Page 68 of Bitten By the Basilisk

Una lifted her shoulders. “It depends on how much venom they inject. It can be as little as twenty or thirty minutes, or as long as several hours. He really didn’t tell you?”

She shook her head, which was spinning so much it bobbled.

Una was then drawn into a conversation with the others about her son’s latest milestone, which was just as well, as Alice needed a moment to absorb what she had learned.

Not to mention her sex was throbbing. If Silas were to slide the tip of his tail between her thighs right then, she wouldn’t last even a minute.

Needing to cool off, she took a sip of water and looked around at the rest of the tables.

Servers were rapidly clearing plates. The harpist was preparing to play again. A few serpent-folk were moving about, drinks in hand, and gathering once more in clusters, some of them heading toward what she had learned was the former great hall of Seacliff Castle, where those seeking mates could have more intimate conversations.

She spotted a male serpent-folk attempting to invite a female to the great hall, away from another male who was conversing with her. The latter quickly grew agitated. He lowered his head, and his chest and shoulders widened, similar to the flared hood of a cobra. The female appeared to be thrilled by the display.

“Seems we have our first courtship dispute,” Silas commented, having also noticed the two males. His tail released her leg for the first time in over an hour. “Pardon me while I make sure they don’t damage anything and incur the wrath of the White Lady.”

The moment he left, followed by Bruno, Silas’s father slithered around the table toward her. “Miss York, if I may have a word.”

Instantly wary, she sat up straight with a nervous swallow. “Uh—yes, of course.”

When he held his hand out to her, she shot a glance at Nic, who watched closely. He gave her a small nod, and she hesitantly placed her hand into Mr. Stone’s palm.

He curled his fingers around hers, mindful of his claws, then laid his other hand on top. “I apologize for my behavior earlier this evening. I was remarkably rude when we first met, and refused to see why my son is so taken with you. Please, forgive me.”

Alice’s intuition said his apology was sincere—and rare, based on how stunned Vesta and Nic looked. No doubt he felt guilty for belittling her ability only moments before it had saved his son from drinking poison. His willingness to admit it and apologize went a long way toward putting her more at ease.

“Apology accepted, Mr. Stone,” she said with a nod.

He returned her nod, then released her hand. “Thank you for what you did and being brave enough to intervene. I hate to think what in all likelihood would’ve happened if he had swallowed any of it.”

“Pardon my ignorance, but…does that sort of thing happen often?”

“No,” several voices said at the same time.

“Some of our kind believe such tactics exhibit cunning,” Gabriel went on, “but they’re a minority. There can be no honor in winning through treachery. No true victory.”

Alice was about to ask another of several questions she had, but something buzzed in her lap—an incoming phone call. “Pardon me,” she mumbled, opening her clutch to check the screen of her phone.

Her boss was calling, this time from his office number rather than his cell phone.

She sighed heavily as she prepared to leave the table. “Excuse me a moment. I need to take this.”

“Everything okay?” Una asked.

“I’m not sure. My boss is calling.”

She headed toward the side room where Silas had draped her in jewelry, and answered her phone once she was out of earshot.

“Hello? Paul?”

“Finally,” he huffed. “Did you block my cell number?”

“I’m on vacation, Paul,” she reminded him as she entered the side room, barely keeping the irritation out of her voice.

“I warned you not to leave with so many campaigns launching over the next month, and now your decision has negatively impacted one of our biggest clients.”

Her stomach dropped, her palms instantly turning clammy. “What do you mean?”

“The file from earlier didn’t upload properly and got corrupted. I’ve been trying all afternoon to get in touch with you to fix it.”