Page 38 of Basilisk

The other was smarter, and he used his claws, swiping at Bain over and over. Bain easily dodged most, and the ones he didn’t failed to pierce his hide. Growling, he brought his tail around and knocked the demon off his feet, then jumped on top of him and grabbed his cheeks so the thing was forced to meet his mesmerizing stare.

As soon as it collapsed, he raced around the front of the car, only to see Clive trying to fight his way free of the other two.

“Let me go!” Clive yelled as he kicked one foot out.

The demon laughed at the silly move but scowled when Clive managed to swiftly drop and scramble free. Clive jumped to his feet but before he could get away, one of them drew back his fist and slammed it into Clive’s face. Blood sprayed from his nose and he cried out.

Fury raced through Bain, and he lost it. Rage thundered through every muscle in his body. The world around him ceased to exist as he turned completely inward to pull up the darkest part of himself. He went feral.

He roared, grabbed the demon, and ripped his arm off. He threw the arm into the woods, then sent his own claws into the demon’s chest—right into the heart. He kept digging as blood sprayed his hide, digging until the heart stopped beating. He dropped the body, turned to the last demon and lifted him bythe throat, planning to take off his head. He hauled his free arm back.

“Bain!” Clive grabbed his arm.

He looked down at his mate and saw the absolute horror on his face. But he also saw all the smeared blood on his cheeks, which just infuriated him even more. He tightened his hand around the demon’s throat as he choked and his lips turned white.

“Let it go!”

He looked at Clive again. Really looked at him, taking in that horror, and shame speared into his chest. He aimed his gaze into the demon’s eyes, then dropped him and stumbled back, his tail whipping around in agitation. Clive was staring at the demon he’d ripped apart, his mouth open in shock. There was blood everywhere and the demon’s chest lay flayed open to expose his ripped heart. He saw the view from Clive’s perspective and his own heart just stopped.

It was the first time in Bain’s life that he truly felt like a monster.

When he moved toward Clive, the man flinched. That reaction gutted Bain and he paused, not knowing what to say. He stayed quiet as he got Clive back into the car. He remained in his snake form to pry open the driver’s side door, then shifted. His clothes were ruined, and he couldn’t take Clive into the city naked, so he turned the car back toward the safe house. Luckily, it still drove fine, though most of the side was dented all to hell.

Clive stayed quiet, too. Probably still in shock after watching him rip somebody apart. Clive’s blood, his poor broken nose—he’d have to take him to the hospital to have it set before they met with Xavier’s contact at the FBI. As it was, they’d have to reschedule since they wouldn’t be able to make this morning’s meeting. But then he shook his head. Alaric was still at thesafe house, and he had the power to heal. Bain wasn’t thinking straight.

He found he couldn’t look at Clive as he drove. His naked body was coated with blood. The rage that had taken over him wasn’t a new one. He’d felt it before while fighting in wars, but this time, it had come from a pure place of absolute fury at Clive being hurt. He’d failed to keep him safe, and this sat heavy on his back, like a weight.

That shame built until it was nothing but a black cloud all around him as they arrived to find Alaric standing on the front porch. The elf ran to the car and immediately went to help Clive out of the car.

“What happened?”

“We were driven off the road and attacked.” He watched him lead Clive toward the house, then followed slowly, his steps heavy like he was dragging them through mud.

Then, inside, Clive finally looked at him, eyes wide with shock and still horror. He’d seen Bain rip a living creature apart with his bare hands. Those blue eyes darted over all the blood coating Bain, and he jerked his head, then cried out as he gingerly touched his nose.

“Heal him,” Bain ordered, staying to watch as Alaric gently cupped his hand over Clive’s broken nose. The elf closed his eyes and murmured under his breath, and when he lowered his hand, Clive’s nose was back in place and those wide eyes were now staring at Alaric in shock.

“Good as new,” Alaric said softly, smiling down at the man who’d stolen Bain’s heart. The man now making him hold his breath because he had no idea how Clive was feeling other than shock and horror.

But then…Clive shot him one, small glance, and it was Bain’s turn to feel horror because there was nothing in that glance other than fear.

Chapter Eighteen

Clive

A week passed and Clive spent most of that time feeling too many things to compartmentalize. Relief that the CEO of Bassinger Holdings was arrested and that he was safe again. Regret because of the way he’d handled Bain cleaning up those demons. But mostly anger because Bain had dressed, left, and never come back. Alaric had stayed with Clive throughout everything, and though he was nice—kind of stoic and quiet really—he wasn’t Bain.

Clive needed Bain.

They’d connected on a deep level Clive hadn’t known was even possible, and he knew in his heart they were meant to be together. He loved the basilisk and couldn’t care less that he wasn’t human.

Bain hadn’t even said goodbye. He’d just disappeared.

And Clive got the feeling it was because, for one split moment, he’d let the horror of their encounter with those demons get to him. He worried Bain had seen something in his expression because the man had stared hard at him, then just walked outside to get his bag out of the car.

But how could he just leave like that?

How?

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