Page 2 of Basilisk

Bain

Bain loved the offices of Protective Solutions. They were his home away from his own, so he spent a lot of time there, even when he didn’t currently have an assignment. The offices took up the third floor of a tall building in downtown Seattle, Washington, everything decorated in shades of black, gray and white. It had modern furnishings, the occasional plant that Xavier himself watered and fed—or probably used his magic on—and plenty of windows to let in sunlight. Bain had a small desk area to himself but rarely used it, spending most of his time in Xavier’s main office.

Xavier was his best friend and had been for over fifty years. Preternaturals lived long lives, so although Bain was over two hundred years old, he looked around thirty. He honestly had no idea how old Xavier was because the sorcerer would never say. But he got the feeling the man had put in a few more centuries. Possibly millennia, though Bain had never met any preternaturals that old. The oldest one he knew of was around a thousand years old.

Bain swept into the bright office and took his usual spot on the gray couch, knowing it would be a few moments before Xavier stopped his studying long enough to address him.

Like Bain, Xavier stood over six feet. The only other trait they shared was a preference for keeping their hair long. Bain kept his own silvery locks pulled back in a tail most of the time while Xavier let his black hair stream around his face. Other than that, they couldn’t be more different. Xavier preferred dark clothing while Bain loved all things color. He glanced down at his midnight blue leather pants and multi-colored, silky button-down. So what if he looked like he was headed to a dance club? He liked what he liked.

It sometimes made clients think he wouldn’t be good at his job, but he always quickly refuted that belief.

While he was waiting, Bain picked up a book off the table next to the couch. It was a spell book, and he thumbed through the pages carefully since the volume was old, the pages yellowed and thin. Spell casting wasn’t something he could do himself, but he’d always found it fascinating. Xavier employed a lot of magical beings who could perform spells that ranged from small forgetting potions to actual warp travel. But Xavier was more powerful than them all combined, had more abilities with magic than anyone Bain had ever known.

Xavier finally looked up from his books, his face impassive as always. “Everything’s wrapped up from your last assignment. I know you left Alisha’s husband for the animals, but I couldn’t risk his body being found, so it’s been taken care of. She really liked you, by the way. Said if she ever marries another psychopath, she wants you to protect her.”

Bain smirked, not surprised Xavier had sent his wizards in for cleanup. He made sure nothing about their business was ever brought into question. “Hopefully, she chooses better next time.”

Xavier gave him a pointed look. “As opposed to you and your choice of partners?”

Bain picked a piece of lint off his shirt sleeve and crossed his legs, leaning back against the uncomfortable couch. He’d always hated this gray monstrosity. “I only fuck the best.” He did go for humans often—they were always unpredictable in bed. Bain absolutely loved them. Loved their intriguing moods, their drive to pack so much into their short lives.

“What about that man in Queensland?” Xavier asked with one lifted brow. “Psychopath would have been a tame description of him.”

“I didn’t marry him.” Bain shrugged, then grinned. “And at least I got laid more than…what was it, six times in ten years?”

“I didn’t keep count.”

Bain hadn’t counted either, but he’d bet he wouldn’t even need both hands to sum up Xavier’s sexual encounters during their ten years of travel. For himself, he’d probably need an army’s worth of hands. His basilisk nature meant his hunger for pleasure was high at all times. “In any case, I make better choices now. No more psychopaths.”

“Nice to know you’ve ruled out one demographic.”

“Two demographics,” Bain said with a wink.

This time, both of Xavier’s eyebrows went up. “What’s the second one?”

“It’s your own rule.”

“Ah, yes. No sex with the clients. However do you cope with it?”

Bain snorted. “Easily. I can pull anytime I want.”

“Which is often.”

“Exactly. Makes not letting myself be attracted to clients easy.”

Xavier nodded in acknowledgment. They’d known each other for so long, Bain knew Xavier trusted him implicitly. It was one reason he got the toughest clients.

“So, what’s my next assignment?”

“Our new client is an accountant who freelances. He recently expanded his business, taking on a bunch of new clients. One of them is dirty. He doesn’t know which one yet, but he’s received death threats, and last night, someone broke into his home. He managed to sneak out the back, but he’s holed up in a hotel, scared out of his mind. He hired us this morning. I want you to take this one.”

“Why me? I thought Alaric was up for the next job.”

“Alaric was called away on family business, and all the others are currently on jobs.” Xavier folded his hands on his desk. “I know you just got off a long assignment and are due for a break from back-to-back jobs, but I need you.”

“Of course.” Bain nodded, tucking an escaped strand of hair behind his ear. “Want me to take him to one of the safe houses?”

Xavier shook his head. “Not yet. Take him back to his home and stay with him there. We’ll draw these people out, find out just what their plan is. After talking to him on the phone, I was able to pull a clear image of his nature. He’s…skittish. Easily rattled. And a homebody. He’ll be more comfortable in a familiar environment.”

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