Page 7 of The Psychic and the Vampire: A Bad Case of Vampire Curiosity

“You’re angry with me.”

Viktor looked over at his mate. He expected Ant to say something like that, and truthfully he had been stewing since Carmine had decided to meet up with them at the restaurant.

The issue was that Ant wasn’t very good at picking up social inflections, which meant he’d missed all those little subtle things that annoyed Viktor about Carmine from the moment he saw him.

“I’m not angry with you,” Viktor said, perhaps more tersely than he’d normally talk to his mate. They were sitting outside in the backyard. Able had tired himself out from his run-around and play time and was flopped under the shade of a tree.

Viktor and Ant were sitting in chairs on the porch, watching the clouds move across the sky. At least Ant had been. Viktor had still been brooding.

“I keep replaying what happened at the meeting today,” Ant said. “I feel like there were a lot of context and subtle communications going on between you and Carmine, but I have no idea what they were or what they mean.”

You realize that at least. Although Ant had still agreed to help Carmine…

“Carmine was easier to understand,” Ant continued. “He’s a very angry and volatile man. He’s not somebody I want to be close to, and I would prefer not to have anything to do with him at all. But then I knew that about him the first time he and I met.”

“Then why did you agree to investigate the death of his sister?” The words exploded out of Viktor before he could stop them.

But he genuinely didn’t understand. Ant was innocent in so many ways, and Viktor was doing his best to protect him, but it wasn’t easy when Ant was still determined to make his own decisions.

“Carmine is the type of rodent who will take over your whole house and bring in a million extended family members if you give him so much as a crumb of cheese on the doorstep. Worse, Carmine will keep doing it, year after year after year, until you can’t even think for yourself anymore, you’ve been so taken in with his brand of reality.

I don’t understand,” Viktor added. “I need you to explain it to me, because this, in this case, I’m the one that doesn’t understand. ”

Ant gave him a sideways glance. “You’re implying it’s usually me who can’t work out what’s going on, but you could be right, so never mind.

It’s quite simple, really. I agreed to look at the case concerning Carmine’s sister for the same reason as I felt that you should take Tony in and have him charged with the Fallows’ murder.

It was the right thing to do. If there’s a death of an innocent person, and the killer has not been brought to justice, then searching and doing all I can to help the victim get justice is also the right thing to do. ”

“But you’re not helping her.” Nope. Viktor still didn’t understand. “By all accounts, this woman has been dead ten years. How are you helping her? All you are doing is opening yourself up to Carmine, and he will take advantage. I’ve seen him manipulate so many people…”

He broke off, letting out an angry huff.

“Think about it, Ant. Just think about it. How did Bridget end up dating him in the first place? She’s a sensible woman, she’s got a good head on her shoulders, she’s really intelligent, and she can usually see a con a mile off, but she got taken in by Carmine enough that she agreed to date him.

So why is it so difficult for you to see I’m worried about you falling for his lies as well. ”

“But I didn’t get taken in by Carmine when I met him that first time.

” How Ant managed to sound so calm about everything when Viktor was seething was something Viktor thought he’d never know.

It was frustrating… And also arousing, because when Ant sounded like that, Viktor wanted to ruffle his feathers so badly.

Calm down or you’ll be sleeping on the couch.

“Ant, you mean everything to me, and you know that it’s in my nature to protect you in every way I can.

I’m worried because I don’t know what Carmine’s endgame is.

But I would guarantee you anything at all that it has nothing to do with finding his sister’s killer.

“Don’t you see? There’s a good chance that Carmine has already found that person and has already dealt with them in his own unique way. Did you ever think about that?”

At least Ant was thinking about it, if that’s what the frown meant. “Why would he bring attention to the crime if he has already found the killer? That doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Exactly.” Viktor punched the air with his finger.

“But it is that sort of thing that Carmine would do. Did you ever stop to think that possibly the reason why the Fates put us together was because I do know about how these people operate? You said yourself, I lived in the shadows for a long time. Even before the Tonys and the Carmines of this world were a blink in their mother’s eyes, I had seen the lengths, and the deceptions people will go to, to get their own way.

“This is what Carmine is doing to you. He’s manipulating you.

I couldn’t tell you at the time, not with Carmine right there at our table.

But I did tell him you wouldn’t help him with anything at all, after he referred to Bridget.

Then you went and offered to help find his sister’s killer anyway.

I admit it.” Viktor threw up his hands, causing Able to raise his head.

“I don’t understand why you could do that. ”

“We’re allowed to be different, though, aren’t we?

” Ant asked slowly. “We’re allowed to have our differences in the way we perceive things.

You had all those thoughts going through your head, trying to protect me, but I couldn’t pick up anything through our bond when I was talking to Carmine, because he was giving me a headache.

“His energies were that loud, I suppose you could call them. They were buffeting my senses, and that rarely happens, unless I’m actually touching a person.

His anger was overwhelming. He was... There was a frustration, a nervous energy, and I can’t help it, but that lent credence to his story. Surely you can see that?”

“I can see why you would think like that, yes.” Viktor reached over and took Ant’s hand.

“But I also know that before this meeting, Carmine would have spoken to every contact that he’s got about you.

He would have spoken to everybody he knows on the streets and any of the contacts he’s paying off at the police station.

“He’s likely got contacts in the Mage Academy.

He would have spoken to previous clients of yours.

He would have been investigating other tenants in the building where your business is.

Before he even proposed this meeting, Carmine would’ve found out absolutely everything he possibly could about you as soon as he learned you took down Tony Manzano.

“Unlike Tony, Carmine’s not stupid. If you can take down a mob boss, then you’re a threat to him.

What better way to neutralize that threat than to have your power on his side?

He found out your soft spot and he used it.

If you think about it, what better way is there to attract someone’s attention than to dangle the death of an innocent victim in front of somebody who is well known around town for being a decent person? Can’t you see?”

Ant nodded, but he didn’t agree, and that increased Viktor’s concern.

“Carmine wasn’t wrong in a lot of ways. I am skeptical. I am cynical. I do look at everybody, especially people like Carmine, and just wish them off the face of the earth. They annoy me. They frustrate me. And the way they manipulate people, his bringing up Jessie…”

Ant quickly interrupted him. “I don’t want or need to know.”

“But that’s the point I’m trying to make.

There’s never been a Jessie in my life. Never.

The last person I had any form of personal relationship with has likely been dead for at least two hundred years.

But Carmine deliberately threw a random name into the conversation to try and rattle you, to try and make you feel as though there was some dark and sordid story I was hiding from you. ”

Tilting his head slightly to one side, Ant said, “But that negates your point about him learning all about me, doesn’t it?

If Carmine truly knew about me, then he’d already know I don’t listen to gossip.

Nine times out of ten, I don’t understand it, and I rarely notice it if anyone is playing emotional games with me, either. That’s not the way I am.”

“I know that about you, but not many people would, I agree. All you picked up from Carmine was his anger, his volatility, his frustration, and likely even sadness when he discussed his sister. But, and you just said this, those energies were so strong they gave you a headache. They would also mask the lies he was telling. Don’t you see? ”

Ant shook his head before leaning it on the back of his chair.

“I don’t think I’ll ever understand how people work.

The more I learn, the more I’m not sure I even want to know.

I hate that this has come between us, though.

I hate feeling that you are angry with me.

Yes, Carmine’s emotions were dominating my thoughts at the meeting, but I knew he wasn’t angry at me.

I didn’t know what or who he was angry at, but I knew it wasn’t me. But with you…”

“I’m sorry,” Viktor said quickly. “I truly am, because I never meant to give you any impression I was upset, annoyed, or angry with you. In all honesty, when we were at that restaurant, it took every ounce of my control not to just pick that man up and shove him through the bloody front window of the restaurant. I’d have happily paid for the glass.

“I hate the thought that he has used the death of an innocent to tempt you to work with him. I accept that you thought you were doing the right thing morally, but I hate that he has used something so tragic as a hook to reel you in. And please, whatever happens going forward with that case, do not expect me to sit by and let him take you over. I might not have acted when I saw what Tony was doing, but I will not stand by and watch Carmine pull you into his web of intrigue and lies. You are far too special for that.”

Ant’s nod was brief, but it was there, and Viktor knew that he’d been heard. They were quiet for a moment, and then Ant said, “Did you realize you’d given me two compliments in the space of ten minutes? Anyone would think you might be getting mushy on me.”

Viktor chuckled. “Not mushy. You know you’re special to me, but that was likely just me being horny and protective. That’s life. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, thank goodness.” Ant sighed, and a flood of warmth came through their bond. “That’s something I do know how to handle, and I’m fairly confident that I don’t make mistakes in sexual matters with you.”

“No,” Viktor said. “In those matters, we’re definitely on the same page.” Zooming out of his chair, Viktor picked Ant up out of his, cradling him in his arms as he ran through the back of the house and up the stairs to their bedroom.

Sex was never the answer to any argument, but Viktor did know it was the best way to reassure his mate about how special he was. Viktor might be lousy at the words, but his actions seemed to speak for themselves, and he had a lot to say.

“Touch me,” he growled, as he laid a now naked Ant on the mattress with all the care of an expensive vase. “Touch me and tell me how I’m feeling about you now.”