Chapter Twenty-Three
“You’re telling me that one case generated six hundred and forty-three pages of legal documentation?”
Bridget set her wine glass down with more force than necessary.
“Six hundred and forty-three pages of initial filings. The amended complaints added another two hundred. And that’s not counting the financial forensics reports, which Robert can tell you about since he’s been helping catalog the magical evidence. ”
Robert shifted in his chair, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else than the center of attention.
“The ward analysis alone required seventy pages of technical documentation. Claudius had been layering protections for over a century, and each iteration needed to be cataloged separately for the Justiciary’s records. ”
Ant watched his sister roll her eyes toward the ceiling.
Three days had passed since they’d left the Raven Estate, and while his body had mostly recovered from the whole ordeal thanks to the fact that his magic could finally breathe again after being freed from those wards, Bridget appeared to be suffering from an entirely different affliction - bureaucratic fatigue.
“I spent nine hours yesterday arguing with three separate insurance adjusters about liability coverage,” she continued. “Apparently, vampire covens don’t typically carry policies that account for ‘criminal enterprise’ or ‘mass financial fraud through illegal mind control.’ Who knew?”
“Shocking oversight,” Viktor said, deadpan. He leaned back in his chair, one arm draped across the back of Ant’s seat. “You’d think that would be a standard requirement at the very least.”
“Right? That’s what I said.” Bridget speared a piece of chicken with her fork. “Then the lead adjuster had the audacity to suggest the victims should have been more careful about who they associated with. I may have threatened to sue his company into oblivion.”
“You definitely threatened to sue his company into oblivion,” Robert murmured. “I was there. You used the phrase ‘scorched earth litigation’ at least twice.”
Bridget’s expression softened slightly as she glanced at her boyfriend. “You were very supportive.”
“I just took the notes.”
Under the table, Able’s cold nose pressed against Ant’s knee. Ant glanced down to find the German shepherd staring up at him with hopeful eyes, his tail sweeping slowly across the floor.
You’ve already had three pieces of steak, Ant thought, but he slipped his hand down anyway to scratch behind Able’s ears. The dog leaned into the touch, and his tail wagged faster.
Viktor caught the movement and smirked. “If you keep spoiling him, he’s going to expect steak at every meal.”
“He earned it,” Ant said simply. There were many people who simply looked at Able and saw a highly trained service animal, but Ant knew his constant companion was so much more, and he’d proven that in spades at the Raven Estate.
Three pieces of steak doesn’t even begin to pay him for all he does for me.
As if reading his thoughts, Viktor picked up a piece of meat from his own plate and held it under the table. Able’s tail became a blur of motion.
“You’re both terrible,” Bridget said primly, but she was smiling. “That dog is going to be insufferable.”
“He’s an amazing companion,” Ant corrected. “And he has excellent judgment.”
Robert cleared his throat. “Speaking of judgment - Viktor, I wanted to ask about the invisibility extension you performed. The magical theory suggests that expanding a vampiric gift to encompass multiple additional beings should cause exponential strain on the caster, but you maintained it for nearly forty seconds while moving at speed. How did you manage the load distribution?”
Viktor blinked. Then he looked at Ant. “Is he asking how I didn’t pass out?”
“Basically yes,” Ant confirmed.
“I...didn’t want us to die?”
Robert leaned forward, his academic interest clearly piqued. “But the mathematical models indicate…”
“Robert,” Bridget interrupted gently. “Maybe we could save the magical theory discussion for after dinner?”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Robert’s ears turned slightly pink, but he didn’t look particularly discouraged. “I just thought, since Viktor has practical experience with advanced vampiric applications…”
“I appreciate the interest,” Viktor said, and Ant could tell he was being truthful. “But honestly? I just did it. There wasn’t a lot of math involved.”
“Instinctive magic,” Robert murmured, his eyes taking on the distant look Ant recognized in a fellow colleague who was working through complex theoretical problems. “That’s simply fascinating.
The stress response may have triggered a temporary enhancement of your natural gift parameters, essentially overclocking your magical capacity through pure survival drive. ”
Viktor stared at him. “Sure, it was something like that.”
Ant hid his smile behind his water glass.
Robert was brilliant and well-meaning, but he tended to translate everything into academic frameworks that most people found incomprehensible – a trait Ant shared, so he understood.
The important thing was that Bridget seemed to find it endearing, and that was all that counted in the end.
“How’s the wine?” Ant asked, deciding a subject change might be beneficial.
“Excellent,” Bridget said immediately. “Where did you get it?”
“Viktor selected it.”
“Of course he did.” Bridget raised her glass toward Viktor. “You have good taste. In wine and in family members.”
Viktor’s mouth curved into a small smile. “I’m a pretty decent judge of character.”
“Pretty decent?” Bridget’s eyebrow arched. “It’s going to be a long time before I forget you spent years working for Tony Manzano.”
“I said decent, not perfect.”
Robert laughed, an actual surprised laugh that made Bridget beam at him.
Ant observed the exchange with interest. His sister had dated extensively over the past several years, but none of her previous relationships had progressed to the “attending family dinners” stage.
She must consider Robert a long-term prospect.
The realization made something warm settle in Ant’s chest. Bridget deserved someone who appreciated her competence and shared her interests. Robert was kind, intelligent, and clearly devoted to her. An acceptable match.
“So,” Viktor said, his tone casual but his posture shifting slightly, “you’re still teaching at the Academy, right?”
“Yes,” Robert confirmed. “Advanced Astral Theory and Practical Applications of Projection Magic.”
“Is that a heavy course load?”
“It’s manageable. Although this semester I’ve taken on additional administrative responsibilities, reviewing curricula for the graduate program.”
Viktor nodded slowly. “That must keep you pretty busy, then.”
Robert’s expression turned cautious. “I…yes. But I always make time for Bridget. She’s very important to me.”
Ah. Ant suppressed a grin. Viktor was evaluating Robert’s commitment to Bridget, which was unnecessary since Bridget was perfectly capable of making her own relationship decisions. But Viktor took family seriously, and, apparently, that extended to vetting his mate’s sister’s boyfriend.
“Good,” Viktor said simply. Then, after a pause, he added, “She’ll kill you if you fuck it up.”
“Viktor,” Ant said.
“What? It’s true.”
“I am sitting right here,” Bridget said with a laugh. “And I’m perfectly capable of handling my own relationships without input from the peanut gallery.”
“I’m just making sure he knows what he’s getting into,” Viktor said.
“I do,” Robert said, his voice quiet but firm. He looked directly at Viktor. “I know exactly what I’m getting into. Bridget is brilliant, terrifying at times, and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Bridget’s expression softened. “Robert.”
“Unless you want me to go somewhere,” Robert added quickly. “In which case, I would respect that decision entirely.”
“Stop talking,” Bridget said, but she was smiling again.
Viktor grunted, which was his version of approval, and returned his attention to his plate. Ant felt him relax slightly. His protective instincts must be satisfied.
“How much longer until the trials begin?” Ant asked, steering the conversation back toward safer territory.
“Months,” Bridget said with a sigh. “The Justiciary is still processing evidence from the safe. Claudius’s legal team is already filing motion after motion to suppress testimony, exclude evidence, and delay proceedings. It’s standard procedure for someone looking at multiple life sentences.”
“Will they succeed?”
“Not a chance.” Bridget’s smile turned sharp.
“Your scene reading testimony is airtight, the photographs are authenticated, and we have forty-three families willing to testify about financial exploitation. Claudius’s own journal entries are damning.
His lawyers know they can’t win, they’re just trying to drag it out. ”
“What about Edmund and Nathaniel?” Viktor asked.
“Cooperating witnesses,” Robert supplied. “They’ve both agreed to testify against Claudius in exchange for reduced sentences. Apparently, Edmund has been keeping his own records of Claudius’s activities for decades.”
Viktor’s eyebrows rose. “Smart man.”
“That’s a strong case of self-preservation,” Bridget corrected. “He knew Claudius was eventually going to get caught, and he wanted leverage when it happened.”
Ant considered this. “Logical.”
“Cold-blooded,” Bridget countered.
“Those aren’t mutually exclusive.”
His sister laughed. “Fair point.” She took another sip of wine, then set the glass down with a more thoughtful expression.
“Ronald Finch’s family has been notified.
They’ll be receiving full restitution for his death, along with compensation for emotional damages.
It won’t bring him back, but at least they’ll have closure. ”