Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk

“Maybe that’s part of the fun,” Leo said coldly. Tem heard the clink of a glass and wondered if whiskey had been poured. “I will not have you repeat the mistakes of your past,” Maximus continued. “Evelyn was not a mistake.” The king let out a dull laugh. “You were a fool then, and you…

To Tem’s surprise, Leo frowned. “You always have a choice, Tem.” She snorted at that. “Do you really think I’d stop you from leaving?” he asked. “No. But I want to stay.” The words were out before she could stop them. Tem didn’t even know why she’d said them. Leo’s eyebrows shot upward at her…

It was the truth. Up until an hour ago, she’d thought there was nothing redeemable about Leo. But he’d revealed his true self when he’d talked about his father. There was a person under his insufferable exterior. And that person had a chance with her. They were stopped on the path. Leo leaned in, his…

Tem jumped. It was Caspen’s voice. He’d been absent all day, and he chose now to show up? Tem tried to send him a thought back but found that she couldn’t. Her words pressed up against the same wall that had always stood between them. Instead she spoke them out loud. “Says who?” His reply…

“Are his feelings reciprocated?” She fought the urge to make a face. “That’s really none of your business,” she muttered. Maximus leaned in. He had the same gold incisors as Leo. “Who my son loves is invariably my business.” “Loves?” “He can’t take his eyes off you.” “Maybe he needs his eyes checked,” Tem said…

Leo met her eye, and for a moment, Tem saw his facade drop. She saw that the cocky prince was only a boy-a boy with a strained relationship with his father. She wondered what had happened between them and if he would ever tell her. Tem wanted to ask more. But Leo gave a dismissive…

“Where?” “My room.” Tem rolled her eyes. “No, thank you.” “Shame,” Leo sighed dramatically. “It’s been a while since anyone’s stayed overnight. Perhaps my seduction method needs tweaking.” “Seduction method?” The words slipped out before she could stop them. Leo’s eyes flicked to hers. He seemed to sense he had an opening because he stepped…

Or maybe that wasn’t what she needed at all. Maybe what she needed was one person in particular. The only person who she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, wanted to fuck her. It took all of thirty seconds to locate Leo. He was leaning against a column, watching the party, his head cocked…

Without thinking, Tem’s hand went to his neck. Caspen’s eyes widened at the motion. Then they narrowed, and she heard his voice in her mind: Squeeze, little viper. Tem squeezed. She felt the cords of his throat contract beneath her palm, the hard line of his esophagus compressing between her fingers. What would happen if…

“Of what?” She shrugged, refusing to say anything else. How could she explain it to him? He was a basilisk, the Serpent King-he wasn’t afraid of anything. Sex meant next to nothing to Caspen. But it meant everything to Tem. He had no idea what it was like to be her-to be fragile and human…