Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Wow, your eyes are really pretty. And yeah, they are too bright and shiny to blend. But why do you wear contacts if you use a glamour?”
“I don’t normally wear them, but Xavier told me to around you.” Alaric narrowed those startling eyes. “Why is that?”
“I can see through the magic. Apparently, there—”
Bain cut him off. “That’s a discussion you need to have with Xavier, Alaric. How about some breakfast.”
Alaric’s mouth tightened as he glared at his friend, but then he looked back and forth between Bain and Clive before shrugging. “Food sounds great.”
Clive couldn’t help but wonder why Bain didn’t want him telling Alaric about the humans who could see through glamours. But it wasn’t his business, so he just filled a plate and walked to the rather large walnut table in the dining room attached to the kitchen.
Alaric didn’t talk much at first, focusing on his food. Clive had so many questions, but he didn’t know what would be considered rude. Or too nosy. Those questions burned on the tip of his tongue, though, making him pick at his food more than eat. He studied Alaric’s face. It was different from Bain’s, not as narrow featured with a wider, square jaw and a very long nose that would look out of place on anyone else. On him, it just added to his appeal. He was beautiful like Bain, though Clive felt no attraction toward him. No, that was only for Bain.
A small smile pulled up one corner of Alaric’s mouth. “I can almost hear how much you want to question me, Clive. Go ahead.”
Ooh, a green light. “Do you have magical abilities?”
Alaric nodded. “I have an affinity with nature and can manipulate both human and preternatural bodies. Make beings sick. Or heal them.”
“How old are you?” Clive asked before biting his lip. “Or is that really rude? I’ve just learned there’s this whole other world intertwined with my own, and I’m just so curious.”
“I’m the youngest one at Protective Solutions. Only one hundred and thirty.”
“It’s wild you consider that young.”
“Even in my family, I am. The oldest of my twelve sisters is over six hundred years old.”
Clive blinked. Hard. “You have twelve sisters?”
Alaric nodded. “And six brothers. My parents are probably not done, either.”
“Your family is huge. How do you keep up with them all? Are you close?”
“Very. Several of them live nearby. My parents live in Maine, and the rest are scattered about the States with one sister living in Montreal.”
“I can’t imagine having so many siblings. You must never feel lonely.”
Something rather intense flashed over Alaric’s handsome face before he shrugged. “It’s possible to be lonely when surrounded. I would like to meet someone special, but he’s not crossed my path yet.”
Clive sipped his tea, dying to ask if Alaric was like Bain in his sexuality. Were all preternaturals naturally leaning toward pansexual? Polyamorous? But that question was far too nosy, so he didn’t ask. He supposed like humans, they were all different, but that living such long lives could possibly leave them open to all possibilities.
“Did you grow up in Maine?” he asked at last.
Alaric nodded as he forked up another piece of waffle. He slowly chewed before he spoke again. “My parents have a beautiful estate there sitting on over one hundred acres. Three of my siblings still live there because the house is big and has separate wings, so they have plenty of privacy.”
“So your parents, with a daughter over six hundred, must be a lot older.”
“My father has been around a millennium; my mother is seven hundred.”
Bain, who’d been silent while Clive questioned Alaric, spoke up. “His parents are the oldest preternaturals I know. At least I thought they were.” He muttered the last part before forking up a bite of waffle.
Hearing about Alaric’s parents gave Clive hope for some reason. That two beings could spend so many years together and still be attached. That maybe, just maybe, Bain wouldn’t get bored with him should they tie their lives together. And he wanted that so much. Couldn’t believe how in love he already was with Bain.
Wait, love?
The waffle he’d been swallowing lodged in his throat, making him choke. He started coughing as Bain’s hand came to his back. He hadn’t even noticed Bain getting up from his chair but he was now leaning over him.
“You okay?” Bain asked.
He hurriedly nodded and swallowed down the food. He coughed a couple more times, then whispered. “Fine. Just swallowed wrong.”
But internally, he wasn’t fine. The realization of just how deep his feelings for Bain had grown sent him reeling. If Bain ever did get tired of him, it would break him. Completely. Did he want to risk that? He’d spent his life being safe. Living safe. Never taking any risks.
Loving Bain was a huge risk.
But then, what else could he do? He wanted the basilisk. Snake shape and all. He wanted the adventures a long lifetime would bring. Wanted to stop living in his protective bubble. It would still take time for him to loosen up more, he instinctively knew that, but it could happen. No, it would happen. He looked up at Bain, who still hovered over him, and met those beautiful, slitted eyes. Bain, who paid more attention than was comfortable sometimes, stared hard at him before leaning down and pressing his lips to Clive’s.