Page 22 of Entranced By the Basilisks

“I know some scholars I can reach out to,” I say. “Even if they don’t have answers, they have books that the library can borrow.”

Ari nods. “Good.”

“What about me?” Emilia asks, frowning. “I can do something, right?”

Ari’s eyes are once again on my librarian, his face full of intention and intensity. I’d seen that same look so many times over the years directed at me, but still can’t anticipate what it means. I only know that I’m not on the receiving end this time.

I can’t tell who I’m jealous of.

I’d told Ari we couldn’t be together and had only really spoken to Emilia within the last hour, but the facts don’t stop the burn of discomfort behind my sternum. This moment isn’t a good time to realize they’d make the perfect pair. Emilia’s skin has more gold tones compared to Ari’s, but each has their own type of beauty that completes the other.

Ari places a finger to his chin, musing. “I think the best course of action would be to teach you how to control your new gifts,” he says to Emilia.

Her eyes widen. “I don’t want to control them. I want them gone.”

Emilia’s vehement tone is bordering on blasphemy but neither of us will hold that against her.

A Chosen.It’s rare that one is touched by the Goddess. Before today, my life didn’t pay much heed or observance to the Goddess that serpent kin worship, Ari has always been the devout one, the one capable of receiving blessings. Chosen haven’t paired with Adders since the schism and our bloodline shows it.

But this isn’t something of Emilia’s choosing. This happened to her because of her work at the library, because I delivered Ari’s book to her.

“You don’t want to be able to go about your day without the hissing of your new pets?” Ari asks, interrupting my thoughts.

Emilia stills. “You can take away the snakes?”

Ari shrugs. “Not me. You can take away the snakes, and control the power of your gaze, among whatever other new abilities you’ve gained.”

I’d accuse Ari of hypnotizing Emilia with the sudden shift of her temperament, the hope making her sit straighter, but I know he’s just that compelling of a person.

“Of course”—Ari tilts his head, musing—“it would be better for you to stay with me until you have control of your gifts,” Ari says, cinching the snare he’d been crafting tightly with his words.

But Emilia isn’t a rabbit.

“No,” she says.

The answer is solid, unyielding and my lips twitch at the appearance of her willpower.

Ari’s eyes narrow.

Emilia shuts her eyes for a breath before focusing on Ari again. “I don’t want to be rude, but I’m holding on to everything by a thread as it is. Today has been too much for me. I can’t just throw myself into a new living arrangement. I need consistency to handle this.”

I soften at the vulnerability she displays, as does Ari. The strength it takes to surrender truths like the one she shares speaks volumes.

But I can’t give her consistency.

“You can’t work at the library in your current state,” I say, hating myself. “It’s a hazard. I don’t have the magic available to me to revive statues at the drop of a hat.”

Ari’s lip curls in a snarl at that. He’s always poorly hidden his jealousy for the library.

Emilia’s eyes are wide and glossy with hurt. The look bites into my soul and I wish I could give her what she wants, but the library is as much my responsibility as she is.

She firms her lip and nods. “Okay, then I’ll stay home.”

And not at Ari’s lavish penthouse. I can’t tell if I’m relieved.

Ari shrugs. It isn’t a careless movement. It’s a strategic lift of his shoulders meant to put Emilia at ease, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

What is he planning?

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