Viktor wanted to kiss him. Right there, in front of everyone.
Later,Ant sent, and Viktor could feel his amusement through the bond.
Vivienne cleared her throat. “Surely you understand, Doctor Channon, that our coven leader merely seeks to honor the old ways. We have preserved vampire culture and tradition while others” - she glanced at Viktor with obvious disdain - “have abandoned their heritage to grovel before humans.”
“I have never groveled in my life,” Viktor snarled.
“No?” Another vampire, this one clearly mimicking his leader with his own slicked-back hair and a cravat, smirked. “You took orders from a human crime lord for decades, so we hear. You lived in his shadow like a common thug. That’s not groveling?”
His name is Edmund. He once tried to fight me, and I broke his nose. He’s still bitter about it.
How petty.
Extremely.
“If you’re referring to my work with Tony Manzano,” Viktor said. “We had a mutually beneficial arrangement. I provided services, he provided payment and territory. That’s called a professional relationship, not groveling.”
“And now you play pet to a mage,” Claudius said softly. “Following him around like another trained dog. One would think you and the service animal have much in common. How far the mighty have fallen.”
Viktor’s vision flashed red. His fingers dug into the arms of his chair hard enough that the wood splintered.
Don’t get upset,Ant sent calmly.He’s trying to provoke you into acting out in the hopes you’ll attack him in front of witnesses.
I’m going to tear his fucking head off.
No, you’re not. Not yet, at least.
Ant turned to face Claudius fully. “We have been over this, but I imagine someone of your advanced age might not remember correctly, and that’s understandable. Viktor isn’t my pet. He’s my fated mate. We’re bonded through magic that predates your coven by millennia. The fact that you’re either unaware of or deliberately ignoring the significance of a true mate bond suggests your understanding of the rest of the paranormal world is severely limited.”
“Mate bonds are fairy tales,” Claudius said firmly, as though just saying it made it law - something that Viktor had seen countless times before.
“No, they’re a documented physiological phenomenon studied extensively by the Justiciary and the Academy.” Ant’s tone remained neutral. Viktor could imagine him giving the same lecture at the Academy. “The bond creates a telepathic link, allows sharing of energy, and connects two souls across lifetimes. It’s extraordinarily rare and considered one of themost powerful forms of magic in existence. Your dismissal of it reflects poorly on your education, not on its validity.”
I love you so fucking much right now.
I’m simply stating facts.
You’re destroying him with those facts, and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
Edmund leaned back in his chair. “If you’re so powerful, Doctor Channon, why haven’t you simply read the scene already and left? Surely it would take you mere moments to get all the details you need for your report.”
“I could read it in a short amount of time,” Ant agreed. “If this were a personal case, then you are exactly right. Viktor and I would be home by now. However, I’m conducting a thorough investigation for the Justiciary, which requires understanding the context, the environment, and the political landscape of the situation, as well as the scene reading itself. Rushing would be unprofessional and potentially compromise the evidence.”
“Or perhaps,” Claudius said, “you’re stalling because you already know what you’ll find, and you’re reluctant to accuse a coven leader without ironclad proof.”
“I don’t require ironclad proof,” Ant said. “My testimony, especially in front of a truth sayer, is generally considered enough to at least provoke further investigation. What I am doing is adhering to responsible standards. The Justiciary expects comprehensive evidence collection regardless of the status of the victim or who’s potentially being accused. Whether you’re a coven leader or a street criminal makes no difference to the law.”
Vivienne laughed as though Ant had just told the joke of the century. “The law? How positively quaint. Laws are created bythose with power to control those without it. They’re tools of oppression dressed up as morality.”
“Then you should appreciate them,” Ant said. “Since vampires like Claudius have historically held significant power and influence. Or are you suggesting the laws your coven helped establish centuries ago were actually designed to oppress yourselves? That seems counterproductive.”
He’s going to have a stroke,Viktor observed. Claudius’s face had gone dangerously still.
Vampires can’t have strokes.
Figure of speech, babe.
The servants brought out the main course. A simple roasted meat with vegetable side dishes. Nothing fancy. Viktor had to ask for gravy because the meat was definitely overcooked, but it seemed the rest of the diners didn’t seem to notice anything wrong.They probably eat the same stuff every single night.
