Page 37 of The Psychic and the Vampire

Viktor had no idea what Ant was seeing, and he didn't dare try and tap into their bond to see. He wasn't sure if Ant's visionscould be projected across their mate bond, but they were going to have to act fast. That was obvious. Clearly Ant thought so too, because within a mere minute he was up on his feet, using Able for balance as he stood up, and without a word he turned and was running out the door. Viktor quickly followed.

“Where do you think you're going?”

“I've got to catch that Uber before it leaves,” Ant said as he clattered down the stairs. Able following behind.

“We've got to go. I’m still connected to the vision-scape but only just. If I just keep tracking, if I can just keep hold of her energy...”

“Ant, you don't even know where they went. You don’t know where the abductor took her.”

“I think I do…I think I can…this is my sister…just get me a car… I need a damn car. I’m hanging on to the vision by a thread and this is not something I can usually do. I have to focus.”

Viktor snapped his mouth shut, grabbing Ant's hand and keeping him steady as they went down the stairs. They kept up the same fast pace through the lobby. Ant was still clearly focusing and Viktor just growled at anybody that looked like they'd get in their way. The foyer was still busy, but Ant didn’t appear to notice. He just kept moving toward the doors with Viktor running interference for him.

Bursting through the main doors, Viktor immediately started scanning the street.

Of course the Uber was gone. Viktor reasoned the driver had to make a living and was probably already picking up his next fare, but just as he was thinking about whether or not he could get away with stealing somebody else's car in broad daylight, a police cruiser crawled to a stop beside them, Officer Mike was inthe driving seat. “Mr. Viktor, Dr. Channon, great, you’re here. I was just coming to see you.”

“We haven't got time for any of your police nonsense,” Viktor said, keeping a steadying hand on Ant as he moved him toward the back of the cruiser. Opening the door he encouraged Ant inside, let Able jump in and then climbed in after them. “Just go where Ant tells you to. Move it, move it, move it.”

He slammed their door shut after making sure that he didn't catch Able's tail. Mike pulled into traffic. “I don't understand what's happening. What the hell are you doing? Is Ant all right?”

“Shut up and drive. Ant’s reading a vision as we're moving.”

“What the fuck?” Mike yelled. “I don’t want that shit in my car. I mean, I didn't even think that was possible.”

“It's probably not, now pay attention.”

“Turn left here,” Ant said.

Mike spun the wheel, cutting across traffic as he hit the intersection Ant directed. The mood in the car was tense. Mike clearly realized that Ant was trying to direct him somewhere and was probably regretting his “don’t want that shit in my car” comment. Viktor was terrified for his mate who had just the day before expended more energy than any man should and was now chasing across the city before he’d even had breakfast. Viktor was fine, he’d had blood the night before, so yes, he was focusing his worry on Ant.

“Turn right.” Then barely a minute later Ant said, “Turn right,” again.

They were heading out of town, the industrial area quickly giving way to more and more open spaces. Ant had stopped speaking but he had a glazed look in his eye. His head position suggested he was looking out the windshield, but Viktor doubted he wasseeing the scenery. Able was on the floor, his head on Ant’s knee and Ant’s hand was resting on his head.

Viktor had no idea where they were or where they were going and there was a part of him that felt really proud that Ant was trusting him with keeping him safe. Viktor didn’t doubt that Ant would’ve taken off on his own, even if he hadn’t been mated, with only his dog for company, and while Viktor had a soft spot for Ant’s furry companion, he wasn’t sure of Able’s ability to stop Ant from running into traffic. If Viktor hadn’t been steering him, there would’ve been a good chance Ant would’ve been killed on the street outside his office building.

They traveled for miles, the buildings dropping away to bushland, patches of trees, and open paddocks. Mike was still hanging grimly onto the steering wheel. Viktor noticed he had a tick in his lower jaw.

Just when Viktor wondered if they were going to cross state lines, Ant yelled, “Stop.”

Mike slammed on the brakes, and Viktor put out his hand to stop them from flying over the front seat. Looking around – Viktor could see nothing but trees. “Ant,” he said cautiously, “What can you see? What’s happening?”

“There’s a turn, by the tree.”

That wasn’t helpful. There were about a hundred trees on either side of the road. “Do we need to get out of the car?” he asked.

“You need to turn by the tree. Hurry.”

Viktor met Mike’s eyes. He clearly didn’t see a trail either, but then Mike said, “No, wait, there is a small driveway there. Gods, my cruiser’s going to get scratched up if I drive down there.”

“Follow that trail, I'll pay for your new paint job,” Viktor snapped.

The car crawled along, bellying on potholes one second and causing Viktor to bang his head on the roof of the car the next. But as they moved along what looked like a deserted trail, Viktor’s sharp eyes picked up that another vehicle had been down that route recently because there was broken branches on the edge of the trail.

Ant suddenly said, “Stop. She’s here.”

Viktor scanned the area, expecting something from a horror movie, but the reality was very different. A smart, recently painted house sat in a wide clearing, surrounded by a wide lawn. There was a pink swing set on one corner of the lawn, and a couple of discarded bikes on the driveway. Under the shade of a tree, someone had set up a wading pool, mostly likely for infants. It was like the toys were all just waiting for the little ones to finish their snack before coming back outside to play.

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