Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
“Leo,” Tem whispered, knowing that her words would bind him, that he would have no choice but to obey. “I want you to find Evelyn. I want you to choose your future.”
A slow, relaxed smile broke across Leo’s face. It wasn’t joyous exactly. Merely peaceful. “I don’t know where she is, Tem.”
“Your father knows. He’ll tell you.”
It was the least Maximus could do for his son.
Leo tilted his head, considering something. She knew he wouldn’t protest-he couldn’t. But it was almost as if he wanted to. Just when Tem was about to give him the order again, he said, “Then I suppose this is goodbye.”
For some reason, Tem began to cry.
Leo lifted his finger, brushing the tear off her cheek. “I never thought I’d see you cry over me.”
“I never thought we’d be saying goodbye.”
“I’m not worth these tears, Tem. Trust me.”
That only made Tem cry harder. Of course Leo was worth her tears. He was worth so much more than he thought he was-than she had thought he was. In another lifetime, there was a happy ending for them. But not in this one.
“Tell me this isn’t the last time I’ll see you,” she whispered. She didn’t care if it interfered with the order she’d just given him. Tem couldn’t bear the thought of never looking into his gray eyes again-never seeing his tall, lanky shoulders angled in her direction.
It was torture to imagine it.
“This isn’t the last time,” Leo whispered back.
Tem couldn’t talk anymore.
Instead, she kissed him gently, so different from most of the kisses they had shared. Leo was always raw energy, constantly in motion. Now he held her in his arms, sliding his tongue slowly against hers with all the care in the world.
“Tell me what we had was real,” he murmured against her lips.
Her answer was the truth.”It was real.”
When they pulled apart, they didn’t speak again. Instead, Leo raised his hand, taking a single curl and twirling it around his long, slim fingers. He smiled, his gold incisors gleaming in the moonlight.
Then he walked away.
Tem was still getting used to her title. But the more Caspen said it, the more she believed it.
My queen.
They were in Bastian’s bed. It was tradition for the new king to take over the former king’s chambers, and Tem saw no reason not to honor the custom. Such was the basilisk way after all.
It was morning, or nearly so. They’d gotten in bed the day before and never gotten out.
My king.
Caspen’s fingers brushed up her bare spine, tangling in her hair. He kissed along her collarbone, pressing his lips to the vein in her neck. His cock was hard, but Tem didn’t touch it yet. Instead, she let him kiss her, knowing without a doubt that she was right where she was supposed to be.
Tem pulled his face to hers and kissed him. I love you.
Caspen kissed her back. And I you.
There was nothing else to say.
Their bodies returned to each other, weaving a tapestry no one else could weave. It was natural with Caspen, like breathing. The human side of her had always called to him, and now the basilisk side did too. Tem savored every caress, every tender stroke of his fingers, and eventually, his tongue. He gave to her; she gave to him. They did what they were always meant to do, what they could do with no other. When the fractured shards of Tem’s soul split, Caspen’s swallowed them whole.
Afterward, his fingers traced her spine once more.
“Tem,” Caspen said quietly. “What did you say to the prince?”
Tem thought back to her conversation with Leo, both of them broken and bleeding on the stage. “I said goodbye.”
Caspen didn’t reply, and she knew he was giving her space to elaborate.
After a moment, she did. “I told him to find the girl he loves.”
Caspen frowned. “Was that not you?”
Tem shook her head. “He loved someone before me.”
Caspen absorbed this information in silence. Tem didn’t feel like explaining herself any further, so she didn’t. Eventually, Caspen said, “You did him a kindness, Tem. I cannot think of a better way to utilize the bond of the crest.”
At his words, Tem nearly cried.
Caspen cared nothing for Leo’s happiness, but he cared deeply for hers, and no doubt he knew how much Tem needed to hear those words. Of course, his approval was also selfish. Now that Leo was tasked with finding Evelyn, Caspen would have Tem all to himself. But he would also have a happier version of her-a version that wasn’t riddled with guilt.
They lay there together for as long as they pleased.
Eventually, Tem asked a question of her own. “Do basilisks have weddings?”
Caspen pulled her closer. “We do not.”
“Then how do we get married?”
Caspen touched his fingertip gently to the golden claw around her neck. “You would give me a similar token.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “That is it.”
It was so simple. Tem thought about how much it had taken for them to be together. The ritual had been public-every part of her on display for his entire quiver to see. It was interesting to Tem that this next part would be completely private. But she found she liked the contrast. At the end of the day, sex was something that everyone did. But not everyone had a bond like her and Caspen.
Tem looked down at the little golden claw.
“Where do I find one of these?” she asked.
“You would have to make one yourself.”
“Make one?”
“Yes.”
“But how?”
Caspen shifted so he was looking at her. “Our engagement is bound by blood. You would need to complete the bond.”
“So…by bloodletting?”
He shook his head. “Bloodletting is the name we give to what the royals did to us. It refers to an act of violence. This”-he touched the claw again-“is born of love.”