Page 25 of Visions of You

Jaron looked at his boss intently. "Do vampires generally know who their mates are? I've heard mortals tend to struggle with it, and vampires were mortal once, right?"

"Why don't you ask the vampire in the room?" Apollo motioned at Keegan.

Keegan licked his lips, watching Jaron open his mouth to ask, but before the dragon could say anything, they were interrupted by Iskander emerging from the bedroom with Rhyme following close behind.

Rhyme looked exhausted, but it was obvious that he wanted to be part of this. "Thank you for coming," he said to Apollo and Jaron before sitting down.

"I'm sorry we have to trouble you," Apollo said.

"No, I would do anything for Holly." An expression of determination settled on Rhyme's features. "She's my best friend as well as the mother of my children."

"We'll find her," Apollo promised. He pulled out a notepad. "Can you think of anyone who might want to harm her? Has she mentioned meeting anyone new recently?"

Rhyme shook his head. "No, she didn't leave the gated community much, as far as I'm aware. Only to come here to visit with the kids."

"So you don't think she went anywhere she doesn't usually go? Did she take up any new activities? Has she said anything that made you wonder?"

"No, nothing like that. We have twin toddlers. There's really no time to do anything but take care of them."

Apollo gave Rhyme a sympathetic smile and nodded as he jotted down a few notes.

"I'm sorry I don't know anything more helpful," Rhyme said.

"Do you know the other mortal who was kidnapped? Trevor?"

Rhyme shook his head again. "He wasn't part of my community."

"I see. That's fine. Ceska is talking to some of his friends today." Apollo turned to Keegan. "You're a seer, aren't you?"

"I am."

"How good are you?"

"I'd say I'm the best, but you should ask your mate. You distrust vampires too much to take my word for it."

Apollo's gaze narrowed. "Mordyn's told me that you like to stir up trouble."

"Some might see it that way," Keegan said. The truth was that he didn't try to create trouble, he merely manipulated the futureto best suit his interests and the interests of those he cared about. "Did he also tell you that I brought you two together?"

"Our relationship was not your doing."

"Sure." Keegan was used to this. People blamed him when things went wrong, but he never got any credit when things went right. "It's up to you to decide whether you want my help or not."

"Would I have to pay your coven?"

"Only if you want to stay on good terms with Altair, which I would recommend."

Apollo thought about this. "Let's see if you can find out anything useful before I hand over cash."

Keegan wanted to tell this mortal to go fuck himself. He'd overused his powers over the past 48h. He was tired and he didn't need to prove anything to anyone. But Apollo made Mordyn very very happy, and Keegan had already promised Iskander his help.

"I'm going to need blood," he said because his last marathon vision had burned through most of what he'd ingested.

"I don't keep blood here," Iskander said.

That made sense, of course. Iskander didn't drink bottled blood anymore, not while he was living with his mate, and while his mate's blood was the only thing that could sustain him.

Keegan was about to say that someone would have to go fetch him a bottle from a store when Jaron spoke up.