Page 69 of Between Two Kings

Tem found it significant that he respected her decision to join the ouroboros—and instead of suggesting they not participate, he was tailoring the situation to her, ensuring she had a say in what happened next. Relief, then anticipation, then excitement rushed through her. She remembered what Caspen had just said, basing her choice around his words: Our culture revolves around pleasure. But who would bring her pleasure? Tem thought of the fantasies she’d had of Caspen and Leo—the visions that she only entertained late at night, when her mind was closed off to him. She scanned the courtyard, searching for someone who fit those visions.

Eventually, she found him.

The basilisk was slim, with long, wiry arms. His white-blond hair was slicked back, a single tendril falling over his forehead. He moved with a confidence that was deeply familiar to Tem: a confidence she missed. She missed his tall frame, his long fingers, his blond hair. She missed the way he smelled like summer and the way he used to tilt his body toward her whenever they talked, as if to absorb as much of her presence as possible. But Leo wasn’t here. He never would be.

“Him.” Tem pointed.

Caspen followed her gaze. Perhaps it was her imagination, but Tem could have sworn she saw understanding pass over his face. Then it disappeared. He turned to her. “You have one more choice to make.”

Another realization struck. Someone would be pleasuring her. Tem closed her eyes. Suddenly the air felt warm. Was she really about to do this? Or was it too much, too soon?

“Tem.” Caspen’s voice came to her in a murmur. “Choose someone who makes you feel safe.”

When he put it that way, the choice was easy. Tem opened her eyes, looking up at him. “I choose Adelaide.”

Caspen raised an eyebrow. For a moment, Tem wondered if he would be angry. But he said, “Very well. Do you wish to ask her, or shall I?”

“I’ll ask her.”

The words came easily, and Tem didn’t question them. She wanted to do this herself—to claim her decision. Caspen nodded, turning to leave.

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm. “You said that when someone finishes, they leave the circle.”

“That is true.”

“So…” Tem paused. She struggled to put it into words, settling on the same thing she’d said before: “I don’t want another cock in my mouth.”

Caspen smiled. Tem knew he would understand what she was saying: if he finished before she did, he would leave the circle, leaving her to pleasure the very basilisk she’d chosen for him. And if Tem finished before Caspen did, Adelaide would be pleasuring him. Neither was ideal.

“I will time my climax with yours, Tem. We will leave at the same time.”

“Can you do that?”

His smile widened. “I can try.”

Tem rolled her eyes. She had little to no faith in Caspen’s ability to time his climax for the exact right moment. Even for him, that would require an unimaginable amount of self-control. But it was too late now. He was turning again, heading for the tall blond basilisk. The gravity of the situation set in as Tem watched him walk away. She was really doing this. She was going to be part of the ouroboros. It was time to find Adelaide.

She was at the edge of the courtyard, observing the proceedings.

“Temperance,” Adelaide said as she approached. “Would you care to watch the ouroboros with me?”

“Um,” said Tem. “Not exactly.”

Adelaide raised an eyebrow. But the words were impossible to say aloud. So she said them with her mind instead: I want to join it.

Adelaide’s eyebrows rose even higher. I see.

And…I want you…to join…with me.

Tem dearly hoped Adelaide understood what she was trying to say because there was no way she could actually ask her to do this. In the silence that followed, panic rose.

Only if you want to—Tem continued quickly—if it’s going to cause any trouble with—

She cut herself off, suddenly remembering Adelaide’s relationship with Caspen’s sister. Of course Adelaide wouldn’t want to do this with Tem. She was just about to bury herself ten feet beneath the ground when, to her relief, Adelaide’s beautiful face broke into a smile.

“Of course I want to. I am honored, Temperance.”

Relief swept through her at the sincerity in her voice. In moments like these, Tem remembered that she was a queen—that being with her was an honor, just like Caspen had said. It was a difficult concept to wrap her head around, and one she doubted she’d ever get used to.