Page 16 of Viktor

“So you’ve told me.” Viktor gave a small laugh, slightly amused.

“I’m pretty sure I got shot. What really happened?”

“You did. I took care of your leg.”

“I’m sorry. Are you a doctor? Did you go to med school?”

“I’m a vampire, Waverly. I can heal most wounds. Contrary to popular opinion, not all vampires go around biting people without their consent. Well, usually anyway.”

“This doesn’t make sense.” Waverly slowly lay back, rolled onto her side and curled into a ball.

“You’re going to have to trust me.” Viktor watched the stress seize her, her eyes closed tight as she attempted to rationalize the unthinkable.

“I don’t know what happened last night. That man. He was shooting all those people,” she whispered.

“They don’t know what happened yet or what his motives were. But I can tell you that the gunman…he was human.” Viktor didn’t think she was ready to hear that she was the only one who’d been shot. He rose from the floor where he’d been kneeling and gently sat on the side of the bed, careful not to get too close to her. “I don’t know if this is related to Miami. But I think it’s safe to say that your friend may have been involved with some bad people.”

“I’m so tired,” she responded, defeat in her voice.

Viktor struggled to reconcile the seed of concern threading through him. Humans certainly sated his hunger, but he didn’t form attachments. This one, however, piqued his interest. Much more than amusement or curiosity, he found her fighting spirit admirable. This intelligent, brave, beautifully imperfect human attracted him like a moth to a flame. He’d saved her twice, and now that he had, he’d commit to doing it again.

“I won’t let them get to you,” Viktor offered, his palm gently brushing her shoulder. Several seconds of silence passed, before she relaxed under his touch. “I promise it’s going to be all right.”

“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered. “Twice.”

“It’s late. Get some rest. We’ll talk when you’re feeling better.”

Viktor reached for a folded blanket at the end of the bed and pulled it up over her shoulders. As she began to drift off to sleep, Viktor closed his eyes, sensing her energy. A vision of her smiling formed in his mind, her hand reached for him, her fingers touching his lips.

Viktor’s eyes snapped open, surprised. Interesting, he mused. Could this human communicate with him in her dreams, her energy forming an actual picture? Did she intentionally show it to him or was this simply a more active form of dreaming? Like the art she dearly loved to study, he suspected Dr. LaFleur also held many secrets.

“We may be taking a trip,” Viktor commented nonchalantly. He lounged on a chaise and stared at the twinkling lights reflecting onto the water that filled his large rectangular penthouse pool. “The weather’s exceptional this evening, don’t you think?”

“Why, might I ask, are we leaving? No, don’t tell me, it has to do with the chick upstairs.” Rafe scooped a spoonful of ice cream and slid it in his mouth.

“I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to let Dr. LaFleur go back alone,” he confessed.

“Big mistake, man.”

“I can’t quite explain it myself. There was a demon in that apartment. I’m sure of it. Tonight, there was a shooting by a human. Her friend is missing. Apparently, she was involved with a vampire wannabe group.”

“Let PCAP deal with the missing friend. You know that donors take a risk going to places like that. As for the shooting? Humans love their guns. They do sketchy shit all day long.”

Viktor sighed. “I don’t know. My immediate concern is getting her back to San Diego. The police have questions. I have questions too. I want to know more about the shooter.”

“You killed him, right?”

“Well, yes, but he deserved it.”

“What is there to know, then?”

“I want to know his background. His motive.” Viktor shrugged. “We’ll go to San Diego. A day or two tops, and then we can move on to Jackson Hole so you can get back to Hunter.”

“Come again?” Rafe asked, setting his spoon into the bowl.

“I thought you’d be happy to go home. Back to Hunter. Back to the pack.” Viktor set his gaze on Rafe. His prodigy appeared more confident than he was.

“I don’t know.” He hesitated. “I like Miami.”