Page 39 of Basilisk

The anger grew until he couldn’t concentrate at all. He tried to sink back into his schedule, his work. But after a week, his fury had grown so large, he could do nothing other than pace and curse.

How dare Bain just walk away from what they had? Without even a word of goodbye.

So he ignored his ordered little schedule and drove to Protective Solutions. He found the right floor and rode the elevator with a man who smiled at him, revealing sharp incisors. Just like that woman when he’d been five years old. Clive didn’t let on that he saw anything different, just smiled back before stepping into a huge open space filled with cubicles with desks.

It didn’t look like anyone who worked there was human, but for the first time, Clive felt no fear. He saw wings of different colors, including a massive pair of golden white ones that looked like they’d take up half the huge open room if they were extended. He saw another beak, this one black, on a woman who also had a set of folded wings on her back. There was one gigantic man who ducked quickly out of the room, but Clive was pretty sure he’d had horns.

But the big thing was…Clive still felt no fear.

No, only anger fueled his steps as he asked a woman with blue hair where Xavier’s office was. He was led into a beautiful, modern office decorated in gray, black, and white. Xavier was the only one he’d seen in the office who looked human, but there was a sense of power pouring off him that told Clive he certainly wasn’t. He had long, straight black hair that fell to his waist, even tied back as it was. But it was his nearly black eyes that set him apart. Something in them told Clive that nothing got past him.

So, he might as well go for broke. “I need to speak to Bain. Where is he?”

Xavier folded his hands on top of the open book on his desk and regarded Clive for several long, intense moments before he sighed. “I don’t know. He took some vacation time and said he’d return in a couple of weeks.”

“A couple of weeks?” Clive slumped into the chair in front of Xavier’s desk. “So he’ll be gone another week then?”

Xavier nodded. “I take it he didn’t inform you of his plans?”

“No, he did not,” Clive bit out. “I understand he’s supposed to be just a bodyguard I hired and that now that the danger is over, I have no need of him.” Clive gave Xavier a pointed look. “But I do. Need him. He told me about your company rules, and I don’t give a flying fuck about them. We got…close.”

“I’m aware.”

Clive studied him, nodding. “Bain told me you just know things. So know this. I’m in love with that man. That basilisk or preternatural, or whatever you call yourselves. Crazy in love with him, and I thought he felt the same. But he just walked out on me without a word.”

Xavier’s mouth twisted in a faint smirk. “He was obviously not having one of his brightest moments.”

“You don’t care?”

Xavier tilted his head. “That you formed a bond with one of my employees? No. But Clive, Bain is also my best friend, and his happiness is more important to me than this company.” He stood and came around to lean against his desk, crossing his legs at the ankles and his arms over his chest. He wore black slacks and a long-sleeved black shirt, everything about him dark.

He should have intimidated Clive and would have in the past, but not now. Clive had changed. For the better.

“Mr. Manning?—”

“Clive. Call me Clive. If you’re his best friend, we’re going to be getting to know each other outside of all this.” He waved his hands around. “And I mean it. I’m not letting Bain just walk outof my life. I think that he’s laboring under a misinterpretation. That he actually believes I’m afraid of him.”

“Because of what happened with the Cambion demons.”

It wasn’t a question, but Clive still nodded. “He told you? What did he say?”

“Bain only informed me of what happened. Surprisingly, he said nothing about you other than to call and make sure Alaric was staying with you until the situation was completely resolved. He didn’t share his feelings with me.” Xavier kept studying him for several long moments before he sighed. “Clive, Bain did share some of his feelings with me before and would not be too happy with me for telling you this, but he does care for you. Deeply. I can only imagine what his foolish thoughts have been to send him running like this, but here is something else he wouldn’t want me sharing. You could be his mate.”

“He told me that. He said he wanted me,me, to be that. If he cares so damn deeply, why run?”

“Because Bain has been mostly alone his whole life. He’s never let himself care for anyone, so he’s probably running scared himself. But you’re not only mates, you’re actual soulmates. Two souls destined to be together for all eternity.”

“Like…wait, you mean I’m the only one for him?”

“One and only.”

“And he knows this?”

Xavier slowly nodded.

Scowling, Clive jumped to his feet and began to pace. He did it a few times before he growled and threw up his hands. “Then his running away is just stupid. And I’m not going to let him do it.” He stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes at Xavier. “I would like his address.”

“I guess I don’t have to say that’s not something I would normally do.”

---