Page 68 of Between Two Kings

And what, exactly, was best for her anyway?

Tem knew it was Caspen. But sometimes, in the depths of night, she wondered if that were really true. Before she could ponder further, he appeared.

“Tem,” Caspen said, extending his hand. “You must stand. It is about to begin.”

Tem didn’t bother asking what “it” was. Instead, she allowed Caspen to guide her to the steps at the edge of the courtyard. From this vantage point, she could see basilisks gathering around the fountain. They conversed intently with one other before dispersing into a circle.

“What are they doing?”

“They are forming an ouroboros,” Caspen explained. “A sacred shape to us. It is infinite and represents renewal.”

“But what’s the point?”

“By participating in the ouroboros, we honor the cycle of our people. Mating season will result in many unions and will likely produce the next generation of children.”

The circle was growing—morphing into a large loop that surrounded the fountain.

“What do you mean by…participating?”

Caspen touched her waist.

“The ouroboros is a symbol of unity. It is meant to connect us. Members from each quiver will join the circle in opposing positions.”

“Opposing—?”

But Tem saw immediately what he meant. The basilisks in the circle were beginning to lie down in a specific sequence. The first lay on their back. Once that basilisk spread their legs, the next basilisk lowered their head between them. Behind them, another basilisk was on their back, positioning themselves between the legs of the first. Over under, over under. A simple pattern. Women connected with women, men connected with men, and vice versa. Everywhere, all along the circle, mouths went between legs, forming a living chain.

Caspen continued calmly, as if what was happening before them was completely normal and not absolutely unbelievable. “As each basilisk finishes, they will leave the ouroboros. The ceremony will end once everyone in the ouroboros has climaxed.”

Everyone was gathering into the circle—everyone but them.

Tem looked up at Caspen. “Aren’t we going to join?”

Caspen looked down at her, a mix of surprise and caution in his eyes. “Do you…wish to join?”

When faced with a direct question, Tem found she had no idea how to answer. The ouroboros was intimidating, to say the least. But there was also a logic to it. Some part of Tem understood the symbolism, understood how this was a unifying act for the quivers. In the ouroboros, they were all one. She wanted to be part of it. But after the night she’d just had, she didn’t know if she could.

“Tem,” Caspen said gently, breaking her from her thoughts. “It is not required. You do not have to if you do not wish to.”

She shot him a look. Was this like the ritual, where she didn’t “have” to do it, but if she didn’t, the consequences were catastrophic?

“No, Tem,” Caspen said, addressing her thoughts. “Our culture revolves around pleasure. If observing will give you more pleasure than indulging, that is exactly what you should do. This is not a requirement. I promise you do not need to participate.”

But Tem did want to participate. She wanted to join in and be a part of this basilisk tradition. The shame she felt from her inability to transition clung to her like tar. If this was a way to assimilate, it was imperative that she try.

“I want to do it. I’m a Hybreed. I can handle it.”

Pure pride brightened Caspen’s eyes. Tem knew he liked it when she acted like a basilisk, when she made an effort to reach what he considered to be her full potential.

He cupped her face in his hands, brushing his lips against hers. “Hybreeds are rare. But you are rarer still.” He was gazing at her with complete sincerity.

Tem had always been struck by the way Caspen looked at her—like she was capable of achieving miracles. And perhaps she was. “But I don’t want someone else’s cock in my mouth,” she said quickly.

To her surprise, Caspen smiled. “In that case, you shall only have mine.”

Only then did Tem realize that if she and Caspen joined the ouroboros, it would mean he would be pleasuring someone as well. Someone would be straddling his face, completing the circle.

Tem looked up at him. He was watching her calmly, and she knew he had already come to the same conclusion and was waiting to see what she would do. But even Tem didn’t know. In the pause that followed, Caspen said simply, “You may pick the person, if you wish.”