Page 96 of Bitten By the Basilisk

And indeed, Bruno was there, but so were several other individuals.

Frowning with contempt, he applied the brakes and stared through Alice’s window at the small crowd waiting for him next to the elevator—Lance and his second, Eric, as well as Basilisk Conrad and two members of his nest. Bruno stood apart from the others, arms crossed and scowling.

“Isn’t that Lance?” Alice hesitantly asked.

Silas was back to white-knuckling the steering wheel, his territorial instincts roaring to life. “Yes. He’s here to challenge me.”

She sucked in a gasp. “Right now?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He lifted his foot off the brake pedal and proceeded to park the car, taking his sweet time backing in, which Lance clearly didn’t appreciate. Before opening his door, he told Alice to wait for him to open hers, then climbed out.

As soon as he shut his door and began walking in Lance’s direction, the rival male took a step forward, his chin lifted at an arrogant angle. “You must know why I’m here.”

Silas continued around the car to the passenger side, turning his back to Lance and denying his rival an immediate response. He pulled open Alice’s door, then offered her his hand.

She threw a wary glance out the windshield before climbing out. He shut her door once she was clear of it, then tucked her hand into the bend of his elbow and ushered her in the others’ direction, stopping several steps away.

“I can easily guess,” he answered at last.

Lance’s smug expression was now a glower. “Silas, Basilisk of Indigo Cove—with Basilisk Conrad and his two members as my neutral witnesses, I hereby challenge you for your territory and title.”

Alice squeezed his arm. From the corner of his eye, he saw her look up at him.

Though Silas had known Lance’s challenge was coming, his territorial instincts still didn’t like hearing it, and he clenched his jaw.

“Yours is not an honorable challenge,” Bruno growled. “Everyone knows you were responsible for poisoning Boss’s drink at the banquet.”

Lance bared his teeth at Bruno. “I did no such thing. Unless you have proof, my challenge cannot be denied.”

Silas sighed with exasperation. “Let’s get this over with.” He turned his head to meet Alice’s wide-eyed stare. “So much for those sunset cocktails. If you prefer, you can wait in my apartment.”

Her lips parted on a soft gasp. “But I⁠—”

“We won’t battle just yet,” Lance interjected. “I intend to claim victory in front of everyone at the mating gala.”

Silas narrowed his eyes at him. “Then why issue your challenge now?”

“To allow you time to get your affairs in order,” Lance taunted, shrugging. “Once I am Basilisk, I won’t allow my rivals to live.” His gaze then slid to Alice. “I wouldn’t bother showing up tomorrow night if I were you, as he’s not long for this world.”

Alice’s horrified gasp was like getting punched in the stomach.

“You do not speak to her,” Silas snarled, whisking her behind him.

“Careful, Lance,” Basilisk Conrad warned. “Making such remarks to his mate courts dishonor.”

Lance snorted with disdain. “An outsider doesn’t count.”

With his arm still wrapped around her behind him, holding her against his back, he felt her jerk.

“Enough,” Silas bellowed, his clothes starting to feel tight, rage boiling beneath his skin. “You’ve issued your challenge. Now fuck off.”

His rival raised his chin in irritation but held on to his smirk. Without further comment, he and his second headed toward the elevator. His three witnesses didn’t follow, no doubt preferring not to ride the elevator with him. Alice moved to Silas’s other side and peeked past his arm.

Before Lance could call the elevator, it opened to reveal Nic had arrived, his demeanor agitated. He glared at Lance, then glanced past him, quickly assessing the scene. After one last scowl at Lance, Nic stepped off the elevator and calmly walked toward Silas.

“I assume I missed it,” he muttered once he was close enough.