The Coven's Curse
by
- The Psychic and The Vampire
- The Psychic and the Vampire
- The Psychic and the Vampire
Ant and Viktor have settled into mated life, working cases for Ant's private business while they wait for a case from the Justiciary. But the case, when it comes, is not one either of them expected. While Ant is keen to get justice for the victim, Viktor is staunchly against taking the case at all.
Many years before he met Ant, Viktor spent forty years living in a coven - the same coven where the murder he and Ant are supposed to be investigating took place. Viktor always vowed he would never go back. But there must've been something wrong with his persuasion skills, and he finds himself back at the Raven Estate and face-to-face with Claudius Raven - the coven leader.
Because of his power levels and the skills he'd used for years, Ant believed that solving the murder would be as simple as sitting at the murder scene, seeing the details of what happened, and writing his report for the Justiciary. But nothing about the Raven Estate or Claudius was simple, especially when Ant realizes how much magic protects the coven leader’s secrets. Magic a vampire shouldn't have.
The Coven's Curse is book three of Ant and Viktor's journey, and readers would get more out of this story if they have read the first two books.
Book One: The Psychic and the Vampire (explains how Ant and Viktor met and realized they were mates).
Book Two: The Psychic and the Vampire: A Bad Case of Vampire Curiosity (explains how Ant went from working with the police force to working for the Justiciary).
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Protagonist 2 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
“The Raven Estate,” he repeated, his voice coming out flat. “Claudius’s place.”
“Yes.” Ant tilted his head to look up at Viktor. “Did you know him? The Justiciary has arranged for us to conduct a scene reading tomorrow morning at ten. Ronald Finch was found drained of blood in one of the guest rooms, and the coven claims…”
“No.”
Ant blinked. “No, you didn’t know Claudius?”
“No, we’re not taking this case.” Viktor forced himself to release Ant’s shoulder before he gripped too tight. This was also one of those times when Ant’s ability to sense thoughts and emotions through touch would not be a good idea. He stepped back, running both hands through his hair and trying to think past the roaring in his head. “Tell the Justiciary to send someone else.”
READ MORE“There is no one else.” Ant’s tone remained maddeningly reasonable. “I’m the only mage in the state who can read scenes and see past events. You know this.”
Viktor did know this. He also knew that Claudius Raven was an elitist bastard who’d spent eight centuries treating humans like cattle and mages like performing dogs. He doubted the man had changed his ways, although…why didn’t he just bury the body with all the others? Fuck it.
He started pacing, unable to stand still. The kitchen suddenly felt too small, the walls pressing in. All the zen he’d achieved from his morning run was completely gone. “You don’t understand what you’re walking into.”
“Then explain it to me.” Ant shifted in his chair, tracking Viktor’s movement. Able sat up, his tail wagging once before settling back down. “I take it you know Claudius.”
“I know him.” Viktor bit out the words, hating they had to be said out loud. “I lived at that estate for a while. It was centuries ago, before I left and traveled the world, doing all I did before I ended up back here in Tony’s crew.”
He watched Ant process this information, those gray eyes sharpening with interest rather than concern. Of course Ant would find it academically fascinating that Viktor was about to accompany him into a nest of vampires who still thought the Renaissance contributed to the downfall of civilization.
“You’ve never mentioned him before.”
“Because I try very hard not to think about that pretentious asshole.” Viktor stopped pacing long enough to brace his hands on the back of one of the kitchen chairs, gripping the wood hard enough to make it creak. “Claudius embodies every suffocating, archaic rule I couldn’t stand. He thinks humans exist to be fed on and controlled, and he treats mages like…like fucking circus performers. They’re just novelties to him to study, exploit, and then dispose of.”
“I see.” Ant set down the photograph he’d been examining and folded his hands on the table. “That’s concerning, but it doesn’t change the fact that a certain Ronald Finch was murdered. Someone drained him of blood and left his body on Claudius’s property. I have a professional obligation to determine what happened.”
“He was fed from and died. Case closed.” Viktor regretted the blunt words as soon as they left his mouth. Ant really cared about doing the right thing. “Ant, babe, your professional obligation is going to get you killed.”
“No, it won’t.” Ant’s voice remained perfectly calm. “Because you’ll be with me.”
COLLAPSE
