Page 45 of The Psychic and the Vampire

“I could see their hate for you in Mike’s and Colin’s eyes. I could feel their anger, their rage, their frustration, and their fear. They were frantically trying to kill you, and I've never felt so helpless than I did in that moment. I am NOT a helpless person. I have never been helpless like that before. I don’t know what I'mmeant to do about these feelings because I’ve never had them before.”

Ah, now Viktor understood. He had been equally angry and upset seeing Ant so badly treated by those two, and all they'd basically done was drag him into a room and swamp him with visions that Ant would probably have nightmares about for the next ten years. It was a good sign that Ant could express himself, even if he didn’t understand what he was going through.

“You need to look at it from another perspective,” Viktor suggested in a low tone. “What if, instead of feeling so helpless because you couldn't do anything while the bullets were shooting toward me. What if you swapped that thought out with I’m really lucky, fortunate, or whatever word you would prefer to use along those lines, that my mate is strong enough to withstand a major assault with multiple weapons. Does changing that perspective help you to see things in a more positive light?”

“Well, it beats what Bridget said at breakfast this morning.” But Ant was chuckling and that was a good sign. “She had this idea that we should just basically, you know, fix a smile on our faces and move on. I am truly thrilled for her that she see things that way.

“But then I think a lot of her thinking was that she was really happy to be in a spirit form. She’d never done that before.” Ant sighed. “I do hope she doesn't try doing that too often. I would be worried sick that she's not going to be able to get back into her body again, the way a living spirit is supposed to.”

“Is that what happened?” Viktor swung into the veterinarian clinic parking lot. “You were actually both out of your bodies?”

“Yes, of course.” Ant seemed surprised, but then his face cleared. “Ah, we've not talked about it yet.”

“I didn't think you wanted to talk about anything that had happened,” Viktor said quietly. “I understood. I was just giving you your space to talk about it when you felt up to it. But now I get it. That's how you could give me a message from Bridget about the dust and being a badass, even when she was clearly unconscious, because she wasn't in her body either?

“No,” Ant said, shaking his head. “Neither one of us were. I had been so overwhelmed by the vileness I was seeing, and I mean I was tired despite sleeping in because I’d traced her energy for so long. I hadn't had anything to eat, and then I saw Able being shot and then those bullets were pointed at you, too, but I was out of my body by then. It meant that Bridget and I could see and hear everything that was going on and talk to each other.”

He patted Viktor's arm. “She wanted to go on a spirit rampage. Can you believe it? In all my years of study, and all the papers that I've ever read, I have never heard of spirits going on a rampage. They can affect physical things, I'm not saying they can't. They can make the living aware of their presence. Again, I'm not saying that they can't.

“But she and I weren't even dead, we were just temporarily absent from our bodies, and I'm not sure how effective we would have been. But then we didn't need to do anything anyway, because you did.”

“And I'm glad I did.” Viktor pulled into an empty parking space and turned off the engine, applying the brake. “I’m glad that I was able to do something. Whether it was the right move at the time or not, I stand by the words I said to Captain Bains. I did not use unnecessary force. In fact, I believe my second half was remarkably restrained considering what we are capable of doing.”

“There you go,” Ant said brightly. “I feel so much better now. Although, am I meant to feel bad for Captain Bains because he's being manipulated and that will likely cause issues on any future investigations his officers might do going forward?”

“Nope,” Viktor said firmly, “because when it's all said and done, you did your job for them, you worked as a paid consultant. When they tried to insist on demands that you weren't comfortable with, you told them no and resigned. That is setting very clear boundaries, and it’s exactly what I would have done in the same circumstance. In fact, I remember thinking, back in the office, that you and I are very alike in that regard. We say what we mean, and then we stand by it.”

“That's kind of nice.” Ant smiled up at him. “Don't you think? It's kind of nice that you and I have that together. We have that in common.”

“Yes, definitely.” Viktor stroked down Ant’s cheek. “Now let's go and get our missing family member before we have to say anything mushy or lovey-dovey or anything else like that.” He gave a mock shiver, and Ant laughed.

“I'd never ask that of you. I'm not sure I'd know how to deal with that sort of behavior to be honest with you. But don't think I haven't forgotten the horny comments you made when we left the precinct. I will be revisiting that later on.”

“Damn it, now you’ve got me thinking about that again as well.” Viktor was still laughing as he got out of the car.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Ant would never admit to anyone, but he felt nervous as he and Viktor waited in a consulting room at the vet clinic while a very friendly technician went to the find the vet and bring Able to them.

He and Able had never been apart, not since they’d first started training together when Able was about ten months old.Am I weird because I worry Able will have already forgotten me?Ant gripped Viktor’s hand, noting he was nervous too, although no one would ever guess from the vampire’s staunch exterior.

Fortunately it didn’t take long. Ant heard the clip of Able’s claws on the linoleum and in less than a minute the door was open, and Able came in, towing the technician behind him. “I’ll leave you here a moment while I find the vet,” the woman said cheerily, letting go of the lead attached to Able’s collar and closing the door again.

“Able.” Ant dropped to his knees on the floor as Able came running over, wagging his tail so hard his whole back end was wiggling. “Look at you, my poor boy. How are you doing?” He ran his hand softly over the shaved area on Able’s right shoulder, tears pricking his eyes as he unclipped the leash and unfamiliar collar. “You have been in the wars, haven’t you, but look at you now. No one would believe you’d even been injured if it wasn’t for those stitches.”

The German shepherd didn’t seem to care about any of that, panting happily, leaning into Ant just the way he always did when he wanted pats. His tail was thumping on Viktor’s legs, but Ant wasn’t ready to give up on the pats just yet. “I was so scared,” he whispered into Able’s fur. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

Sensing his distress, Able did what he always did, sitting and waiting for Ant to put on his work collar. Ant patted the collar which was in his pocket. “We have to wait to speak to the vet first,” he said quietly. “You have to be cleared for work.”

Hugging his companion a few more moments, Ant stood up before taking his chair again. Able was sitting still, watching him intently, but every few seconds he was looking over at Viktor.

Ant knew what Able was waiting for and nodded. “Go on. Get your pats from Viktor. He’s missed you, too.”

No further encouragement was needed. Able planted his front feet on Viktor’s knees, eagerly lunging forward to lick his face. “Take it easy, furball.” But Viktor was laughing, rubbing Able’s sides, and his back, paying particular attention to between his ears. “We don’t even know if you’re allowed to jump up anywhere yet.”

“He’s an intelligent dog.” Ant looked up as the vet came in. “If it hurts him, he won’t do it. Doctor Channon, Viktor. Thank you both for coming in.”

“Able’s a huge part of our family,” Ant said. “I would’ve been here sooner today, but…there’s no point in getting into that. What’s Able’s prognosis?”

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