Page 32 of The Psychic and the Vampire

“Yes.” Ant’s smile widened. “I like that idea, and here’s our server. I haven’t even seen a menu yet. Do they do a good steak here?”

Viktor glanced at the server who was fidgeting with his pen and pad and wouldn’t even look at them. “What steak is on the menu this evening?”

“Porterhouse, sirloin and rib eye, Mr. Viktor, sir.”

“I’ll have a rib eye, medium well, with a side order of mushrooms and a baked potato, thank you,” Ant said with a smile.

“Make that two orders, thank you. We don’t need drinks, just two bottles of water, unopened.”

“Yes, Mr. Viktor. Er…did you need glasses for your wine?”

“Yes, thanks.” Viktor ignored Ant chuckling behind his free hand. “Two glasses. That will be all.”

Ant waited until the server had left, giving them three backward glances, before saying quietly, “I’m not sure about drinking that wine now the phone is in it. There’re hundreds of germs found on phone screens including fecal matter and viruses.”

“That’s why I purchased wine with a high alcohol content. I understand alcohol is very effective at killing germs.”

“Ah, yes, good point.” Ant grinned. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t give me something that might make me ill.”

“I just wanted you to be able to eat your meal in peace. I believe that would be a something a decent mate to do.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chaos started the moment Ant stepped out of the restaurant with Viktor, although it might not have been immediately apparent to anyone else. For Ant, he felt like he was being assaulted on a dozen sides at once. There were spirits yelling at him from the doorway of a building across the road. There was Able starting to bark frantically as a doubly loud explosion was heard across the entire block. But it was the cause of all the mayhem that was both the quietest and yet the most significant sound of all - the click of Viktor’s car key fob.

There was no time to react or respond. Ant’s whole body was flung back and he hit the pavement with a thud. His magic splintered under the impact, bouncing out of his body in shards, before slowly seeping back. Leaning up on his elbows, Ant shook his head, trying to clear the pain in his skull and his back. He’d landed hard and it was easy to see why.

Viktor’s immaculate black SUV was engulfed in flames. Even as he groaned, Ant recognized there must have been some powerful explosives packed underneath Viktor’s car. But before his mind could disappear down a tangent, working out how much explosive must have been used, the owner himself was there, picking him up and holding him close.

“Are you all right? Oh, gods, tell me. Are you all right?” Viktor’s chest was heaving, his hair mussed, and he had a cut down the side of his face that was slowly dripping blood onto his collar.

“I'm fine, just stunned, but I’m fine. Please put me down.” Although as soon as he said that he wished he hadn’t. Ant’s legs were shaky, and he gripped Viktor’s arm. “I must contain this blaze. I need to use my magic and contain this blaze.”

“Ant no,” Viktor yelled. “I can already hear sirens. The fire trucks are already on their way.”

Bully for you that you can hear anything.Ant’s senses were still on overload. Spirits were jabbering in his ear, people had come out of the restaurant, standing around gossiping and pointing their phones. But all Ant could focus on was the flames. At least Able had quietened down, resting against Viktor’s legs as if he knew Ant wouldn’t be able to take his weight.

“You need to sit down,” Viktor growled. “Somebody’s just tried to fucking kill us again.”

“Yeah, I think this one was for you, although it could’ve been both of us. I haven’t worked that out yet,” Ant said. “Hang on a minute. I need your energy. Let me lean on your arm.”

He pulled the shattered remnants of his magic back together. Magic was an amazingly wonderful power in that it never really dissipated. It was one of the purest sources of energy in life, and because it was an energy, it could be redirected and shaped by those who understood it.

Ant’s power, his main skill, was his ability to pick up on past energy events. It was why he could read crime scenes so accurately and why he struggled to be among crowds of people who carried so many past energies as they went about their daily living. But he was also a level twelve mage and one of the highest rated mages in the country. That meant he could direct magic as he wanted. But gods, it had been a long time since he’d had to.

His face flushed from the heat of the flames, sweat pouring down his brow, Ant flung out his arms, trusting Viktor to keep him upright. His magic still hadn’t settled, his “throw” was not as precise as he would like. But he directed the energy at the burning SUV, encapsulating it entirely in an energy bubble. Assoon as he was sure all of the burning areas were contained, he started to squeeze.

That was science, not magic. Fire needed air to grow. Ant had effectively thrown a blanket on it, depriving it of the air the flames needed. It wasn’t as easy as throwing back a cover on a bed. Fire had an energy of its own and was pushing back, using the materials in the SUV, the fuel in the gas tank, and the oil in the motor to feed its power.

Every muscle in Ant’s body ached both from the fall from the blast and from the physical exertion he was putting out.

“You have to stop,” Viktor’s growl wasn’t helping. There was a part of Ant’s brain that recognized both of Viktor’s arms were holding him upright, his chest firm against Viktor’s back.

“I will not have innocents…businesses…cars…people…hurt. They won’t be caught up in this fight.” Ant kept straining, squeezing on his magic. It was akin to pushing a boulder uphill. If he didn’t keep the pressure on, Ant’s magic would explode back to him, causing more damage than the flames.

“I won’t haveyouhurt.”

Ant decided the growls must’ve been Viktor’s default setting – his way of dealing with stress. But the vampire held on, lending his strength, shielding Ant from nosy people who just wanted to know what was going on.I’m going to implode if I don’t get this right, that’s what’s going on,Ant thought grimly.Bridget would never forgive me if that happened.Viktor was growling, snarling, snapping at people who got to close, and Ant was so going to make him feel good when he had the energy, but for now…

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