Page 19 of Bitten By the Basilisk

While the oni cleaned up, Silas shifted back into his human form, eager to get upstairs and dressed so as not to be late meeting Alice.

She was such a charming mix of eager and shy, funny and awkward. Getting reactions out of her was about to become his new favorite hobby.

Best of all, she wasn’t repulsed by him. The opposite, in fact. She hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off him, hadn’t seemed at all uncertain when placing her hand in his clawed one.

Unfortunately, his tail and claws weren’t the only aspect of his shifted form that had sent his ex running from his apartment in her underwear, her clothes piled in her arms.

Nor was Alice’s acceptance of him the only obstacle to a relationship. He could already hear his father’s stern objections, not to mention how Alice might react upon learning that he “needed” a mate, when they had only just met and she was only visiting.

It’s far too early to worry about any of that. They had yet to spend time together. Perhaps the chemistry between them wasn’t as strong as he’d first sensed, a possibility that his deeper instincts instantly rejected.

Keeping an eye on the clock in the locker room, he pulled on his street clothes, then made use of some of the amenities he normally skipped—a toothbrush, comb, and razor.

Ten minutes had vanished by the time he pulled on his motorcycle jacket and grabbed his helmet. He headed toward the exit, hoping to check out quickly.

Unfortunately, Cynthia was in the middle of helping another client, a fae whom he’d seen around town but didn’t personally know.

“How about next Tuesday at nine p.m.?” she asked them.

“Hmm, I’m busy then, too.”

“Perhaps you can suggest a time, and I’ll see if it’s available?”

Knowing Alice might already be waiting for him, Silas considered pulling cash out of his wallet to hand to Cynthia so he could get out of there faster. Five hundred should be more than enough, right?

“Oh, Mr. Stone,” Cynthia said, speaking past the other client while they stared at the calendar on their phone. “Your time with us has already been paid for. Have a pleasant rest of your night.”

Thank you, Nic. Filled with relief, he bid her good night and set off for the parking lot, taking long strides to get there faster. Part of him worried she wouldn’t be there. That maybe she changed her mind.

“I’m not a tourist!” came a woman’s shout from up ahead, the fright in her voice chilling him more than a stiff autumn breeze ever could. He moved with maximum speed, booted feet pounding the pavement. A deeper voice yelled in pain.

As he rounded the rear of the building, not slowing, he took in the scene before him. Alice, backed against a car, angrily pushing away a man bent over and wiping at his face.

“But you’re not fae,” the man croaked. She must have kneed him, because he had one hand cupped over his groin. “Why couldn’t I— Oh fuck!”

Silas recognized the assailant, but that didn’t stop him from dropping his helmet, grabbing the vampire, and throwing him as far as he could, which was pretty far, all the way into the street. An acrid aroma in the air told him Alice had used pepper spray.

“Holy shit!” she gasped.

The vampire bounced when he landed, then rolled a couple of times before coming to a stop face down on the asphalt.

“Fucking Brett,” Silas growled, standing between Alice and the vampire crumpled on the street.

His jacket and belt felt tight, as his proportions had swelled, his shifted form lending his human one greater strength—an instinctual response he’d rarely ever had. “You okay?” he asked her over his shoulder.

“Uh—y-yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. Is he…?”

“No, no,” he assured her, slowly willing his proportions back to normal. “I mean, he’s already dead, but not dead dead. After a meal and some time in his coffin, he’ll be like new.”

“Fucking hell, mate,” Brett groaned, staggering to his feet. “You didn’t have to do that. I wasn’t going to hurt her.”

“That’s a fucking lie,” Silas bit out. “You were going to feed on her—until she maced you and nailed you in the dick.” Glancing behind him, he held out his fist. “Nicely done, by the way.”

She returned his fist bump, smiling wryly. “Thanks. I think he tried to hypnotize me.”

“I did,” Brett confirmed, dragging his sleeve across his weeping eyes. “Seems you’re immune.”

“A surprise to us both,” Alice muttered.