Page 328 of Split or Swallow

Something occurred to her suddenly.

The wedding would be dangerous. Not just for Tem, but for Leo. He was human, and he was the only son of the king. There was a target on his back. Rowe had tried to crest Tem. It was only a matter of time before he—or any of the other basilisks—did the same to Leo. Tem’s bargain with Bastian had spared Leo’s life—nothing more. She hadn’t thought to add a stipulation that nobody could crest him. Tem would have to protect him the same way Caspen protected her. She would give him her venom—she would claim him. There was only one problem.

Tem had no idea how to produce venom.

She’d only watched Caspen do it once—and she’d been mid-orgasm, so she hadn’t exactly been paying attention. Besides, she had no idea if her basilisk side was even strong enough to produce venom anymore.

It didn’t matter. She would have to try.

Tem did her best to imitate what Caspen had done, focusing on her neck and tensing the muscles just below her ears where she assumed the venom glands were. At first, nothing happened, and doubt cut through her. Then a shooting heat erupted in her throat, and she lurched toward the bar to spit into an empty whiskey glass.

Her venom was dark—practically black. Tem stared at it in bewilderment, wondering how she was going to get Leo to drink such a distinctive substance without him noticing. Even if he didn’t see it, she was sure he would taste it. Caspen’s had tasted like smoke—hers was distinctly woodsy in flavor.

But what if there was another way? What if she simply asked him to drink it? Caspen had given her his venom without asking. Was Tem really going to do the same thing to Leo?

At that exact moment, Leo walked in.

Tem looked up at him, still holding the glass.

“How did it go?” she asked.

Leo gave her a tired smile. “How do you think it went?”

“Are we still getting married?”

His smile turned into a real one.

“Tem,” he crossed to her. “I’d have to be dead in order for us not to.”

Tem smiled too. Then she handed him the glass.

“Drink this.”

Leo cocked an incredulous eyebrow at the black substance, holding it up to the light.

“What is it?”

“It’s my venom.”

Leo blinked. “Your…venom.”

“Yes.”

“And what is it doing in my nicest whiskey glass?”

“I already told you. I need you to drink it.”

“Yes, you mentioned that. But you didn’t mention why.”

“It will protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

“Oh, for Kora’s sake, Leo. Will you just drink it, please? You wouldn’t believe me anyway. I just need you to trust me.”

The words came out harsher than she’d intended. Leo’s eyebrows rose even more at her tone. He looked at her for a long moment, considering something. Then:

“Very well,” he said quietly.