Page 15 of Bitten By the Basilisk

The gleam of gold scales at the base of his spine peeked just above the sand’s surface, and about two feet of a reptilian tail sprouted from the far side of the pit to lie motionless across the walkway, the way someone might sleep with one foot sticking out of the bedding.

Whoa. A snake shifter.

According to her mom, his kind called themselves serpent-folk, as they didn’t shift entirely into animal form. Although normal snakes were largely solitary, serpent-folk organized themselves in nests, similar to werewolf packs, each nest protected by a Basilisk.

Unlike some of the town’s other residents, they weren’t immortal, but they were extremely hardy, with fangs, paralytic venom, and claws.

During her facial, Mom had mentioned that the local nest was about to host a festival, meaning more serpent-folk than usual would be out and about. Was this guy also visiting, like she was?

Alice stared at the sand with rapt attention, trying to discern where his tail lay and how long it might be.

What did his scales feel like? She had never handled any snakes, only fish, but she imagined his tail felt smooth and dry—and cool, when not buried in a vat of heated sand.

The exposed tip of his tail was such a rich shade of gold. What she wouldn’t give to have a closer⁠—

One of the slippers in her hand escaped her slack grip and fell to the floor, breaking both the silence and her trance.

Panic struck her like an arrow to the chest, followed by a hot wash of shame as the shifter stirred, opening his eyes.

Horrified at herself for invading this stranger’s privacy and ogling him like some normie mouth breather, she quickly covered her eyes. As she did so, the other slipper flew from her hand, hit one of the support pillars, and fell onto the walkway dividing his sandpit from the next one.

“I’m so sorry, sir!” she blurted.

Though tempted, she couldn’t blame the hitodama. The moment she’d realized the room was occupied, she should have left immediately.

“I—got turned around. I didn’t mean to intrude,” she fibbed in an attempt to save a little face. But then her mouth kept going. “Or s-stare. It’s such a pretty color that I couldn’t help—” Having said way too much, she whipped her upper half into a ninety-degree bow. “Please forgive me!”

She turned to escape, too mortified to pay attention to where she was going, and collided with the partition hard enough to make her yelp, further adding to her embarrassment.

Ugh, this is the worst!

The front of her shoulder smarted as she ran from the room and in the direction she should have gone. Meanwhile, the naughty hitodama and its duplicates had disappeared.

“Wait!” the shifter shouted, more earnest than angry. “Alice!”

She nearly choked on a gasp of surprise as she stumbled to a halt.

How does he…?

“Please come back!” he called.

Still shaking from adrenaline, she turned unsteadily. No way had she heard him correctly. As she retraced her steps, her mind raced to recall each part of her day, yet she couldn’t fathom how a complete stranger knew her name. Were snake shifters psychic?

This time when she entered, she remained behind the partition, where she bowed in remorse despite being hidden, the habit ingrained in her. “Please pardon my intrusion, sir. I really can’t explain my actions.”

Because she would die of embarrassment. You’re so hot that my brain broke. My bad!

“Would you come out where I can see you?” he asked, his gentle tone easing some of the pressure in her chest.

She reluctantly emerged, wincing with shame, one hand blocking her sinful eyes. “Um, may I ask how we know each other?”

“We don’t yet. But Cynthia mentioned Grace’s daughter is visiting.”

“Oh. You know my mom, then?” If he’d seen a resemblance, he had to be a townie.

“Only as a regular. But you and I technically met earlier today.”

“We did?” When? She had gone straight from the transit terminal to⁠—