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

by Lindsay Straube

“Yes.” Vera smirked. “I saw his”—she glanced over her shoulder, then back at Tem—“cock.”

Ope

Everyone knew what the basilisk was for.

Some of us dont know

“Oh, Tem,” Vera giggled again. “You’ll find out eventually.” She paused, and her mouth twisted cruelly. “Or maybe you won’t. After all, who would want a girl who tastes like chicken shit?”

Little bitch

They’d won the war with mirrored shields. In exchange for the territory outside the wall, the basilisks agreed to use their seductive talents to train the prince’s future wife to ensure she would bear him an heir.

Ok??

Those three girls would sleep with the prince, showing off everything they’d learned during the training. The prince would choose his wife after that.

This is a crazy concept

“You hold the stars in your hands,” her mother had always said, rubbing Tem’s fingers between hers. “Just like your father.”

Tell me more

“Can you smell that, Tem?” “Smell what?” He made an exaggerated show of sniffing the air. “That is the smell of your virginity disappearing into the wind.”

Yo

“True love waits for no one,” Tem said bitterly. Gabriel snorted. “That’s not true love. That’s an unplanned pregnancy waiting to happen.”

I like him

And if it were to happen, the baby would be an abomination of nature: half human, half basilisk, forever caught between the two species, never fully fitting in with either.

Oh yeah? Sus

Tem’s mouth dropped open at the revelation. If what he said was true, it meant that Caspen was the Serpent King: the legendary basilisk whose power was far superior to all the others. His reputation was exemplary in the village; people talked about him like he was a god. Tem had the most coveted teacher.

Ooo hello sir

“It does not have a name,” Caspen said. “At least not one in your language.” “What is its purpose?” “It will connect us while we are apart.” “How?” Caspen stepped closer. “You will keep it inside you.” “Inside me?” “Yes.” His eyes traced back down her body, landing between her legs. Tem understood. Her blush returned. “It should fit perfectly,” he said.

Did he give her a plug??

“Like I said, it will connect us. I can make it…pulse.” “Pulse?” He smiled, and she melted. “When it pulses, you will know I am thinking of you.”

Oh

The fire was burning low by the time Caspen finally murmured, “We are done for tonight. You may get dressed.” Tem felt brave once more and said, “So can you.” His mouth slid into a devious smile. “I appreciate your permission.” “I gladly give it.” Caspen’s smile widened.

Oooo power flirting

“Will you think of me?” Tem whispered. Caspen didn’t turn. She stared at his shoulders, broad and strong in the dark. His silence was absolute; she could hear nothing but the rustlings of the forest around them, overlaid by the pounding of her own heart. He stood there for so long she wondered if he had even heard her. Finally, he said, “I told you I would.” “I know. I just…” Tem paused, crossing her arms and taking a deep breath before finishing, “I wanted to hear it again.” Caspen still didn’t turn. Instead, an aching pulse shot suddenly between her legs.

Girl... He said

She was at the end of a pew, leaning against Jonathan. Her shoulder looked like it was twitching, her arm jerking up and down in a steady rhythm. Whenever she sped up, Jonathan’s head would roll back, and every time it did, Vera’s shoulder would stop moving. Then it would resume a moment later with renewed vigor.

This chick is a hoe

She clung to him. It felt like her soul had been cracked open. “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.”

Ooo love that

Tem gripped the bench, as if by doing so she could grip him. Will you think of me? His reply was barely a whisper, lost in the wind. Constantly.

Ugh i chose Caspen.. Sorry little prince

Jonathan grabbed her dress, twisting the fabric in his hand. “But we’re not finished,” he sneered. “We haven’t even started.”

STAB

“Tell that to Jonathan,” Tem said without thinking. It was the first thing that popped into her mind, and she immediately regretted it. Caspen’s eyes narrowed. He looked her in the eye, and she saw all the anger in the world there. “I intend to.” Tem had never heard such fury in his voice before. “I…don’t want anyone to get hurt,” she whispered. Caspen smiled coldly, dropping his hands. “We cannot always get what we want, Tem.”

Grrrr

“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.”

Woof

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.

Oh... Oh well

“Please, Tem. If the prince doesn’t want you in linen, he doesn’t deserve you in silk.”

Yass

“You are not wearing the dress I sent.” Not a question. Simply a statement. “The prince sent me one too.” Caspen tilted his head. She couldn’t read his expression. “I see,” he said quietly. “And you could not choose.” Another statement. “I could,” Tem clarified. “But I didn’t want to.”

Symbolic much?

“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.”

Holy shit

“Temptation? Is that what I am?” His grip tightened on her shoulders. “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.”

Eeep

She stared, enraptured, as it changed shape into something she recognized: something long and hard and formidable. It was the most important part of Caspen—the part he trusted her to hold—and Tem was honored to hold it. She took the end in her mouth, swirling her tongue around its wide tip, doing what she knew he liked. Then she took it all the way down her throat, slipping it in and out in a steady rhythm. Faster.

This is wild

“You may think he is right for you,” Leo whispered. “But perhaps I am right too. And should you choose to kiss me tonight, he never has to know.”

Thats a rocky slope

“End things with him, Tem. Or I’m marrying Vera.”

So childish