Chapter Twenty-Four #2
Tem still didn’t answer. She was too busy adjusting to how close he was standing, how overwhelming he was when he was just inches from her face.
He smelled like smoke, just like all basilisks did.
But there was an undertone of something else layered within Apollo’s scent—something fresh, like the forest. He smelled like wood, like trees.
It was intoxicating, and it was all Tem could do not to press her nose to his chest and breathe him in.
At the thought, a wave of his hunger crashed into her mind.
Apollo wanted her. But more than that, he wanted her to want him.
Tem understood the distinction. It wasn’t enough for Apollo just to sleep with her.
He needed Tem to initiate it—to need it as much as he did.
She felt his desire for her grow the longer they stood there staring at each other.
She almost wondered whether there was a limit to it.
It was different than Caspen’s desire. His was laced with emotion: deep, intimate feeling and care.
Apollo’s was animalistic, bordering on predatory.
He wanted to dominate her, to possess her—to take her.
Sex with Apollo would not be gentle. It would not be loving or intimate.
It would be rough and raw and turbulent, and Tem wasn’t entirely sure she’d survive it.
It was intriguing, to say the least.
Tem still hadn’t answered his question. Apollo still hadn’t moved any closer.
They were at a stalemate, and Tem knew it was up to her to break it.
But did she even want to? Caspen had made it clear he would allow this.
He’d practically encouraged it. But men were funny creatures, and as Adelaide had said, they were stupid.
Apollo held the power in this moment. But Tem knew if she said the exact right thing, she could take it from him.
I want you to teach me how to petrify.
His eyes narrowed. I think you want something else.
Well, I don’t.
You are delicious when you are in denial.
The spell was broken. Tem wrenched herself away. “Can we just get on with it already? I don’t have all night.”
He laughed.
“Forgive me. I did not realize you had somewhere to be.”
Tem had nowhere to be and nothing to do but this. But rather than admit that, she crossed her arms and glared at him. Apollo’s mouth was still turned up in amusement as he jerked his head toward the forest.
“Follow me,” he said.
Tem did so.
They walked slowly. Apollo adjusted his pace to match hers, waiting patiently while she navigated the rough trail with bare feet and a shorter stride.
When they passed through the wall, Tem glanced in the direction of her childhood cottage but quickly looked away.
They were headed toward the far end of town, into a sprawling field.
The night was cold; Tem’s breath crystallized before her.
“If I had known we were walking this far, I would have worn clothes,” she grumbled.
Apollo let out a soft laugh. “But then you would not have been naked.”
“This is ridiculous. Anyone could see us.”
“Dawn is still an hour away, Temperance. And we are in the middle of a field.”
He was right. But still. “My feet are cold,” she grumbled.
“So warm them.”
“How?”
To her surprise, Apollo stopped. He turned to face her. “Did my brother not teach you how?”
“How to do what?”
“All basilisks have the ability to regulate their temperature. You are a Hybreed, which means you should be able to as well.”
Tem frowned. Caspen certainly hadn’t taught her that. Although to be fair, there were plenty of things he hadn’t taught her. His resistance to teaching her things was exactly the reason she was here with Apollo in the first place. She wasn’t surprised there were other secrets he’d withheld.
“How do I do it?”
“You can use your mind”—he tapped the tip of his finger gently against her temple, and Tem tried to ignore his proximity—“to direct the blood flow in your body.”
Tem was barely listening. He was standing so close to her.
“How?” she whispered.
“I can show you, if you wish.”
Tem nodded. She could do nothing else.
Apollo’s hand moved to cradle her face, his palm cupping her cheek. She felt his presence enter her mind, and she welcomed it.
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?”
The corners of Apollo’s mouth creased. “So impatient.”
Tem rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
Apollo let out a bark of laughter. “No one has ever told me to shut up before.”
“I find that exceedingly difficult to believe.”
He shrugged. “Most find me a witty conversationalist.”
“Most are wrong.”
Apollo only laughed again.
“Apollo, wait.” Tem grabbed his arm, and he stopped. “I…” But she trailed off. She’d hoped that the fear nagging at her stomach would have disappeared by now, but it hadn’t.
“I don’t want to murder anyone.”
Apollo raised an eyebrow. “I see. In that case, I shall take you back to the mountain.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I want to learn to petrify. I just…don’t want to kill anyone innocent.”
Apollo took a small step closer. His breath joined hers. “Innocence is not a measurable element, Temperance.”
“I know. But can’t we pick someone who deserves to die?”
Apollo tilted his head. “Such as?”
“I don’t know. A bad person.”
“And how would you determine that they are a bad person?”
Tem sighed. She supposed there wasn’t really a way to determine that.
Truth be told, she hadn’t thought this part through.
It was true that she wanted to learn how to petrify, but she hadn’t thought about who she would petrify.
If Jonathan or Christopher were still alive, she might’ve volunteered them.
Maximus was the only other bad person she knew, and he was sequestered in the dungeon, his imprisonment punishment enough.
“I don’t know,” she said again. “But there must be a way.”
Apollo considered her. “I see what Caspenon meant.”
“Excuse me?”
“He told me you were sensitive.”
“Sensitive?”
Apollo raised his hand. “Please do not take offense,” he said, and the sincerity of his tone surprised her. “I know you are part human. I understand it is important to you that your own kind does not suffer.”
At her silence, Apollo stepped even closer.
“I cannot guarantee they will deserve it. But if it will ease your mind, we will choose someone who would be better off dead.”
When she still didn’t reply, he sighed.
“Temperance,” Apollo said quietly. “You can trust me.”