Page 191 of Between Two Kings

Rowe’s eyes slid to his. “And why not? She could be my future wife.”

“The day you take her from me is the day I die.”

Rowe smiled. “There is no need for such words, Caspenon. I come in peace.”

Caspen actually snorted.

Tem’s eyes shifted to the basilisk beside Rowe. Eros was taller than his brother and just as formidable. He stared down at Tem with burnished gold eyes that felt like they were looking straight into her soul. She barely came up to his collarbone; his shoulders were so broad, she couldn’t see anything behind him.

Rowe suddenly entered Tem’s mind.

She gasped in surprise, throwing up walls to block the assault. But she couldn’t shut him out—his power was indescribable; it pushed against her like an indomitable force, crushing her like a spider against glass.

You will yield to me, Temperance. And so will Caspenon.

It took everything Tem had to look him straight in the eye and say, “Never.”

Rowe’s mouth twisted into a dark, amused sneer.

“It is a shame,” he murmured. “You are as stubborn as ever.”

Tem lifted her chin. “And you are just as cruel.”

His sneer deepened. “Cruelty is a necessity in the world we live in, Temperance. Your husband knows that better than anyone.”

Tem had no way to refute that. What Caspen had done to Rowe was undeniably cruel. But Rowe had deserved it. And now, with their fight imminent, Tem hoped Caspen would be cruel once more.

Rowe directed his final jab straight at Caspen. “May the best man win.”

Then he walked off without another word.

Tem turned immediately to Caspen. He was staring after Rowe with his fists clenched, a vein pulsing in his temple. Tem wanted nothing more than to reach for him, to feel his warm skin against hers, to find comfort in each other. But it was the one thing she could not do.

Adelaide appeared at her side. “Tem,” she said gently. “All eligible basilisks have now arrived. It is time to make your selections.”

Tem looked at Caspen. He looked at her.

“Will you stay with me?” she whispered.

“Always.”

They followed Adelaide to the end of the banquet hall, where a stage had been assembled. On it was a group of twenty or so basilisks, all handsome, all fully erect. Tem remembered what Adelaide had said—how she was supposed to make her decision based on their cocks. She glanced up at Caspen, who gave her a reassuring nod before stepping to the side to join Rowe, Eros, and Apollo. When Tem’s eyes met Apollo’s, he nodded too.

You can do this, Temperance.

She barely believed him. It was difficult to imagine that any of these men could be her prospective husband. None of them compared to Caspen.

Tem was frozen in place, acutely aware of the crowd behind her, watching her every move. It was too much pressure; she could not perform under the weight of everyone’s expectations.

Caspen’s voice came to her: Relax, Tem. Allow your basilisk side to make the decision.

Tem closed her eyes, resolved to do as he said. She concentrated on the side of her that liked being watched, the side that was powerful and bold and brave. She suppressed the human side, pushing away her doubts and insecurities. When she opened her eyes, she was ready.

Tem recognized only one basilisk in the group of men before her. He was tall, with slicked-back blond hair—the man Caspen had pleasured in the ouroboros. Immediately, she was drawn to him. She didn’t even glance at his cock; it didn’t matter what it looked like. Adelaide’s words came back to her suddenly: You will seal your choices with a kiss.

Tem knew what she had to do.

The moment she stepped forward, the crowd cheered. She approached the blond basilisk slowly, holding eye contact until she was right in front of him. Then she cradled his face in her hands, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him. She imagined it was Leo and poured every ounce of longing into their kiss, doing what she could not do with him. When they broke apart, the basilisk smiled widely before bowing to her and moving to the sidelines to stand next to Apollo.