Page 118 of Entranced By the Basilisks

“They want you to resign!” Her voice is vehement and rises in volume before dropping again. “That’s absolutely ridiculous! There’s no way that the Council will have you resign just because they are threatening to pull their patronage.”

I shrug. “It’s not impossible.”

“Why aren’t you freaking out? We can’t let them ruin everything you’ve worked for. This is your life!”

Why aren’t I freaking out? That’s an excellent question. I have worked for years to gain the status I have as a balm for not being able to do the same in serpent kin society. In the face of losing it, it’s a surprise that I’m not more alarmed. My chest isn’t tight in impending loss or anger.

It takes a moment of reflection to clock why.

“This isn’t my life,” I say. “It’s my job. One that I am passionate about, and I won’t just roll over and let them dictate how the library is run, but if I were to lose my position here, the sun would still rise tomorrow. If I have you and Ari, the sun will still rise.”

It’s the first time I’ve said his name and Emilia responds instantly. Her eyes go soft. The pain he caused her still there, but under that is the yearning for him. I can relate. I’ve spent many years trying to resist going back to Ari for both of our good, but in the end, I was weak. We will all suffer for my last name, but my mates chose me.

I will not disappoint them.

Emilia paces back and forth until she huffs. I can’t take my eyes off her. This woman bonded us in the ways of serpent kin without a ceremony. Not a single candle was lit, or spell chanted, only the wordmineon her lips. She is a fierce conundrum.

Every second that passes, I’m stunned anew. I have a mate. She loves me. I catch her hand when she gets close and pull her into my arms. The contact allows my body to relax. The need to hold her is a side effect that will pass in time. Probably.

“Let’s go to lunch,” I say, twirling a strand of her hair around a finger.

“You’re too calm about this.” She pokes my chest.

“There are other things to worry about in the interim.” Things like I’ve bonded to a Chosen before she’s been presented to the head of the Circle and Emilia will need to figure out how to forgive Ari. “They may not have meant to, but it was quite kind of the Owens to give me a week.”

Emilia will forgive Ari. She loves him even if she hasn’t stated it. That’s why his betrayal cut so deeply.

What will happen to me if anyone figures out that we’ve bonded already? I don’t know. There’s a lot of pomp and ceremony surrounding everything serpent kin are. I’m not experienced enough in the ins and outs of the politics to even begin to guess. I can only anticipate that it will be serious. I should message Ari and let him know.

But everything is already happening all at once. Emilia deserves to have the time to contemplate things. We have some time yet.

She sighs in my arms. “What are you feeling like for lunch?”

“What about the taco place you like so much?” I ask.

She gives me a side-eye before the corner of her mouth curls in a smile. “You really have been watching me.”

My cheeks burn and her smile grows at my blush.

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” she says.

* * *

I foreseethat the taco place Emilia loves so much is going to become a new addiction of mine. We walk back to the library after lunch, hand in hand. The crisp weather warning of cold nights and morning frost. No matter that my body temperature is lower for being serpent kin, I’ve always loved winter. I enjoy taking walks in the cold, even if it means returning home to a hot bath or being lethargic the rest of the evening.

Now, I have a human-shaped warming pad to cuddle with.

“What are you smiling about?” Emilia asks.

“You. And me. Our future.”

She squeezes my hand. “We have one of those, don’t we?” she teases.

We turn the corner to the side entrance of the building.

It happens so fast.

My hand and body are ripped from Emilia’s and thrown against a wall. The punch to my face is faster than I track and then there’s only pain and Emilia’s screams.

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