Page 15 of The Psychic and the Vampire

“You need to consider aspects like unusual situations in your research, Doctor Pike. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s been bitten in less than ideal circumstances, but there are times when needs is as needs must. Able, come and stop growling. Shall we go, Viktor? Perhaps find somewhere more private? I am very hungry and as I haven’t slept in two days, sleep might be a good idea.”

Viktor was happy to leave the curious Doctor Pike and the rather oppressive classroom. He slid his hand at the base of Ant’s lower back as they turned, and he saw a thin bald man with glasses twisting his hands nervously. Vampire researcher, Doctor Pike, he assumed. Although if the man had been within ten feet of an actual vampire in his life, Viktor would’ve been very surprised. Doctor Pike looked terrified.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Doctor Channon?”

Ant stopped, looking surprised. “Why wouldn’t I be, Doctor Pike? Admittedly, last night was filled with more unusual situations than I’m used to, between the readings, getting shotat, Viktor saving me, and me finding out he was my mate, followed by almostfour hoursat the police station where Officer Mike took all those details down, and then this morning I had a huge, long talk with my sister about the night’s events, and Viktor of course…

“But the only thing I’m missing is sleep and I’m sure Viktor will make sure I get some, won’t you, Viktor? I read somewhere that vampires are very attentive to their mates. Oh, I think it was one of your studies, Doctor Pike, so there you go. You already know I will be fine. But Able needs to go outside now. His tail is giving me that special wag. Have a nice day Doctor Pike.”

Viktor kept his chuckle to himself, but it wasn’t easy. Ant just swanned past the befuddled doctor as if he hadn’t just handed the man an information dump Doctor Pike would never have expected. Able firmly by his side. Viktor kept pace with him, making sure that physical contact continued. He was sure that need would die down in time, but for now he was just going with it. Perhaps he could ask Ant if he had a copy of Doctor Pike’s papers and find out for himself how he was supposed to act with a mate. It wasn’t like anyone had given him any lessons on it.

Chapter Eleven

“What does someone do with a mate?” Ant and Viktor were standing outside the academy, letting Able do his business. While Ant was bubbling with the idea that Viktor hadn’t thrown his blood away but instead had clearly taken it, sampled it, and enjoyed it enough to come after him, his ideas on mates were sadly limited. Bridget’s mood hadn’t improved much after she’d eaten her breakfast sandwiches earlier, and she had left for her appointments before he’d had a chance to ask.

“Is this something that you usually do – ask questions outright?” Viktor was a lot like Able usually was – standing upright, alert, scanning their surroundings.

“Yes. I usually find that’s the best way. I’m prone to misunderstanding things. It’s just the way my mind works. You’re answering a question with a question. Don’t you know either?” Ant glanced up at his new mate, noticing he was watching a small group of people over the corner of the grass area where Able was enjoying his moment.

The three people weren’t students. Ant could tell that from their clothes, which spoke more of them being businessmen than magical students and one of the people had gray hair. Not that a younger person couldn’t have gray hair, but Ant was fairly sure from body posture and the way the group was huddled that they weren’t students planning to break out in dance for a social media skit.

“I was taught mating, or being with a fated one was an intense form of intimate relationship – if I die, you die, we always want to be together, that type of thing.” Viktor glanced down at him, but just as quickly he was watching those people again. “If you imagine any previous relationships you’ve had and then magnifythose feelings by a hundred, apparently that’s what being a mate is all about.”

That could be a problem. I’ve never had a relationship before – especially not an intimate one.But Ant could tell Viktor was distracted. “Are those people bothering you?”

“I thought I knew them.” Viktor was definitely distracted. “Will you be all right here a minute? I just need to check. My car is the black SUV over there.” He pointed to a big black vehicle with tinted windows. “Once Able’s finished, go and wait in the car if I’m not back by then.” He thrust a set of keys in Ant’s direction. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

“I can’t drive. I never learned how. I take a taxi everywhere, or Bridget takes me places.” Ant took the keys gingerly.

“You don’t have to drive anywhere, just sit in the car, so you’re comfortable. I’ll be back in two ticks.” Viktor’s body blurred as he sprinted across the wide expanse of grass.

“Tick…tick... Isn’t that two ticks?” Ant frowned, turning the keys over in his hand. “I do hate it when people say things like that and they don’t mean it. If you can’t give a definitive time, then don’t mention it at all.” His head shot up as Able started to bark.Surely he’s not barking at Viktor.

But no. Able was over near a group of trees on the academy side of the grass area, no more than twenty yards from the parking lot. “Able come.” Ant clicked his fingers, but something was clearly distracting his companion. Able wouldn’t stop barking, prancing two steps one way and two steps the other, totally focused on something hidden by the trees.

“Darn it.” Ant stepped off the pavement, making his way across the grass. He was physically exhausted. The lack of sleep he’d had over the past two days was catching up with him. Viktor taking his blood – while a very enjoyable experience – hadn’thelped. “I might have to seriously increase the amount of red meat in my diet,” he muttered, knowing no one could hear him. With the amount of noise Able was making, it would be impossible for anyone to hear anything else.

“What is it, Able?” Ant had reached his dog, quickly checking over his shoulder to see where Viktor had gone. But neither the vampire nor the people he was so focused on could be seen. He focused back on the trees in front of him. “What’s got you so agitated?”

“Woof.”

“Able, we’ve talked about this. My skills don’t include speaking dog.” Ant peered through the trees. “I need more than that.”

“Woof. Woof. Woof.” Able moved forward a few steps and then backed up again.

“I’m sure there’s nothing there that shouldn’t be.” With one hand on Able’s neck, Ant raised his other one, creating an energy charged field in front of his face. It was an effective way of letting a magic user see the energies of the objects in front of them, which was useful if someone or something was trying to stay hidden from the human eye.

It was prudent for Ant to check for things like that, because Able’s training included not approaching a deceased body and the way he was bounding from side to side without moving forward was usually a body indicator. Ant attended far too many crime scenes to have his dog go blindly into a situation where he could mess with any evidence.

“Trees, grass, bushes. Oh, is it that coat that’s bothering you?” Ant sighed. “A coat is a coat, my furry friend. Doesn’t mean there’s actually a person in the coat, and in this case there isn’t one. It was probably discarded by a couple of students who’ve been making out.”

Snapping his energy bubble away, Ant wandered into the trees, Able brushing against his left leg. Reaching down, he noticed the coat was black and covered in mud. It had probably been there for some time. It was partially covered with leaves and debris, which was why Ant hadn’t been able to see it properly.

“See, it’s just a coat. Nothing to bother you. There’s not a body attached to it.”

But even as he said it, his awareness pushed through and when he looked down at the coat again it was rumpled but with none of the mud and rotting leaves on it.

“Oh, no. Not now.” But it was no good. His awareness shifted completely, ridding Ant’s eyes of the sunlight and plunging him into a nightscape from goodness knows when. “Able. On guard. Vision,” he whispered, blindly reaching for his dog’s collar as he sank to his knees. “This isn’t good.” With Ant’s exhaustion taking a toll on his body, a vision was only going to make it worse.

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