Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
She allowed the kiss to deepen first, letting Caspen slip his hands into her hair, letting him pull her body against his. His desire was obvious, and so was hers. But Tem was taking her time now. The only thing she wanted was to enjoy this kiss.
It wasn’t hard to do so.
Caspen’s hands cradled her face, holding it to his. His tongue caressed hers softly, coaxing a moan from her throat. He brushed his lips briefly to her cheek before returning to her mouth, paying her such care and attention that she felt like the only girl in the world.
Eventually, she opened her mind.
Neither of them said anything at first. Instead, Caspen’s presence curled around hers, holding her the same way his hands did: tenderly, as if she were something exceedingly precious to him. It was only when Tem let the last of her guard down that he whispered, I love you, Tem.
Tem loved him too. Their connection was undeniable; it rippled through every inch of Tem’s body, vibrating from her head to her fingertips. She could feel her resistance slipping with every stroke of his tongue, her desire to be with him rapidly eroding her desire to be angry at him. Caspen was in her mind, and she knew he could sense this. Still, he didn’t take things further. Instead, he pulled away. They stared at each other for a long moment, the only sound the snap of the fireplace.
Caspen spoke first. “Will you take a walk with me?”
“Where?”
“I must show you something.”
He waited until she nodded before taking her hand in his.
They entered the passageway together, and Tem immediately trained her eyes on the ground.
“Where are we going?”
“Patience, Tem.”
“I can’t take any more surprises, Caspen.”
He didn’t reply.
They wound deeper and deeper beneath the mountain, passing doorway after doorway. It was impossible to know how time functioned here, nothing to tell her whether the sun or the moon was above them.
Caspen?
He squeezed her hand. Tem?
Is this where you spend your time?
Sometimes. I also venture outside to hunt. But yes, beneath the mountain is where I dwell.
Tem’s eyes began to adjust to the stark darkness. How much farther?
It is not far. I promise.
True to his word, they stopped a few minutes later.
They were standing at the entrance of an enormous room. Great stone arches curved above their heads into endless blackness above. Tem tried to look up at the ceiling, but even when she squinted, she couldn’t see it.
“Where are we?”
Instead of answering, Caspen guided her forward.
Tem shivered as they walked along the cold stone floor. Unlike Caspen’s chambers, which were warmed by his fireplace and his own body heat, this place was cold; she felt the undeniable pull of death here. Tem curled herself against Caspen.
“Almost there, Tem.”
She followed his lead, foraying even deeper into the darkness. Finally, they reached what appeared to be the center of the room. Caspen stopped, and Tem stopped too.
Before them stood a great stone monolith.
It disappeared up into the ether, far beyond what was visible to her human eyes. Even when Tem craned her neck, she couldn’t see the top.
“What is this?” she whispered.
Caspen’s hand tightened in hers. “It is a memorial.”
Tem could just make out etchings on the stone-etchings that looked like names. She squinted, attempting to read the carved words. “Who are they?”
Caspen didn’t respond, and Tem didn’t ask him to. She stepped closer, peering at the names on the great stone slab, all recorded with complete precision.
With a jolt, Tem recognized a single word: Drakon.
“Your quiver…” she said, stepping even closer.
“Yes.”
Another word jumped out at her: Seneca.
Rowe’s quiver.
“What happened to them?”
“They went missing.”
Tem frowned. “When?”
“After the war.”
“After the war?”
“Yes.”
Tem processed this information. It didn’t make sense. The war was over; the royals had defeated the basilisks and brokered the truce, and there had been no battles since. She couldn’t imagine why basilisks would go missing.
“Where have they gone?”
As soon as she asked it, she found she already knew the answer.
Help me.
The voice she’d heard-the disembodied plea that plagued her every time she went to the castle-it had to be a basilisk. Caspen’s answer confirmed what she already knew.
“The castle.”
Tem felt a chill go down her spine.
“The royals would have you believe that all has been quiet since the war,” Caspen continued, his voice low and urgent. “But that is not the case. My people have gone missing for centuries.”
“But why?” Tem stuttered. “Why would the royals keep basilisks in the castle?”
“To use us.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.