Page 138 of Split or Swallow

“Yes.”

“But won’t that kill me?”

Caspen scoffed.

“Of course not.”

Tem sat up straight, hardening her voice.

“Don’t you dare make me feel stupid for asking that. Everyone knows basilisk venom is lethal.”

Caspen’s expression softened.

“My venom is only lethal if I bite you. It is harmless on its own.”

“What?”

This was complete news to Tem. All her life she’d been raised to think that basilisk venom was deadly.

“Venom is fatal when administered straight from the fang,” Caspen continued.

“So I’m not going to die?”

He pressed his lips to her neck.

“Not from what I just did.”

Tem felt a sudden swoop of anticipation. What had he just done? She’d never heard of a basilisk giving its venom to a human, even if it wasn’t lethal. He’d told her to open her mouth, and she had obeyed. No part of her had hesitated to follow his order, because she trusted him. It was that simple. But was she foolish for doing so?

She pushed him away.

“You should have asked me first.”

Caspen frowned. Tem continued before he could:

“You can’t just decide what to do to me. I deserve an equal say.”

“I cannot consult you on every single decision I make, Tem.”

“You can when your decisions concern my body.”

He didn’t respond.

“I would have said yes, Caspen,” Tem whispered. “To anything you asked. I always say yes to you. So just ask next time.”

He looked at her finally.

“Very well,” he said quietly. “I will ask next time.”

Tem nodded. Then:

“But what…exactly did you do?”

“I already told you. I gave you my venom.”

“I know what you did. But why did you do it?”

Caspen’s eyes met hers.