“It is what it is, and I could be totally wrong in this regard. I won’t know until the morning.” Ant moved away from Viktor and sat cross-legged on the floor beside Able, who had finished his treats and now watched with alert brown eyes. “Robert suggested breathing exercises to create mental anchors before entering highly charged scenes. I should practice them now.”
Viktor lowered himself to sit against the bed frame, close enough to reach but not touching. “I thought you needed to have your senses fully opened to experience a vision.”
“I do, yes, which is why Robert suggested doing this before I do a reading, rather than during a reading. I have no idea how successful it would be, but…” Ant trailed off, hoping Viktor would understand.
Nodding, Viktor said, “Tell me what you need.”
Ant placed one hand on Able’s warm fur and closed his eyes. “Just...stay there.”
He focused on his breathing - four counts in, hold for four, four counts out. Robert had explained it as creating a rhythm that the conscious mind could cling to when any vision threatened to overwhelm.Your magic shows you the past,Robert had said during one of their conversations over dinner.But your body exists in the present. Grounding techniques, like simple rhythmic breathing, remind your nervous system where and when you actually are.
Inhale. The air tasted stale, carrying the faint mineral tang of old stone and older magic.
Hold. Able’s breathing synchronized with his own, steady and reliable.
Exhale. Viktor’s presence registered as a solid warmth to his left, the mate bond humming between them like a taut wire.
Ant opened his eyes and stared at the connecting door. It was made of dark wood, with a brass handle, for all intents and purposes, a regular door except for what lay beyond it. Ronald Finch had died in that room mere days ago. His body had remained there for approximately two days before discovery, while his killer went about their business.
The crime scene photos had shown puncture wounds consistent with vampire feeding - two neat holes in the carotid artery. Those, surprisingly enough, were the only indications a crime had occurred. Everything else about the scene suggested that Finch had just dropped dead as he was working. His pen had still been clutched in his fingers, sitting atop the papers he was working on.
“What are you thinking?” Viktor asked.
“That Ronald Finch had to have known he was in danger, but he didn’t leave.” Ant continued his breathing pattern, using the rhythm to organize his thoughts. “The papers suggest he was working when the attack occurred. He didn’t invite his killer into the room - they came to him. Either he knew them well enough not to be alarmed by their presence, or...”
“Or they overpowered or enthralled him before he could react.”
“Yes.” Inhale. “Vampires can move faster than human perception. If Claudius or one of his coven decided to eliminate the threat, Finch would have had perhaps two seconds of warning.”
“That’s not enough time to do anything except die scared.”
Ant opened his eyes and met Viktor’s gaze. “Then that’s what I’ll see tomorrow. A frightened man dying violently while trying to do his job.”
“But you’ve seen that before. Lots of times.”
“I have.” Ant placed his other hand on the floor, consciously acknowledging the touch. “The difference will be in the amplification. That is the only element of concern. I can’t help but wonder how much Claudius might be aware of that interference…”
Viktor’s eyes flashed red before he forced them back to blue. “If there’s any suggestion that this is dangerous for you, then we’re not doing this.”
“We are.”
“Ant…”
“Ronald Finch deserves justice.” Ant kept his voice level. “His family deserves to know what happened to him. And Claudius needs to be held accountable if he’s the killer.”
“Not at the cost of traumatizing you.”
“I’m already traumatized.” Ant looked up, meeting Viktor’s eyes. “Every scene I read adds to the cumulative database of human suffering I carry in my mind. This will be one more entry. Admittedly, it has the potential to be a particularly intense one, but it’s still just data.”
Viktor made a sound low in his throat - not quite a growl but close. “You’re not a fucking computer, babe.”
“No. But I am a professional with a job to do.” Ant closed his eyes and returned his attention to his breathing exercises, cycling through another round. “Which brings me to the most important rule for tomorrow.”
“I’m listening, but I already know I’m not going to like it.”
“You cannot touch me at all during the reading.”
Silence. Then, “The fuck I can’t.”
