5. LEVIATHAN

Chapter 5

LEVIATHAN

Talking about my magic is the last thing I want to do. I also will not be addressing the need to sink into Rowan's side and lap up his scent like a goddamn wolf. There's a few reasons that this explosive attraction is unfolding right in front of us but I won't be addressing that either. This conversation needs to end so I can go home and jerk off a few times before falling asleep.

Tomorrow, the Petrovs can handle their business and I'll handle mine.

The problem is that I'm currently frozen, blended into my surroundings and I can't fucking move. This has happened a few times, fear and anxiety taking over my rational thought until I'm frozen in place. I'm sure this is supposed to be a protective piece to my designation but it feels like a design flaw. The fight or flight response is long gone.

No, I just get to sit here and act like they can't fucking see me or my clothes that haven't faded into the background with me. So fucking embarrassing.

Amand reaches forward, his fingers grazing my arm and effectively pulling me out of my frozen stance. I jump nearly half a foot into the air before scurrying to the other side of the room. My preservation instincts are kicking in and I feel like prey in their presence. This hasn't ever happened before.

I swallow nervously, trying to ignore the way the Basilisks are staring at me, their heads tilted, pupils slit in the most terrifying-

"Lev, for the love of god, sit down so we can have a discussion." Vince slams his hand on the table, no doubt agitated with our late-night arrival but there's no way in hell I'm stuffing myself between them again.

"Nope, I'm good right here." Squished in the corner, one step from the exit. Just in case.

Rowan's nostrils flare but he doesn't seem angry at me, seem being the operative word. Amand looks a bit more understanding, but not by much. Vince raises his coffee cup to his lips again, obnoxiously slurping at the liquid until I wish I had magic to make him choke on it. His eyes move from me to the Basilisks several times before he rolls his shoulders back, determination flooding his expression.

Vince sets his coffee mug down and folds his hands together on the desk. "Lev, I've told you before that I want you nowhere near this one but you've done good work so far."

"I've done all the work," I mumble, Vince narrowing his gaze at me.

"You have two choices. Stay the fuck out of the investigation or work with the Petrovs. I will not have a billion loose ends as you work the way you do. You're always almost dying and I'm sick of having to vouch for you. So, you're either hired with them or I don't want your hands on this." Vince leans back in his chair, throwing his hands behind his head as if he's accomplished something.

The only thing he's accomplished is making me angry. He knows I don't play well with others. It's kind of why I do the whole private investigator thing—a one-man show and no one to answer to. I chew my bottom lip, attention drifting to the two men who both intrigue and terrify me. Rowan's gaze is making my belly do all sorts of funny things. There's no way in hell we could work harmoniously.

Amand stands, patting Vince's desk twice. "Thanks for the offer. We work better alone but I'm sure you know that." His words sound like a threat and I slide an inch closer to the door.

Vince isn't perturbed as he downs the rest of his coffee and then sighs. "Sure, but you've never had Lev's assistance."

Rowan growls out the next word and it does funny things to my insides. And my dick. But we're not going to talk about that. "Explain."

Vince gives us all one of his award-winning smiles, "He's a little goldmine of information. This isn't just for the case, mostly selfish on my part. I need to know how he does it."

"Does what? " Both Basilisks hiss at Vince. He shrinks back in his chair and I grumble to myself that this is getting out of hand. If I knew that it was going to be this serious, I would have backed out a long time ago. Then again, no one knew I could smell magic.

"Figures out his cases, because it's nearly impossible."

A moment of silence passes between us until Amand speaks with a certain annoyance that tells me working together is going to suck ass. "You want us to help figure out his designation."

"Absolutely." Vince licks his lips, staring at me and waiting for a reaction. But I won't give him one.

"I assume we won't be getting paid for this shit?" Rowan is getting ticked off and I don't blame him. When Vince starts shit, everyone else gets pissy.

The officer smirks again, eyes downcast for a brief second before meeting my gaze again, "I assumed you'd want to anyway… I mean you seem interested."

I choke on my spit, reminding everyone in the room that I am still present. But when Rowan looks at me this time, it's with heat in his eyes. And when his magic wraps around me, the only fucking thing I can do is moan.

Vince's eyes widen and I freak again, shaking myself free, and head straight for the door.

Amand chuckles, "Vince, you might want to leave. I think Rowan and I need to have a little discussion with Lev."

Vince nods, standing up and then glaring at the two. "Right of course. Wait! Is what I-"

"Vince, unless you'd like to be privy to this, I'd suggest taking that mug and going to get a refill," Rowan growls, but this time his voice is husky with need and desire, sending shivers down my spine.

Vince leaves, leaving me alone with two very hungry Basilisks. Their magic draws me to them against my will, and I settle between them, my chest heaving as they case me in. Rowan's long fingers trace down my jaw and then to my neck, his thumb pressing upward underneath my chin so that our eyes meet.

"What are you?" He whispers.

My words come out in a stutter and I hate how unsure and hot I feel between the both of them. "I already told you that I don't know."

"What are you doing to me?" Rowan asks, dipping his head to the curve of my neck, nipping at my shoulder.

"To us?" Amand adds as I feel his fingers trace down the back of my neck.

"Don't know that either." I shudder between them, unsure of whether I want to run or see how far we take this. I have never felt so vulnerable in my life and I'm not sure I hate it.

Rowan smirks, licking a stripe up my neck. "Can't figure out whether I want to fuck you or eat you."

Amand growls and presses himself against my backside, his thick cock settling against my back. I gasp in response and Rowan takes that opportunity to smash his lips against mine.

For a moment, I am in a Basilisk sandwich, and the terror that has been running through me this entire time finally fades. Just disappears. So I give in because while this moment is still a bit terrifying, I kind of feel safe in this wall of snakes.

Amand pulls my mouth from Rowan's with a firm grip on my chin, kissing me, licking me from the inside out, and rocking his hips slightly against mine.

Until I remember one very, very interesting tidbit.

Something I think that the other two figure out at the same fucking time. We all kind of just freeze, eyes shifting between each other, the sounds of our heavy breathing filling the room.

Basilisks are venomous creatures right down to their saliva, the saliva we were just swapping a moment ago.

Either I am going to die or this is just going to be added to the pile of weird that is my designation.