Page 42 of Basilisk

“Thank you for giving me another chance,” Bain said softly, his voice ragged with emotion.

“There’s no ‘another’ here. You had a chance from the moment I opened that hotel door the very first day. That chance never went away. Yes, you killed the demons after me with more violence than I’m used to, but I never saw you as a monster. I find your other form beautiful, especially because it’s you. It’s who you are, and I love all of you.”

Bain looked around at his messy apartment and chortled. “You may not love everything about me.”

Clive glanced around, paused, opened his mouth, then closed it. He bit his lip, then grinned. “I was a little shocked when I first came in here, and I want to say this is okay, but how about it’s something I’ll get used to?”

“I’ll work on my neatness.”

“We’ll both work on things. Learn to compromise on some. That’s what relationships are all about. I’m pretty sure anyway. You’ll be my first.”

“Your only,” Bain insisted.

“My only. So this soulmate thing… I’m really not going to age? How long will I live?”

“No way to know. Probably hundreds of years, but it could be even more. Millennia. I have a feeling Xavier has been around that long. He won’t ever say. And speaking of Xavier, is that how you got into my apartment? Because it’s warded.”

“I don’t have evil intent, but yes, he gave me a key.” Clive frowned. “And don’t you be mad at him because he was only looking out for our best interests.”

“So he not only told you about soulmates, he actually gave you the way into my home. It’s completely out of character for him.”

“Maybe he likes me.” Clive beamed at him, and that sunny grin sent butterflies soaring through Bain’s stomach.

“How could he not? He’ll always be in my life. When we have to move the business, rebrand it in a whole new location, I’ll be going with him because I love what we do. Love protecting humans.”

“I’ll be going with you.” Clive suddenly moved forward to hug Bain, burying his face in Bain’s chest. When he spoke, his voice was muffled but Bain understood him perfectly. “I want all the adventures with you. I’ll be seeing new places, and I never expected that to happen in my life. I’ll meet other preternaturals and maybe even finally make some damn friends myself. I’m glad you have Xavier. It was obvious he cares for you deeply.”

“He does and has from the very moment he found me in that alley.” Bain reached down to tilt Clive’s face to his. “But it’s mostly going to be you and me. Friends will come and go, and yes, most of the long-lived ones like me will be around off and on for many human lifetimes. But you will have to grow used to watching humans you form attachments to leave us. You’ll outlive your parents. Not only that, but you’ll have to not see them ever again after so many years because they’ll notice you’re not growing older.”

“I guess it’s a good thing we’re not already close.” Clive stood on his toes and kissed Bain. “I will be fine when that time comes. I’ll be with you.”

“Yes, you will be,” Bain murmured as he buried his nose in those amber-scented curls and just took his soulmate in. “It’s going to be you and me. Forever.”

The End

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