Page 34 of Entranced By the Basilisks

Jasper looks thoughtful when I glance at him.

“I figure it would make things easier for everyone,” I say.

He shrugs. “It limits how much damage you can do. Ari should be immune to most of your gifts.”

Gifts.

Ari gestures with his fork. “At the very least, I can spoil you with my cooking.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I say.

Ari places a hand on his chest. “Please don’t deny me the pleasure of cooking for you. I don’t think my heart could bear it.”

His dramatics pull a smile from me. “Well, okay.”

“Mrs. Rivera,” Ari says. “You are of course welcome to dinner anytime.”

Ma smiles, amused. “I’m sure you all will be busy with whatever training Emilia will need, but I’d be happy to come over sometime.”

The silence that falls is comfortable and stretches while we eat. Ma breaks it before it borders on becoming uncomfortable.

“What do you do, Ari?” Ma asks.

“I’m a dealer of sorts. I buy and sell rare things from different magical communities.”

“Like a book that gives me snakes for hair?” I ask dryly.

“The exact same. Though, again, the book alone wouldn’t have been able to do that. If it did, then it would have been more expensive.” Ari mutters that last bit.

I widen my eyes. “Really?”

Some of his jovial nature drops and a seriousness takes its place. “The gifts that have been bestowed to you haven’t been seen in decades.”

“Lucky me,” I squeak before I realize how much of the puzzle I’m missing. “What exactly are Chosen? You said that people would study and worship to become one, but why?”

Ari winces. “Ha, well Chosen are sought after because…”

“Breeding,” Jasper says when Ari trails off.

“Excuse me?” I say, the pitch of my voice climbing.

Ma snorts.

Ari glares at Jasper. “It’s not just that. Serpent kin worship the Goddess and she… provides for us. Eases our pain.”

Ari pauses for a moment before continuing. “Though our population is of average size, serpent kin are actually made up of many types of creatures that have serpent features. Nagas are at the top of the hierarchy, but even they come in a vast variety. Many types of serpent kin aren’t compatible with each other.”

Jasper’s lips twitch slightly. “They can’t interbreed easily.”

Ari sighs in exasperation. “Most serpent kin are long-lived enough that the lack of… productive matings aren’t an issue, but there are some rarer lines of serpent kin that have been saved by the appearance of Chosen. So yes… Chosen are sought after because of breeding, but it’s also one of the only ways that a human or witch lover can be mated to a serpent kin. We aren’t like other paranormals to be able to soul bond so easily. Many have experienced watching the one they love grow old and die.”

“Or get sick,” Jasper whispers.

“Or get sick,” Ari echoes, a sad look passes over his face before he shakes it away. “Being Chosen means your life span will match who you choose.”

I swallow, trying to ignore Ari’s use of the wordyou. “So your people have no incentive to reverse this?”

Ari’s eyes are as serious as Jasper’s. “No. The exact opposite really. It would be better for us to keep quiet about your presence if you are truly looking to become un-Chosen.”

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