Page 140 of Split or Swallow

“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.”

“Why? Does your venom prevent it?”

“My venom prevents anyone else from cresting you. Technically, I still could. But I would never do so, Tem. You do not deserve that.”

“Are you saying it’ll hurt?”

“Not at all. But it is still a form of abuse.”

Tem had already made up her mind. Experiencing an orgasm from Caspen in such a way would surely be incredible. She needed to know how it felt.

“Do it,” she said again.

But Caspen was shaking his head.

“There is more to it, Tem. The crest forms a bond between human and basilisk. One that cannot be broken.”

“Aren’t we already bonded?”

“Not in this way. If I crested you, you would be compelled to do what I say, always. It would remove your agency.”

Tem frowned. She didn’t like the sound of that.

Caspen drove his point home:

“I could give you any order, and you would have to obey. If I told you to stab yourself with a knife, you would do so without hesitation.”

“You would never tell me to do that.”

“Of course not. But the bond extends beyond verbal suggestion. If I were starving and there was no food, you would cut off your arm to feed me, whether I ordered you to or not.”

Tem made a face.

“Ew.”

A smile twitched Caspen’s lips.

“Precisely. Ew.”

They were silent for a moment.

“Can you crest other basilisks?” she asked.

“It is forbidden for a basilisk to crest another basilisk. It is only meant for—”

“Humans,” Tem finished the thought. Of course it was.

“Yes,” Caspen studied her face in the flickering firelight. “Humans can withstand the crest because you are meant to give us power. Basilisks are not meant to dominate each other. It is an abomination of nature to crest our own kind.”

“But it’s possible, right?”