Page 255 of Split or Swallow

Are you going to come for me?

She wanted to.

Yes.

Come for me, Tem.

This time when she came, Caspen came too.

They spun out into the ether together, their bodies taking from one another until neither of them had anything left to give. They were one and the same; they belonged to each other.

Caspen’s mind tugged once again at hers, but this time in the opposite direction—this time in a reversal of what they had just done—toward the weight and heaviness of humanity.

Return with me.

It was easy to return to herself. The sensation was like falling backwards—as simple as slackening her grip on the great thrum of power that joined her to Caspen—trusting that the ground would catch her when she landed.

And it did.

They were back in the lake, back in the cavern, back together. Tem opened her eyes to see Caspen’s gold ones staring back at her. She smiled.

“I did it.”

He smiled back.

“Of course you did. You can do anything, Tem.”

“I want to do it again.”

Caspen laughed, the sound echoing around the sloping stone walls.

As you wish.

They did it again. And again.

At some point, words were beyond them. They were simply moving, breathing, existing together—conforming to one another with nothing but their basest instincts and rawest desires. Tem herself ceased to exist. Instead she was one with Caspen, one with Kora, one with her people.

Caspen was right—it did get easier. Tem transitioned back and forth three times—each time quicker than the last, and the final time without using Caspen’s mental connection to guide her. They had sex each time, for longer and longer, until finally neither of them could go on. For once, her stamina matched his.

Afterward, they lay panting on the shore of the lake, both of them returning slowly to their human forms. Beads of water trickled in rivulets down Caspen’s torso, and Tem watched as scales became skin once more. She reached out her hand, placing her palm against his chest. He placed his hand over hers, holding them together.

It is heaven to be with you like this, Tem.

She shifted closer, pressing a kiss to the curve of his shoulder. Then she climbed on top of him, straddling his hips and looking into his eyes.

They didn’t have sex again—Tem couldn’t have if she’d tried. She simply ran her hands gently over his body, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. Caspen let her do this, looking up at her in return, his palms resting gently on her hips. There was peace in this moment.

There was truth.

By the time they headed back to Caspen’s chambers, Tem was so exhausted she could barely stand upright. They walked slowly, their hands clasped together, stopping only to kiss languidly in the darkness.

Eventually they passed through the courtyard, only this time it wasn’t empty. Several basilisks wearing their human forms were gathered in a throng, speaking in hushed tones.

With a jolt, Tem recognized one of them.

Rowe stood on the other side of the fountain, talking to another basilisk. Tem instinctively stepped closer to Caspen, squeezing his hand for comfort. He looked down at her.

“What is it, Tem?”