Page 88 of Entranced By the Basilisks

“I assume one of those washcloths is for me?” Jasper asks.

Ari gives a cloth to Jasper with a teasing smile. “You’ve never appreciated when I’ve tried to clean you up before.”

“I can wipe my own ass, thank you very much,” Jasper snaps. His tone pulls a smile from me.

Ari approaches me with a cloth and I’m still floaty enough not to argue when he cleans me up. The action is intimate in a different way than everything else has been and the press of the wet fabric helps soothe away the soreness.

I sigh and Ari hums. “We should get you some healing salve. Jasper and I heal quick enough that we don’t need it, but it would be nicer for you not to ache too much from our attentions.”

Grace had said something about magic healing salve, but not that they were used forthere.Though, now that I think about it and Grace’s three mates… she for sure knows about it already.

“I think that is a fantastic idea,” I say because the idea of being hindered by my soreness when these two aren’t is an uncomfortable one. Literally and figuratively.

“Especially since we’ve had a breakthrough with your training,” Ari says, his brows dancing. “I never considered that seduction would be an easier way to control your gifts, but it makes sense. We are physical creatures that thrive on touching others and connections.”

“So instead of insulting me, you want to fuck me into doing what I need to do?” I ask. “Because I’m not objecting.”

Ari grins. “It’s something that we should explore.”

“So how does compelling work?” I ask while trying to find where my clothing went. I want the details of what just happened.

“It’s like mesmerism or hypnotism. You make a suggestion and based on the strength of your power, it influences someone,” Ari says.

My bra dangles by one of the spears hanging on the wall and I skip it for now, pulling on my underwear and pants first.

“I did the same thing to you when you turned Agnes into a statue,” Jasper says.

“Oh!” I exclaim, remembering the lulling effect of his words. “That’s how you talked me out of my panic attack.”

Jasper hands me my shirt with a wince, already dressed. “It was a very light suggestion. I don’t have the ability to really make others do something.”

“But I do?” I ask.

Ari contemplates that. “Your power was more than a light suggestion, but you were only asking Jasper to do something he wanted to do. It bears more testing.”

“Okay… I can do testing. Can one of you get my bra?” I ask, gesturing to the wall.

“You’ll have to try harder than that.” Ari’s grin is playful.

I blink at him. “I didn’t mean now—fine!” I take a deep breath, trying to remember the sensation of compelling Jasper.”

“Jasper,” I say. “Get my bra.”

Jasper’s mouth twitches. “Not quite there.”

Ari comes up behind me and wraps an arm around my waist, providing some contact. “Try and think of this task as something you yearn for.”

The feel of him against me makes everything a little brighter. Even Jasper’s proximity adds to the swirl of flavors on my tongue and the burn of power in the air. When I’d compelled him before, I’d wanted what I was asking for almost more than I could say.

Of course my bra isn’t something I want in the same way, but what if it was? What if I was going to get something after getting my bra? I imagine something significant; the idea pulls my heartstrings and suddenly my voice is not my own.

“Get my bra,” I say, the melodic lull to my words is back. Ari stiffens beside me, and Jasper moves, reaching high above where I can, to unhook the garment from its place and hand it to me.

I fist-bump the air. “Yes.”

Jasper smiles at me. “Good job.”

“That was wonderful,” Ari says. “You almost compelled me, too. Whatever you were using for it must have been very compelling. What was it?”

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