Page 142 of Between Two Kings

Heat originates in the heart. It travels with your blood. Concentrate on your heartbeat, and you should be able to feel it.

Tem tried to do what he said, but it was difficult when her heart was hammering so loudly, she could practically hear it.

Focus, Temperance.

He might as well have asked her to perform a somersault. The last thing Tem could do right now was focus. She was still cold. The only heat she could feel was Apollo’s, and it was driving her insane. Her basilisk instincts were screaming at her to step forward—to kiss him and then some. But she couldn’t do that. Not tonight. Tonight, Tem was only here to learn.

So she closed her eyes and concentrated. Apollo was right; when she listened for her heartbeat, she could hear where her blood was flowing. From there, it took surprisingly minimal effort to direct it where she needed it.

Warmth seeped from Tem’s chest. She could feel it traveling through her bloodstream, spreading through her body. When it reached her limbs, she sighed. Her fingers were no longer numb; she could move her toes once more. Heat probed every part of her—every part—right down to her center. Tem was no longer just warming herself. She was turning herself on.

Her face flushed; she gasped for air.

Apollo’s voice came to her faintly. You are so beautiful like this.

She wondered suddenly if this was why Caspen was able to become hard again mere moments after climaxing. If basilisks could direct their blood flow, surely they could control their erections. It was a wondrous thing.

Tem opened her eyes to see Apollo looking at her.

His cock was tantalizingly erect—a bridge between them. Now that Tem knew he had made it that way, it was even more tempting to reward him for it. The warmth was everywhere—flowing beneath her skin with each beat of her heart—surging across every inch of her body. Her breasts felt tender; her clitoris throbbed. Tem imagined, just for a moment, what it would be like to be touched right now. She couldn’t even fathom the pleasure.

You need only ask, Temperance.

Tem shook her head.

No.

And why not? You fucked our father, did you not?

That was different.

How so?

I had to fuck him.

Did you?

Yes. Otherwise I couldn’t be with Caspen.

I see. But you liked it.

Tem shook her head again, trying to clear it. It was no use. How do you know I liked it?

Your thoughts are rather loud at the moment.

The memory of the ritual flooded over her in a brutal wave, exacerbating the feelings she was already experiencing. The altar. The Serpent King. The way Bastian’s body was hard beneath hers, how he’d filled her nearly beyond what she could bear. It replayed in her mind; she remembered the warmth she’d felt at the sight of Bastian’s naked body—not unlike the warmth she was feeling now—how well she’d taken his cock.

I have no doubt you would take mine just as well.

Guess you’ll never know.

Apollo simply laughed. Then he turned away.

Tem stood still for a moment, savoring the heat, before following him. Minutes passed. Now that she was warm, the walk was bearable, but the silence was not. So she asked, “Where are we going, anyway?”

Apollo’s dark eyes slid to hers. “We are going to find someone to petrify.”

“I know that. But do we need to go so far?”