Sadie hold the jar and explained that inside was glass shards, iron nails, and blessed rosemary, and the liquid was vinegar.

When the hole was dug deeply enough, they poured quick cement inside and smoothed it up against the foundation of the house, then set the jar inside. Everyone stepped back and let Maya cast the spell, the ancient Wiccan language making Gavin feel more calm and secure in the knowledge that their home was actually going to be safe and protected in a way that was supernatural and powerful.

He and Midas covered the jar with cement and then dirt, leveling it out. “You can plant grass here or a flower or whatever,” Maya said. “The barrier is set. This home is safe, likewhen kids play and say a place is safe and no one can touch them.”

Gavin shook Midas’s hand. “Thanks, both of you. We really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome,” Midas said. “We’ve got some other witchy things to do for security around town, from a salt line to also have the Wiccan coven come and cover us with a blessing for safety during the summer solstice. Maya is also going to make magical bracelets that everyone can wear, which will help alert them when danger is around. In the meantime, take a few days off and just enjoy each other. It’s been a hell of a time for you both.”

Maya and Sadie hugged, and Sadie finally spoke, “Thank you so much. This means the world to me.”

“You’re welcome,” Maya said. “You’re part of the pride and that makes you family.”

As Maya and Midas left, Gavin took Sadie into the house and shut the door. “Sweetheart?”

She turned and launched herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. She’d cried in the SUV on the way home, and then she’d been so quiet that he’d been worried. But he’d been a tiger and couldn’t talk to her. Now, he listened while she told him how scared she’d been, that she wouldn’t be able to get herself free and that he wouldn’t find her.

“Why would someone want to buy a shifter?” she whispered with a rough voice. “I don’t understand it at all. It’s so horrifying.”

He held her close and rocked back and forth as she snuggled into his embrace. “I don’t know. There are some sick people out there. I’m so sorry you were taken, but you’re a rockstar, sweetheart.”

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