Page 80 of Entranced By the Basilisks

Why had I assumed it would be different this time? That I could have this?

It would be simpler for Emilia and Ari if I wasn’t included in this attempt at a triad. Shouldn’t I do the honorable thing and walk away?

But already the restriction in my throat tells me it’s too late. These two are in too deep. The only way to remove myself from the equation now would be to leave my heart and soul with them.

35

EMILIA

Breathe in.

I run the book repair knife over the tape connecting the cover of the book to the text block.

Breathe out.

The feel of the material under my fingers would be meditative if my brain wasn’t full of thoughts of dick.

Holy fucking shit, I had a threesome. I had a threesome, and it was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I blush every time I think about it.

I’d like to think that my sex life had been pretty good, but being with Ari and Jasper last night had been a revelation. This was not expected.

Breakfast had been a quiet affair, with my mind occupied with a whole new slew of worries. I’d eaten as quickly as I could without being rude and headed straight to my study. This is a topic that I’m going to need to think through. Meditate and some shit.

I’m not supposed to swear my undying devotion because of their cocks… but Jesus Christ their cocks have me overcoming all my holdupsGreen Eggs and Hamstyle.

Would I, could I, have a threesome in the back of a car? Why, yes. I would and could have a threesome in a car, on a boat, or with morning breath. Everything stops rhyming after that point.

It’s terrifying how easily all my reservations have fallen, to wonder if I’m the one who is more invested in this working out now.

It’s not just because of the dick… dicks. Okay, it’s not only because of the dicks.

Dancing with Jasper had been fun, freeing, after all the stress of trying to accomplish anything of note with training. I like to think that it has helped him too. He was so upset yesterday. I can understand why. He’s put so much pressure on himself to help me with this curse, but the main method he has is being affected by who his family is.

But then we’d run into that other serpent kin and I don’t even know the ramification of that yet. I should have asked at breakfast, but I’d been so overwhelmed with what we’d done last night that I’d done my mouse routine, trying to huddle in my work as a way to cope.

And in the midst of restoring old books and focusing on details outside of this relationship that I’m terrified of screwing up, I’m starting to handle it. My breaths aren’t so tight, my heart isn’t acting like I’m running a marathon, and my brain can process everything.

I sigh in relief. This is a minor freak-out. There won’t be a panic attack. We all had great sex and we’ll have more great sex as we continue dating… which is what we’re doing. Our relationship had graduated from trying this out to going steady, in Ari’s words, when I’d allowed them to feed the demand of my rampant horniness. I don’t regret that, but it does mean that I need to communicate better. I need to know what Dietrich meant by his words that had sounded like a threat.

But first, more books.

Lunchtime comes quickly, and I pull myself from the study to eat the delicious food with Ari.

“What are the ramifications of other serpent kin knowing about me?” I ask.

Ari’s brows rise. “Well, they’ll want to meet you. A Chosen is a rare thing. In fact, the head of the Circle has already sent an invitation for you to be presented.”

I freeze. This is news to me. “For context, is this like the head of a congress, or more like a president or king position?”

Ari’s grin is sharp, like he knows I won’t like the answer. “I’d say more similar to a queen. The head of the Circle has been in power since before my time and she’ll probably remain that way after.”

“Oh,” I say. A figure that is tantamount to the queen of serpent kin wants to meet me.

Ari shrugs. “I’ve responded that we’ll go to an event there next week.”

“You have?” I squeak.

“Of course. You don’t have to go, but the invitation did require a response so I gave us as much time as I could. If you decide that this isn’t something you can do, I’ll cancel it.”

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