Page 209 of Between Two Kings

It was Apollo.

Not even thirty seconds passed before his shoulders jerked forward and a luminescent stream of cum pooled onto his palm. Adelaide’s voice entered her mind: That was impressive. Perhaps the quickest I have ever seen.

Does that mean he won?

It does indeed.

Tem remembered how the new mother had chosen Apollo to receive her blessing—how he had the favor of Kora. Perhaps that had influenced his performance; perhaps he was driven by forces beyond his control—or perhaps he was driven by Tem.

The rest of the men were still stroking their cocks as Apollo stepped forward, holding his hand out to Tem. She stared at the substance in his palm, her heart hammering. Before she could ask, Adelaide said, He is offering it to you.

Am I supposed to…take it?

Not exactly.

Tem didn’t bother asking a follow-up question. Somehow, she knew what she was supposed to do. Perhaps it was her basilisk side that desired it. Perhaps she, herself, wanted to do it too. Either way, she stepped forward so she and Apollo were face-to-face. Then she took his hand in hers, raised it to her lips, and licked the cum slowly out of his palm.

It wasn’t the first time she’d had Apollo’s essence in her mouth. But it was certainly the most public. The crowd was cheering so loudly that Tem fought the urge to cover her ears, concentrating instead on cleaning Apollo’s palm. His voice was in her mind:

Are you impressed?

That you finished in thirty seconds? Hardly.

It is not my fault you inspire such speed.

Don’t blame your shortcomings on me.

There is nothing short about me, and you know it, Temperance.

Tem dropped his hand and stepped back. Apollo stepped back too, standing to the side so Tem could see the rest of the contenders. Eros finished next. He did not offer himself to Tem, as Apollo had. Instead he stepped aside, standing near Apollo, leaving a gap between them.

One by one, the basilisks before her finished. One by one, they arranged themselves in descending order of ejaculation. Eventually, the line was complete. The crowd cheered, but Tem barely heard them. She knew what came next—knew the third tier would test her in ways she could not comprehend.

She also knew she was ready.

Adelaide’s hand was on Tem’s elbow, guiding her toward the line of basilisks. She looked up to see Rowe descending from the stands. Caspen remained seated.

“Isn’t Caspen coming?”

Adelaide shook her head. “You cannot touch him until the tournament is over. He will not participate.”

Tem hadn’t considered that Caspen wouldn’t be part of the third tier. There was nothing she wanted more than to be in his arms right now. One touch from him would heal her—a single brush of his lips would make this all endurable.

Rowe joined the line of basilisks at the end, filling the gap after his brother and right before Apollo. Tem stared at the three of them, trying not to panic. How was this happening already? The first tier had lasted a lifetime, while the second tier was over in the span of a heartbeat. In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.

“The third tier is symbolic of your journey,” Adelaide said, still holding her arm. “Each partner represents the lovers you could have had. Think of them as steps along a path. Each one will lead you to your final choice. You cannot skip a step, and you cannot veer off course. You must follow the path, from start to finish, in order to reach the end.”

Tem was barely listening. Her eyes were on Rowe, who was staring at her. His body was bruised and scratched, evidence of his fight with Caspen. The blood on him belonged to Caspen.

“Do not be afraid, Temperance,” Adelaide whispered.

Tem almost rolled her eyes. She was asking the impossible.

“You must remember that this is not the ritual. They must prove themselves to you.”

Tem remembered the ritual: the pressure to perform, the endless sex, the horrific crack of her pelvis as it broke beneath Caspen’s body. Adelaide was right; this was not the ritual. Nonetheless, Tem still felt similarities between the two events: like how when presented with a willing partner, Tem became willing herself. She couldn’t help it. Her basilisk side roared at the sight of so many naked men, hers for the taking. She could feel their minds against hers, sense exactly how eager and willing they were for her to ride them.

Tem understood their awe. It was an honor to be ridden by the queen—even more so to be ridden by a Hybreed. Tem had never experienced such a pull toward so many people at once before. Apollo and Caspen were just two men. Now there were eleven standing before her, rigid and willing and waiting. Who was she to deny them?