Chapter Four
Tem saw the resemblance now—Apollo had the same dark hair, the same strong jaw. He looked even more like Bastian than Caspen did. He had his father’s cock: impossibly thick at the base. Tem flushed at the sight.
“Nice to meet you,” she said.
Apollo took her hand in his, raising it to his lips and kissing the back of her wrist. He lingered for far too long, murmuring his next words against her skin.
“The pleasure is entirely mine, Temperance.” His voice was smooth, like caramel.
He dropped her hand, glancing at Caspen.
“She is beautiful,” he said. “You did well.”
“Her beauty is none of my doing.”
Tem blinked. She knew that tone—it was the same one he used with Leo.
Apollo’s handsome face slid into a cunning smile. “Of course,” he said easily, turning back to Tem. “I meant no offense. Your beauty is your own. And what beauty it is.”
Tem nodded because she didn’t know what else to do.
Silence fell, and none of them broke it.
Instead, Tem watched as Caspen and Apollo stared at each other, clearly having a conversation in their minds.
She tried to hear what they were saying but couldn’t.
Caspen was blocking her. That wouldn’t do at all.
Tem said the first thing that popped into her mind:
“Do you seek a mate?”
The brothers finally broke eye contact, both turning to look at her.
“Why would I do that?” Apollo asked back.
“Caspen told me that’s what mating season is for.”
A slow, sultry smile slid over Apollo’s lips. “I do not seek a mate.”
“Why not?”
“I do not desire one.”
“Then what do you desire?”
Somehow, the question felt significant. Tem had meant in general, but something about the way Apollo’s smile deepened made her feel like she’d asked something else entirely.
“Pleasure,” he said simply.
Another silence. Beside her, Caspen shifted but didn’t say anything. She got the impression he was watching their interaction to see how it would pan out. Tem wasn’t sure what he expected. Apollo made her feel…precarious. As if at any moment, she might tumble.
“If you don’t want a mate, then why are you here?”
“I am here because mating season is an opportunity to experience everything my people have to offer. Surely Caspenon told you that.”
Tem could read between the lines: Apollo was saying he was here to have as much sex as possible. “That seems wrong.”
Apollo raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“What if someone develops feelings for you?”
He tilted his head. “Then I will let them down easy.”
“What if you develop feelings for someone?”
To her surprise, Caspen laughed. She looked up at him in bewilderment. “What’s so funny?”
“My brother is incapable of developing feelings. He is only capable of deceit. He manipulates, and he lies.”
“I thought basilisks couldn’t lie.”
Caspen’s lip curled into a sneer. “My brother finds a way.”
There was such vitriol in his words that Tem nearly recoiled. Clearly there was a history here, one she did not understand. And if she knew Caspen, he was never going to tell her.
“Lies are deception,” Apollo said smoothly. “And I think you will find I am always truthful.” His gaze slid to Caspen’s. “Some might say to a fault.”
Tem had no idea what to make of that. The conversation had quickly gotten beyond her, and she was quite ready for it to be over.
Before she could express this, Apollo gave her one last lingering look before turning and leaving without saying goodbye.
Tem glanced up at Caspen, who was staring after his brother with his eyebrows furrowed.
“What was that about?”
“I do not know what you mean.”
“I mean, what’s with you two? Are you…on good terms?”
Caspen rolled his shoulders. “We are not on bad terms.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“We are not on bad terms,” Caspen said again, harsher this time.
Tem gave him a look. She didn’t believe that for a second. Another question was on the tip of her tongue: “Was he flirting with me?”
Caspen sighed. In that sigh Tem heard the burden of brotherhood and the weight of their past together. “He was.”
“He shouldn’t be doing that.”
“He has every right to flirt with you, Tem.”
“Well. I’m not going to flirt back.”
Caspen finally looked at her. “I cannot stand in your way if you did.”
Tem frowned. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Yes. My brother has first rights to you.”
“And what are those, exactly?”
“They are an ancient basilisk custom.”
Tem rolled her eyes. The last thing she needed was another ancient basilisk custom. “But what does that mean?”
“It means if I were to die, Apollo would be given the option to court you first, before anyone else. He would be expected to marry you in my stead.”
Tem blinked in disbelief. “That seems like it shouldn’t be allowed.”
Caspen gave her a small smile.
“Everything is allowed here, Tem.”
It was then that Tem remembered the ritual. Did she really expect siblings to respect one another’s relationships when she had slept with Caspen’s father to prove her worth to his quiver?
“I would never marry your brother.”
“That is your choice. But you should know he will expect you to sleep with him.”
“Why?”
Caspen’s lips twitched into a smile. “To ensure your compatibility in the event that I die and he has to exercise his first rights.”
“Well. You’re not allowed to die.”
The smile widened. “I shall endeavor not to.”
“And I won’t be sleeping with your brother.”
“It is not mandatory, Tem. I am simply telling you that he will expect it.”
“He can expect nothing from me.”
The smile widened. “That is your choice,” he said again. Then he kissed her on the forehead. “But he will pursue you unless you tell him not to.”
Tem shook her head. “Can’t you just tell him for me?”
“It would have to come from you. That is the only way he will respect it. Otherwise he will think I am trying to keep you from him.”
“But you are trying to keep me from him.”
“No.” Caspen shook his head. “I am not. You say you do not want him now, but you may change your mind in the future. And if you do, I cannot stand in your way.”
Tem turned his words over in her mind. She knew that Caspen liked it when she adhered to basilisk traditions.
But she was having a very difficult time wrapping her head around how it could possibly make no difference to Caspen were she to sleep with his brother.
The concept of first rights was completely foreign to her.
It was almost as if siblings were considered interchangeable.
“Tem,” Caspen said gently. “Do not let this overwhelm you. You have many things to learn.”
His words only made her feel worse. Because he was right.
There was so much to learn—so much that Tem was bound to get wrong.
She lived in a constant state of terror, afraid that she was going to offend someone or insult Caspen by refusing to do something.
It was like learning an entirely new language in just a few days.
Her brain hurt from trying to process so much information, and she was tired of feeling out of step in her own body.
Do you wish to return to our chambers?
Tem looked up at Caspen, who was looking down at her with his brow furrowed. He was worried about her. He wanted her to adjust, and she wasn’t adjusting quickly enough. Even Caspen, with his seemingly endless patience, would surely grow weary of playing teacher.
I do not mind teaching you, Tem. It is not a burden to me.
Of course he would say that. But even if it was, he wouldn’t tell her. And Tem would always wonder whether he would secretly tire of her. There were a thousand things to remember and no hope of remembering them all. Tem was overwhelmed, and she was tired. But she was also determined.
“Do you wish to return?” he asked again, this time murmuring the words against her cheek.
“No,” she said firmly. “I want to stay.”
She recognized the flash of pride in his eyes. “Good.”
They kissed. This, at least, she did not need to be taught.
“Caspenon,” a voice bloomed beside them. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your wife? Or is that honor reserved only for Apollo?”
They pulled apart to see a man watching them. Unlike most of the other male basilisks Tem had seen, who were built like warriors, this one was slim and wiry. He was also tall, his height only accentuating his thinness, as if he had been stretched.
“Tem,” Caspen said. “My youngest brother, Damon.”
Tem raised her eyebrows. She couldn’t believe she was meeting so many members of Caspen’s family tonight.
“Oh,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”
Damon took her hand and kissed it. Unlike Apollo, his lips didn’t linger.
“Nice indeed.” He tilted his head at Caspen. “She is beautiful.”
Tem almost laughed. Did these brothers know any other compliments? “You’re beautiful too,” she said without thinking.
Damon raised his eyebrows in delight. “Am I? How kind of you to say.”
It was true; Damon was stunning. Tem decided right then that she liked him. She could tell this interaction pleased Caspen too; he was almost smiling.
“Has my brother given you any trouble tonight?” Damon asked.
Tem looked up at Caspen. “No. Not yet.”
“I do not mean Caspenon,” Damon said with a wink. “I mean the one who is likely to give you trouble.”
Clearly Apollo’s reputation preceded him.
“No,” she said again. “I can handle him.”
“Can you, now?” Damon clapped Caspen on the shoulder. “You picked a strong one.”
Caspen looked down at Tem, his eyes full of pride. “I did indeed.”
With that, Damon swept away. He was the second basilisk to leave without saying goodbye. Apparently farewells were not part of their ancient customs.
As soon as he was gone, Caspen pressed his lips once more to Tem’s.
The kiss was just beginning to deepen when Caspen pulled suddenly away, glancing over his shoulder as if he had heard something.
Several male basilisks were gathered in a group, staring in their direction, clearly discussing something.
“Caspen? What is it?”