Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)

by Lindsay Straube

“Implications aren’t compliments.”

He studied her face before replying. “You do not follow instructions. You are stubborn. And impatient. Those are not qualities the prince will appreciate.”

This reader doesn't appreciate them either.

“You are not meant to be tamed, Tem.”

“I hate that you have this much power over me.” To her surprise, he laughed. “What’s so funny?” His grin only widened. “Of the two of us, I am not the one with the power, Tem.”

“Sixty seconds with you is worth an hour with Vera,” he said quietly.

“Am I not allowed to protect you?” he murmured. “You are,” she murmured back. “I just didn’t realize you wanted to.” Caspen held her gaze. “Protecting you is only the beginning of what I want to do.”

Relax, little viper.

She saw how they had been balancing on a treacherously thin knife’s edge ever since the night they met, and Caspen was finally done fighting the inevitable. She was his sun. He revolved around her.

Finally, Tem saw what everyone was looking at. There, in the middle of the square, were two stone statues. They were hunched on the cobblestones, cowering with their hands above their heads, as if in an attempt to protect themselves. Flayed ribbons of dried blood spattered the ground around them. Tem’s stomach turned to ice as she immediately recognized their faces. Jonathan and Christopher.

Jonathan and Christopher were dead because of Tem.

Girl shut up. They are dead because snake boy needed to defend your honor or whatever.

The pulse returned, gently this time, throbbing rhythmically against her underclothing. She closed her eyes, savoring the sensation.

WORST VIBRATOR EVER

Rowe is dangerous. Do not anger him. Tem nearly jumped as Caspen’s voice returned to her mind. Why not?

HE JUST SAID SO YOU MUPPET

“And if he thinks he can take what is mine.” Caspen cut her off, leaning even closer. “He is wrong.”

Ok caveman

It was a long moment before he spoke, and when he did, his voice was hoarse. “Am I to share you?”

This wasn't on my bingo card. A throuple???? I mean sign me up. Theres lots of book left

“You love Caspen,.” His voice was sharper than a knife. “So go to him.”

Hope dashed

“You are my future. It is as simple as that.”

“This is not just a necklace,” he said softly. “Then what is it?” Caspen paused, his fingers stroking the charm. “It is…a gesture of intent.” Tem frowned. “Intent to what?” His eyes found hers. “To marry you.”

huwhaat

“How long have you loved me?” Caspen held her gaze as he whispered, “Far longer than you have loved me.”

Be more evasive

Tem felt suddenly faint. “Is loving me really so horrible?” she whispered.

Stupid girl

“Temptation, salvation, heaven, hell—you are everything, Tem. You are my undoing. You are beyond comprehension. There are no sufficient words to describe you, either in my language or yours.” His hands moved to her face, cupping her jaw. “My compass points to you. I could not change direction even if I wanted to.”

“I am undone by you,” he said. “I crave your scent, your skin, your voice. I think about you all the time, to the point of destruction. You are unbearably overwhelming. I cannot resist you no matter how hard I try.”

Tem felt him come at the exact same time as a black liquid emerged from his mouth. Tem’s eyes stayed wide open as the substance dripped down the back of her throat. It tasted like smoke.

Uhh the fuck? Definitely something snakey

“My venom.” “Your venom?” “Yes.”

Kinky

“The crest is a way to extract power from a human. When you climax, the basilisk who crested you becomes stronger. Rowe wishes to draw power from you.” “Can’t he crest anybody? Why me?” “He can.” Anger crept into Caspen’s voice. “But I took something dear to him. He wishes to do the same to me.” “What did you take?” Caspen didn’t answer.

She definitely is out of her depth here

She was struck again by how little she knew of Caspen’s world and how out of step she was in it. There were untold dangers around every corner here—dangers she couldn’t anticipate because she didn’t know they existed in the first place. It was a problem that was beginning to feel insurmountable.

FINALLY realizing he is oh i dont know A DIFFERENT SPECIES ALTOGETHER and also a sworn enemy of her freaking people. She's so dumb

She counted thirty long seconds before asking, “Why have you never crested me?” “Because it is a violation.” “I want you to do it.” Caspen shifted so they were facing each other. “No, Tem.”

She doesnt even know what shes asking

Tem paused. “I thought you were the Serpent King.” To her surprise, Caspen chuckled softly. “Only humans call me that. It has no bearing on my actual title.”

Caspen waited until she was fully seated before answering. “I am the son of the king.”

It was only once she reached the end of the claw that she realized it had grown in her hand. Where before it could have fit in one palm, now she needed both hands to hold it.

What can't this thing do?

“We kissed for too long,” she whispered. “Impossible,” he breathed. “I’d kiss you forever if I could.”

Am I...team Leo???

Did she even have a right to be angry if that were indeed the case?

No. Because you are in love with a different prince. Unless this is going to be an epic throuple you don't get to have all the affection.

Leo was being honest and open—something Caspen couldn’t seem to accomplish.

#teamleo

But know this, Tem.” He leaned in, and she smelled his cologne. “Flirting with you is a pleasure. And a compulsion. One that, if I’m being truly honest, I doubt I can stop.”

SWOON. #TEAMLEO

“And I understand,” he said, cutting her off, leaning even closer, “that your loyalty lies elsewhere. Contrary to what you may think, it is not my intention to make that more difficult for you. I know what it is to have an occupied heart. But I cannot help how I feel. And you’ve made it very clear that I am not entitled to any part of you—that your heart as well as your body are to be earned. I ask only for the chance to do so.”

#TEAMLEOOOOOOOOOO

“Wait.” Leo grabbed her hand. “Would you do something for me?” She looked back at him. “What?” His hand tightened in hers. “Hold on to it.” “Hold on to what?” “Whatever it was that made you change your mind last night. Just…try to hold on to it. Please?”

Insert feet kicking

Despite what he’d just said, Caspen didn’t actually proceed to make his feelings for her clear. He was always talking like this, saying things in a vague way, avoiding straightforward declarations. No doubt a habit honed from centuries of finding ways not to lie.

Finally she gets it

Caspen’s love for her fixed exactly nothing, and Tem was utterly tired of that fact.

so tired and yet what will you do? Go back to his dick of course. You're so predictable.

All he wanted was for her to be safe—for her to fit smoothly into his life without the struggles that inevitably came with their relationship. But it was not destined to be so. Now Tem knew the truth—that she would never be accepted, that she would never be able to stand beside him as his equal in the eyes of his people unless she did this single unfathomable thing.

Took you long enough

“Where are we going?” “Patience, Tem.” “I can’t take any more surprises, Caspen.” He didn’t reply.

RED FLAG

“The royals use basilisks for bloodletting.” Tem frowned. “Bloodletting?” “It is a process where our blood is alchemized into gold. This”—Caspen touched the golden claw around her neck—“is a piece of me.”

“I left him because we could not be together.” “Why not?” “His family would not allow it.”

$10 says her lovah was also a snakey. what are the odds thse freckles mean tem is also part snake??

Was it really so wrong to picture them all together?

GET IT

I will do the ritual.

Ugh

Then, with a horrible crack, Tem felt her pelvis break.

What. The. Absolute. Fuck.

“A mate who must be carried to bed like a child, bleeding and broken. Is this who the prince deems worthy?” Caspen had snapped immediately back, “The king deems her worthy. An honor you cannot claim.”

Shame shot through her. “Do you not want me?” she whispered.

This bitch is INSUFFERABLE

“Are we never to be together?” Caspen’s grip tightened. “There are circumstances surrounding our union that you cannot comprehend.”

Then what was the point of LETTING HER FUCK YOUR DAD if you were never going to choose her

“I am the one who crested Rowe’s father. I paved the way for my own father to be king.”

Betting now that Rowe and Tem are siblings. Cliffhanger forsure

“Twenty years ago, a girl left the training process. She was pregnant by her basilisk.”

CALLED IT

Caspen shook his head. “No, Tem. He…went missing.”

Or you killed him