6. LEVIATHAN

Chapter 6

LEVIATHAN

I did not die.

Which is excellent for me.

Mostly.

Until I make a dash for the door, needing a moment to breathe fresh air that doesn't have Basilisks mucking it up. I get three feet out of the station before an arm wraps around my stomach and pulls me back against a hard chest. My breath leaves me as I dangle helplessly in Amand's arms, the Basilisk leaning his chin over my shoulder. "Don't run from me, Lev. My beast thinks it's a game."

His tongue drags up the side of my neck as I squirm to get down. I've never felt so out of control in my life, the creature holding me a few inches off the floor. Heat bleeds through me as I push at his arm with no luck. Whatever strength I have is nothing compared to Amand's. "Fine! No running. Just put me down." My cheeks flame as my body revolts against my wishes, my ass pushing back against the Basilisk.

He's still licking my skin as if tasting my magic from its source. Only when Rowan grunts as he passes us does Amand release me and I gratefully straighten my clothes. Amand nods to their car, silently demanding that I come with them. As much as I want to turn tail and run again, I won't get very far.

The drive is silent as we travel a few blocks to an old warehouse. I've never noticed this place before but I assume that's why they chose it. Five minutes later, I'm stuffed in an oversized red lounge with leather pillows that do nothing to keep me warm. I swallow nervously as I look around, confused that the inside of this place looks a lot more like an apartment than a warehouse. In fact, if I hadn't seen the outside, I would have never thought it was anything other than a high-end condo.

Amand throws down a bag on the floor that he pulled from the trunk and then slips out a laptop before settling onto the three-seater lounge beside my chair. Rowan disappears down the hall and I try my best to fidget without making a lot of noise. "I never even got to say goodbye to Vince," I whine. I had no plans on saying goodbye to him but it would have been preferable to being dragged back into their sports car. Did I mention that I just wanted a quiet night to jerk off a little? Because stuffed in an armchair near Amand is anything but.

I wiggle against the cushions before dropping a hand down to my cock. Giving it a little pressure only makes the situation worse, my hips moving to meet my hand. I'm more than desperate at this point and despite the working relationship we're supposed to cultivate, I wouldn't mind one of them or both of them fucking me at this point.

Rowan returns, that dark brooding look present again as he pulls me out of the armchair only to replace the empty space with himself. When I find myself perched on one of his knees, seemingly on display, I have no idea how to react. It feels comfortable and wildly inappropriate at the same time, especially when one of his large hands falls to my waist, the other maneuvering his phone as if this is supposed to be normal.

When his fingers dig into my skin, I swallow down a squeak and broach the elephant in the room. Well, one of the elephants. "Nice place. Truly. Are we going to be talking about the case or can I go now?" Rowan's hand drops to my thigh and I do everything in my power not to let him know that I need his touch just a little higher. Amand can see my expression, though, and I'm not good at hiding my emotions. His eyes flash with interest, heat bleeding through me again. Most creatures and humans that come upon a Basilisk find themselves frozen in place, poisoned, or chased down and attacked. Other than the mild chase outside of the precinct, I haven't succumbed to any of their usual magic tricks.

"Do you not even care that you absorbed our poison and are still alive?"

I gave it a few seconds thought back in Vince's office but being able to digest poison won't mean anything if I don't get out of here. "No." I'm curious and if someone can find out what I am, I'm all ears. But do I care? No. I am alive, still breathing, and have a case to close if I want to get paid.

"Why not?" That came from Rowan, but I don't face him when I answer. His eyes are too tempting.

"Because I haven't found out who I am yet and a few more days or weeks won't kill me." Or years. If I never find out, I won't be too torn up about it. Apparently though, everyone else is really pressed. I'm just not sure why it matters to them .

"That seems selfish. So many people could-"

I glare at Amand, wondering where the hell he was about to take that statement. "I am not here for other people's enjoyment." My breathing quickens as the silence grows between the three of us. At this point, I see no reason to work with these two even at Vince's request. I'll find another way to get my information and save the Omega wolf.

Amand seems to catch onto my thoughts and shakes his head, worry setting into his expression. Instinct has me pushing to my feet and moving toward the door. He stands up and takes a step toward me as I retreat a step back involuntarily. Fear courses through me even though I feel the heat running off both of them in waves. Amand lets out a deep sigh, his shoulders relaxing as his gaze rests on me. "No. No, you're not. But this attraction thing is not going to work if we don't know what we're dealing with."

I should be dead after kissing a Basilisk, let alone two.

"Lev," Amand continues, "I think you know how dangerous our designation is. But it goes further than that. Like, when you took off from Vince's office, I wanted to give chase."

"You did. You caught me." I blink, trying to wrap my head around what Amand is saying. Rowan is closing in on my side and for as much as I want to run, I also don't. I don't understand the warring feelings inside of me, nor the heat that seems to grow as I feel the Basilisk approaching.

Amand chuckles, taking a step forward, again and again, I retreat. He grimaces but doesn't come closer. "No. You misunderstand. I didn't want to just catch you. I wanted to ensnare you. I think you're unaware of the game you've started."

"Didn't it end?"

He shakes his head and I feel Rowan press against my arm, his hard body vibrating beside me. I refuse to look at him because I'm not sure what I'll see. Anger? Hatred? Desire? This wasn't in the books when I got caught by these two. Rowan lowers his lips to my ear, his breath tickling the sensitive skin. The sensation goes straight to my dick and I fight the urge to moan. I'm pretty sure Rowan knows, a chuckle leaving his lips. "Hardly. Every time you shift, you move, I notice. And before you tell me that that's just my designation, it's not. I'm still not sure if I want to fuck you or attack you."

"Lovely. Glad we figured that out." But my voice is shaking as I unsuccessfully try to move away from Rowan. It's like this invisible draw to his magic, to their magic. I nod a few times, hoping that they get the message. "Let's get back to the case and then we can go our separate ways." Rowan's lips are now suckling on my ear lobe and one of his hands is creeping down my back to grab a handful of my ass.

Amand gives in, hissing at Rowan. "Fine. Rowan, leave him alone. We have work to do."

Rowan sighs against me and pulls back, the loss of warmth and his touch a startling realization that I want more. I shiver, watching the man stand to his full height and I nearly melt at the presence beside me. My body is betraying my mind. It's not fair that I have no control over this.

"So, you smelled our magic. What else did you pick up?"

I stare at Amand and then share that same pissed-off glare with Rowan. Why would I just outright give them all the secrets I had worked so hard to find? "That's not fair."

Once again, silence falls between us. We will make the worst team, completely untrusting of each other and undeniable passion between us. Rowan shifts beside me, causing me to pay attention to him again. His eyes flash a darker brown than I've seen yet, a wicked smile spreading across his lips. "So, we'll trade tips."

That sounds like a terrible idea. I open my mouth to say so but apparently, Basilisks have telepathy or some shit because now Amand has a matching lopsided grin, his teeth bared. "Tips for clothing."

Like strip poker?

I have a mind to walk out the front door and head home, not that I know where the fuck I am. I've always had a knack for ending up in my own bed even if I was dead drunk. Like a homing pigeon. It's a weird trick but super useful.

But my feet won't move and my entire body is on board with this terrible game that they've proposed. This can't possibly be a good thing. If I leave now, I forfeit that paycheck. The money isn't what I'm worried about. It's my reputation. I've never given up a job before. There's also an innocent Omega holding onto the hope that she'll be rescued.

They're staring at me, waiting for my response. I know I'll win, that I have more information than they do. Unfortunately, the heat in their eyes tells me I'm going to lose either way.

Amand chuckles at my indecisiveness, folding his arms against his chest as he leans back against the edge of the couch. "You start."

They can't be serious. Neither one is laughing and the air suddenly becomes tense. "Here? Right now?" My eyes roam their apartment. It's furnished but it doesn't feel homey. Then again, it's not like we're about to have sex.

Right?

A strange sound brings me out of my thoughts and I realize that Rowan is practically purring. "Unless you want to start in bed?"

"Nope. No. Uh, here's good." I take a moment to breathe as I figure out my first tip. If we're going to be working together, they'll know everything eventually so I might as well start at the most important stuff. "A witch is involved."

Amand chokes on the air and Rowan's stare hardens, their magic pulsing at the realization that the case just became a lot more complicated. The tension dissipates almost immediately as they both shed their shirts, rippling muscles and abs flexing as they grin at me with unspoken promises. Bold tattoos cover their chests and spill down their arms, making it harder to concentrate on anything other than their bodies.

I'm going to be so fucked, aren't I?