Chapter Eighteen #2
She thought about the way Caspen had looked at her—like he was seeing her for the first time. Tem had not concealed her feelings for Leo; she had not pretended she did not love him. If Caspen thought otherwise, he had chosen to be blind.
She also thought about Leo and his inability to stand up to Evelyn.
Tem had never felt such anger toward another human being before.
Evelyn’s solution was no solution at all—even if the bloodletting came back, it would never be enough.
It seemed like there was no future for them, no path that didn’t end in violence and death.
It wasn’t the future Tem wanted for her people.
Surely, it wasn’t what Leo wanted either.
But it was the direction they were headed, and unless he stepped up to stop it, their fate was predetermined.
They would repeat history; there would be bloodshed.
And if that happened, what then? Would Leo turn on her, like he turned on the rest of her people?
Tem was half-basilisk, after all. She was one of them, just like Gabriel had said.
The enemy. It had never been easy for Tem to belong to both sides.
But now more than ever, she had to find a way to move forward.
It was time to take matters into her own hands.
By the next evening, Tem had resolved to do it.
She went to the Horseman alone, ignoring the frigid wind, her curls bundled in a spare blanket.
The weather was the least of her worries.
Tem focused on the task at hand: finding Gabriel.
Something that had started as a pipe dream was now her best option.
If Gabriel came to the caves—if he could have a positive experience with the basilisks, it might be enough to change his mind.
And if he changed his mind, it could sway the tides.
Besides, it was no longer only Gabriel’s opinion she wanted to sway.
If Caspen could see how a human acclimated—how a human respected basilisk culture—he might change his mind too. She had to try.
Gabriel was in their usual booth. He looked up when she walked in, his eyes immediately searching hers. Wariness. Fear.
“Gabriel,” she said quietly as she slid into the booth. “I’m not here to fight with you.”
His expression softened slightly. “Then why are you here, dearest?”
“I have a proposition.”
“Well, let’s hear it.”
Tem paused. Was she really about to do this? Caspen was right; it was delusional. But delusional was better than nothing. Delusional was all Tem had. “I want you to come underneath the mountain.”
In the silence that followed, Tem wondered whether she’d just made a grave mistake.
There was no guarantee that this would work.
Even if Gabriel had a successful foray beneath the mountain, that did not mean he would be able to sway the villagers.
She would have put him in danger for nothing.
But this was Gabriel—her childhood friend—her greatest confidant.
Tem trusted him, even if he didn’t trust her in return.
“You want me to come underneath the mountain,” Gabriel repeated.
“Yes.”
“When?”
Tem had spent the morning working with Adelaide to prepare the quivers for his arrival. When she’d told Caspen what she’d done, he hadn’t said a word. But it wasn’t his choice to make.
“Tonight, if possible.”
Gabriel blinked. “Why?”
The answer to that was slightly more complicated. “Because…”
But how to answer? If she told Gabriel that the future of their kingdoms hung on his visit, he would never agree to it. It was too much pressure for one person—too much to ask of him. But the fact remained that Tem had to ask. So she said, “I want you to experience basilisk culture.”
A tiny grin tilted his lips as a shadow of Gabriel’s usual spark returned. “Temperance Verus,” he said conspiratorially, “are you inviting me to a sex party?”
Tem rolled her eyes so hard, she nearly sprained her brain. “I told you. They aren’t sex parties.”
“Sure sounds like a sex party to me.”
“It’s dangerous, Gabriel. There will be hundreds of basilisks there. If any of them transition, you’ll be dead.”
“I’m sure you won’t let that happen.”
“If I transition, you’ll be dead.”
“Pah.” He flicked his fingers.
“This is serious, Gabriel. I’m…” She paused, and he held her gaze.
“What, Tem?”
“I’m trying to make things better,” she whispered.
It was the least she could say—the least she could do. She wasn’t just trying to make things better—she was trying to fix everything in one night. It was an impossible task.
Gabriel shifted closer, his blue eyes holding hers.
“Is this a peace offering?”
Tem nodded.
“And if I go, will the basilisks leave the villagers alone?”
Tem hadn’t exactly cleared that with the basilisks. But if she was as powerful as Caspen said, she would do everything she could to make that the case.
Again, Tem nodded.
Gabriel leaned back, tilting his head as he appraised her. “So,” he said, taking the last dregs of his beer. “What can I expect?”
Pure relief swept through her. Nothing mattered except for the singular fact that Gabriel had agreed to her plan. Tem felt suddenly light as a feather. “You can expect…everyone to be naked.”
“Perfect. I love being naked.”
“They’re naked all the time.”
“As they should be.”
“Gabriel.”
“Tem.” He put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her close. “I understand this is an olive branch. But if you’re telling me that I’m going under the mountain, I need to know what I’m in for.”
He was right, of course. The last thing she needed was for Gabriel to be out of his depth.
“It’s a risk,” she said honestly. “And I cannot guarantee your safety.”
Gabriel touched her cheek. “Surely there is no danger as long as I’m with you.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
“Well, surely there is no danger as long as I’m with your hot husband.”
Tem’s mouth fell open. “That’s not true either. He can’t—”
“Tem.” Gabriel grabbed her face, looking her straight in the eye. “Am I going to see him naked?”
Tem sighed. There was no containing him. Perhaps it was impossible to anyway. Gabriel’s joy radiated off him in infectious waves, and even Tem couldn’t help but feel hopeful. It was the happiest she’d seen him look in weeks.
“Yes,” she muttered.
“Excellent.”
“But, Gabriel”—she placed her hands over his, holding him to her—“you have to take this seriously. The point is to show you how the basilisks live. The point is to humanize them.”
Gabriel sobered somewhat at that fact. It was true; this was no lighthearted visit.
There might be pleasure involved, but pleasure was not the point.
The entire goal of him coming under the mountain was to show him that the basilisks were deserving of respect—that they were kind and worthy and just as important as the humans. Everything was riding on this.
“I understand,” he said quietly, his eyes holding hers. “Trust me.”
Tem did trust him. She always had. “I have to warn you,” she said. “It’s mating season.”
“Mating season?” He waggled an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“It’s a time when any single basilisk seeks a mate. It’s a particularly…voracious time.”
“Voracious?”
“I don’t know how else to describe it.”
“You described it perfectly, dearest. I await the ravenousness.”
Tem rolled her eyes again. He was impossible.
They spent the rest of the evening drinking beers and talking about nothing. They didn’t discuss the protests, the church, or anything of substance. It felt like old times, and it felt damn good. But eventually, it was time to go.
They walked to the caves together, Tem’s arm looped in Gabriel’s. She held him close, keeping his body right next to hers, as if she could keep him next to her heart.
“Don’t leave my side, even for a second,” Tem said. They had just entered the cave, and Gabriel was acting far too excited about what was about to happen. “And don’t talk to anyone unless they talk to you first. And don’t flirt.”
Gabriel’s lips turned down in a pout. “What’s the point of meeting a bunch of sexy basilisks if I can’t flirt with them?”
“They could kill you. That’s the point.”
“You underestimate my flirtation abilities, Tem. I could charm the clothes off a tree.”
“I have never once underestimated your flirtation abilities. I don’t think anyone ever has.”
Gabriel threw his arm around her, pulling her close. “This will be fun, Tem. Lighten up.”
“This isn’t supposed to be fun, Gabriel. This isn’t a game.”
He became serious. “I understand, Tem. I want this to go well just as badly as you do.”
Tem nodded. She knew Gabriel understood the stakes, knew he grasped that the future of their kingdoms hinged on this visit.
Still, she was rapidly regretting the entire thing.
What was Tem thinking, bringing him around a bunch of basilisks?
It was dangerous for him. Possibly lethal.
If anything happened to him, she would never forgive herself.
And yet, if this could soften him toward them—if meeting basilisks could humanize them in Gabriel’s eyes—it would be worth it.
Gabriel was the leader of the villagers. His word held real weight.
With a sigh, Tem led Gabriel into the caves.
His eyes slid to the mat in front of the fireplace. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. There was no need to tell him that Tem had trained there—he knew what happened in the caves just as well as anyone else.
“You will need to take off your clothes,” Tem said.
But Gabriel required no explanation. Before she could even finish her sentence, he was naked.
Tem had never seen his cock before; quite frankly, her best friend’s cock was none of her business.
So she averted her eyes, keeping her gaze on her own body as she undressed.
When they were both naked, she gestured toward the passageway, which they entered together.
The deeper they went, the wider Gabriel’s grin became.
“Can you please not look so excited?” Tem hissed. “They’re going to think you’re deranged.”
Gabriel shrugged. He looked positively overjoyed. “Oh, come on, Tem. Put yourself in my shoes. Wouldn’t you be excited?”
“I’d be scared out of my mind. I was scared out of my mind.”
Tem thought back to the first time she’d come under the mountain—how Caspen had taken her to his chambers after Jonathan and Christopher assaulted her.
She’d kept her head down, her eyes on the ground.
Gabriel displayed no such qualms. His shoulders were thrown back, his chin held high. He was fearless.
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said. “They’re just snakes.”
“Don’t call them that.”
“I won’t. I’m only joking.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes, Gabriel.”
“I know that, dearest. Trust me, I know.”
They didn’t speak after that. Tem guided him through the passageway, trying to quell her anxiety.
It was clear she was more nervous than Gabriel was.
By the way he peered around every corner, he was obviously eager to spot a basilisk.
Tem was not so eager. She was worried this had all been a giant mistake—one that would once again hurt someone she loved dearly.
But it was too late to go back now. Adelaide had already told everyone they were coming.
They had to do this. When they reached the edge of the courtyard, they stopped.
Tem put her arm around Gabriel instinctively.
“What’s the holdup?” he asked, peering down the passageway.
“Caspen said he’d meet us here.”
It was true; Caspen had said that, although technically not to Tem.
They hadn’t spoken since she told him Gabriel was coming, and Adelaide had been the one to coordinate this meetup.
Tem was just starting to worry that Caspen wasn’t going to show after all when he emerged from the darkness, his skin glowing in the flickering torchlight.
“Gabriel,” he said, his voice low. There was a pause, and in it, Tem experienced a bout of minor panic. Were they really about to do this? This was absurd. What if Caspen reprimanded them? But to her relief, he said, “Thank you for coming.”
To Tem’s surprise, Gabriel performed an exaggerated bow, dipping his head nearly to his knees. “Thank you for having me.”
Tem pulled him upright. “There’s no need to bow,” she whispered.
“He’s a king, isn’t he?” Gabriel jerked his head at Caspen.
“Yes, but—”
“You’re supposed to bow to kings.”
Tem sighed. Before she could say anything else, Caspen raised his hand, subduing her.
“You are Tem’s friend,” he said calmly. “There is no need to bow to me.”
Gabriel smiled. Caspen turned to Tem. “Did you tell him the risks?”
“Yes, I did.” Tem neglected to say that she doubted he cared.
“No flirting.” Gabriel piped up, nudging Tem with his shoulder. “Right, boss?”
Caspen raised an eyebrow. Not for the first time, Tem prayed to Kora for patience. She needed Gabriel to behave just this once. Too much was at stake for this to go any way other than perfectly.
“Tem’s wish is for you to experience our culture,” Caspen said. “My people know you are coming, but I must be transparent. Some are not happy about your presence.”
For the first time, fear crossed Gabriel’s face.
“No harm will come to you,” Caspen said. “I will personally guarantee your safety.”
Gabriel relaxed, and so did Tem. She understood that this was Caspen’s way of making things right between them. He cared about the same things she did, even if he had very different ways of showing it.
Tem tightened her grip reassuringly. “Nothing bad will happen,” she insisted. “I promise.” She had absolutely no business making such a promise. But she made it anyway, as if by saying it out loud, she could guarantee that it was true. She turned to Caspen. “Will you make him calm?” she asked.
He tilted his head. “You may do that yourself. Remember you are a Hybreed.”
That hadn’t occurred to Tem. She turned to Gabriel. “I can make you calm, if you want.”
But Gabriel waved her off. “I don’t need that.”
Tem blinked. “What?”
“I’m already calm, Tem. I don’t need you to do…whatever you’re trying to do.”
To Tem’s surprise, an amused smile tilted Caspen’s lips. Tem wondered if he’d ever met a human like Gabriel before. Probably not; no one had.
“In that case,” Caspen said. “Let us begin.”
They followed him into the courtyard.