Viktor had gone into his mating with a vague idea of what being a level twelve mage truly meant. If Ant hadn’t been his mate, then he would’ve likely viewed the slender, less-than-average height man as someone who had a quirk for seeing dead people. Not typically a skill a vampire might find useful. He got his sustenance from the living.
But seeing Ant in his justiciary role was definitely arousing. The afternoon had been dull, and in Viktor’s opinion, something he really hoped he never had to do again. The student, who had been coerced by Carmine, spent most of his time in the back of Viktor’s car, blubbering and carrying on about how he didn’t mean it, as Viktor was forced to play taxi driver to get the young man back to the Mage Academy from his home.
Apparently, there would be serious consequences for the young man, but as he was being coerced by someone else, which Ant was quick to detail to the clerk who took the case notes down, it would appear that the young man would simply be getting some retraining on the ethics of magic use. Again, something Viktor wasn’t interested in.
Carmine was the end goal. Standing on the steps of Carmine’s massive white mansion, Ant met the stares of two steroid-pumped goons, both with weapons as if they were parking attendants getting in his way. If the danger hadn’t of been quite so apparent, Viktor would have fucked him on the staircase.
“Mr. Doukas has dinner guests this evening, and you are not on the list.”
“I wouldn’t expect to be. I want to talk to Carmine, not eat with him,” Ant said firmly. “I suggest that when you let him knowwe’re here, you could mention I demanded a private meeting. You can direct me to his office in the meantime.”
“No one gets into the house without authorization from Mr. Doukas.” The man speaking kept glancing at Viktor.My reputation precedes me,Viktor thought with a grin.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Viktor stepped forward, letting his eyes bleed red. “If you value your life, you will move aside and let Doctor Channon enter the house. He is here in an official capacity.”
“And if we don’t, vampire?” The second goon patted the long-barreled weapon strapped across his chest and gave him a smug look.
“If there’s one thing I can’t stand” - Viktor glanced over his mate and smirked - “it’s posturing nobodies who keep wasting our time.”
Moving faster than could be seen by the human eye, Viktor grabbed both men, quickly taking their guns off them, and throwing them away, before he used the straps from the gun holders to form an interlocking body cuff. When he dropped them, both men were plastered together, chest to chest, unable to get free.
“I’ve left you one free hand each, boys.” Viktor’s smirk hadn’t disappeared – although the men’s had. “Don’t have too much fun while we have that meeting my mate insisted on with your master. You know” - he stood back and eyed them with a critical glare - “if you keep wriggling like that, you won’t need your hands at all. You could both get off if you move your legs in the right way. Won’t that be fun?”
Stepping around them, Viktor reached for the door handle, sending the door open with enough force to have it smash the wall. “After you, my mate.”
Walking inside, they were intercepted by another man, clearly alerted by the smashing door. This one was smaller, nervous, and dressed in a uniform suggesting he was a footman, butler, or a waiter hired for the evening.
Viktor had no idea. He just grabbed the man by the shoulder and said, “Where’s Carmine?” The man’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open as he pointed back over his shoulder to the room he’d just come out of.
“Thank you. You can go.”
“But, but…” The man lingered by the staircase. “Mr. Doukas has company,” he hissed urgently. “He won’t like being disturbed.”
Huffing, Viktor shook his head. “Do you really want to be the one to tell him he has uninvited guests?”
The man shook his head so rapidly his chin wobbled.
“Exactly. Fuck off.”
The man scurried off toward the back of the house.
“He was just trying to do his job,” Ant said quietly. “Are you feeling feisty this evening?”
“Yes.” Viktor reached for the door handle. “There’s something about you in an authoritative role that really gets my motor going.”
“Motor?” Ant looked back at the front door.
“My cock, babe. Seeing you do your thing makes my cock hard, but it’s fine,” he added quickly. “We can do something about that later. Let’s get Carmine arrested first. Ready to do this?”
Ant nodded, and his hand tightened around Able’s leash.
Viktor pushed the door handle down and then kicked open the door, wandering through the opening. He barely managed to stop from coughing. The air was thick with cigar smoke,and the sweet smell of illegal substances. The half-empty plates indicated a meal had been consumed, and the dinner guests were well into the drinking side of the evening.
“Oh, no.” Ant’s quiet horror had Viktor scanning the guests. To the left of Carmine was Police Captain Bains, a busty brass-blond sitting on his lap, holding his glass for him as he sipped. To the right was Hammond, and while his lap was currently free, from the looks of his companion, it wouldn’t be for long.
“Doctor Channon, Viktor,” Carmine snapped. “I don’t recall inviting you this evening. This is a private event. Whatever you feel you have to discuss with me will have to wait.”
“Matters of the Mage Justiciary don’t wait,” Ant said firmly. “I did ask your men outside to let you know I was here for a private meeting, but seeing as you wouldn’t come to me…”
