Page 68 of Entranced By the Basilisks

Sigmund’s attention is on me again, eyes widening, and Jasper curses softly.

“How—” Sigmund starts.

“What’s going on here?” Ari’s voice breaks the tension and has everyone straightening.

Relief floods me.

“Warrior Zeyad.” Sigmund nods toward Ari. “I didn’t see you approach.”

Ari arches his brows. “I figured.”

“He has an unbonded Chosen,” Sigmund says, pointing at Jasper as if tattling.

The relief at Ari’s presence morphs into a mix of fear and annoyance. This is a world I don’t understand. One of tradition and honorifics I don’t recognize. Ari steps up behind us, wrapping one arm around Jasper and the other around me.

“I am well aware, youngling.” Ari nuzzles my “hair.” His gesture is intimate and claiming and causes the hidden vipers on my head to hiss in delight.

Sigmund’s eyes bug in a satisfying way and even the lackeys behind him seem too shocked for words.

“Ari,” Jasper hisses, part in exasperation and part in alarm.

Ari is obviously done hiding.

“If you threaten what is mine, I will take it quite personally.” Ari’s tone is jovial, with an underlying current of lethality.

Sigmund is the first to recover. His face flushes in anger. “You’ve allied with a traitor.”

Ari’s smile is seductive. “Alliedis a word that could be used.”

Jasper’s face flushes, but he keeps his emotionless mask in place.

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss, youngling?” Ari asks. “Perhaps you wish to challenge me?”

Sigmund’s face drains of blood and his Tweedledum and Tweedledee companions shuffle their feet.

He glances at me, but addresses Ari. “You will answer for this.”

“Of course I will.” Ari’s smile is all teeth. “But it won’t be to the likes of you.”

Sigmund scowls and leaves, running into his larger lackey before making a true exit, snarling.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jasper whispers.

Ari pulls me closer. “I should have done it much sooner. I wish he had challenged me. I’ve been wanting to knock that boy’s teeth out for years.”

His wistful tone must do something to Jasper because his stern mask cracks and he huffs a chuckle. “You’re incorrigible.” He grows serious again. “They know about Emilia now though. It won’t be long before everyone else does.”

“Yes,” Ari says.

“And everyone will know about us.”

“Yes,” Ari replies again. This time the word is full of satisfaction and Jasper rolls his eyes.

“I shouldn’t have lost control,” I say, my voice small.

Ari shrugs. “We train in an emotionally controlled environment. We’ll need to work through some more realistic situations.”

I narrow my eyes at him. Emotionally controlled, barring this afternoon anyway.

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