Tem and Caspen arrive at a courtyard full of basilisks preparing for a ceremony. Caspen leaves to speak with the council. Tem finds Adelaide and confesses she slapped Apollo. Adelaide warns her not to underestimate him, calling him reckless, and reveals that Apollo and Caspen once loved the same woman, who was later taken for bloodletting. Adelaide says it is an honor to be pursued by both brothers and that, as a basilisk, Tem can have them both. She explains that sleeping with Apollo is not only permitted, but expected (since he has a traditional claim to her).

Caspen returns, and they watch the basilisks form a circle, positioning themselves so that each individual is simultaneously performing oral sex on someone and also receiving oral sex from someone else. Caspen and Adelaide explain that this is a ritual known as the “ouroboros.” As each basilisk reaches climax, they leave the circle and are replaced by a new individual. The ritual ends when everyone has climaxed. Tem decides to participate, but stipulates that she only wants to take Caspen in her mouth. She chooses a blond basilisk who reminds her of Leo for Caspen to pleasure, and Adelaide to pleasure her. Caspen promises to time his climax with hers so that she does not have to worry about someone else replacing him.

As the ritual begins, Tem enjoys the experience of Adelaide pleasuring her and finds it exciting to think about Caspen engaging with another man. Tem is nearing climax when she feels Apollo’s presence enter her mind.

Apollo joins the ouroboros and begins pleasuring Adelaide, who warns that she cannot resist him for long. Tem panics, but Caspen and Adelaide telepathically work together to bring her to orgasm. Tem climaxes and sends Caspen a vision of herself with Apollo to trigger his simultaneous climax. They leave the circle together. Tem watches Apollo pleasure Adelaide and then the blond basilisk, feeling jealous both times.

The ceremony narrows to a final couple from the rival Seneca and Drakon clans. They are locked in a standoff, each refusing to climax first. To prevent a fight, Tem suggests she and Caspen trigger a “hive orgasm”: as the king and queen, if they publicly have sex, they will often incite a mass orgasm triggered by the powerful mental bond that interconnects the basilisk community. Caspen and Tem begin having sex but before they can finish, hostile Seneca men advance and Caspen stops. The sexual atmosphere dissipates.

Tem is confused; she knows that Caspen is tense and fearful, but she doesn’t know why. Apollo appears, warning that the Senecas want to take her and they must go. Caspen bristles at his brother’s command but pulls Tem away and rushes her back to their chambers. Caspen explains the Senecas want to kill her to seize her power. Killing a basilisk transfers their power, which is how he gained his father, Bastian’s, power and became king. A venomous bite can also create a connection allowing power to be siphoned. Tem understands she is a target but reasons no one would dare to hurt her, since doing so would ignite Caspen’s wrath.

A few days later, Tem, Caspen, Evelyn, and Leo reconvene for dinner. Tem is angered by the lavish decorations she sees in the palace and the expensive wedding that Evelyn is planning. Caspen asks about the protests; Evelyn confirms they continue and hints vaguely at actions that will be taken to suppress them. When Evelyn mentions having children, Tem becomes furious. Caspen uses their telepathic connection to calm her.

In the bathroom, Leo’s sister Lilly finds and comforts Tem. Lilly encourages Tem to tell Leo the truth about her feelings and insists he deserves better than Evelyn. After dinner, Leo asks to speak with Tem alone. Leo mentions various topics: due to the loss of income now that bloodletting has been abolished, he is considering expanding the fishing industry. He also explains that he is investigating the deaths of the two village boys, since this incident ignited the anger of the villagers. (Leo does not know that Caspen killed the boys after they assaulted Tem.) Abruptly, Leo announces that he has questioned his father about forging the letter that prompted Evelyn to leave. Maximus denied ever writing a letter, and now Leo is conflicted about Evleyn’s claims.

Despite her own misgivings, Tem tells Leo that he can’t trust Maximus and points out that Evelyn returned to him. Leo becomes furious, demanding to know what she and Evelyn spoke about in their private meeting. Tem tells him to calm down. Because of the crest (a magical act that Tem performed upon Leo during their wedding ceremony), he is compelled to obey her. Leo’s confusion prompts Tem to explain the full implications of the crest (which he was not aware of when he consented to Tem cresting him). Leo is frustrated and quickly realizes Tem also used the crest to compel him to find and reunite with Evelyn.

Leo and Tem affirm that they still have feelings for one another, but Tem insists they must resist their attraction. Tem suggests he write her letters as an outlet for his emotions. She says she might read them someday but for the time being, Leo should hide them. Leo agrees but says he does not want her to write any letters to him. Tem is relieved because she knows Caspen can never find out about her feelings for Leo.

Back at the basilisk colony, Tem sleeps alone and then goes to the banquet hall to eat. Apollo joins her and they engage in flirtatious banter. Eventually, Apollo moves away and initiates a telepathic seduction by masturbating for her. Eventually, Tem begins to touch herself. Just as Tem nears climax, Caspen arrives and sits beside her. Encouraged by both brothers, Tem and Caspen have sex while Apollo watches. The experience is pleasurable for all of them but afterwards Tem realizes she is a pawn in their game and that Caspen used her to assert dominance.

The next morning, Tem and Caspen discuss the previous night. He admits he is sometimes jealous but also enjoys the feeling of competition and possessiveness that his brother ignites. Tem is left unsure what to do about her simmering desire for Apollo. Later, Tem goes to the village for the full moon celebration fest, which marks the beginning of the lead up to Mother Night (a sacred holiday and the date of Leo and Evelyn’s wedding). As soon as Tem arrives, she notices that the feast tables are nearly bare due to the food shortage. The villagers are angry, guards have doubled, and the protest message still marks the church. The villagers seem resentful and bitter towards Evelyn and Tem realizes they would have preferred for her to be the one ruling.

Tem finds Gabriel, who hints that something is going to happen and that Tem should leave the village, since she is now considered a basilisk (and thus, an enemy). Tem and Gabriel argue about the future of their friendship after Gabriel admits that he no longer trusts her. They are interrupted when a riot erupts, and the villagers set the church on fire. Tem tries frantically to find Gabriel in the crowd. She locates him just before the church explodes; Gabriel shields her with his body and pulls her to safety. He warns her that “the snakes are next” (160).

Tem stumbles into the forest, where Apollo finds her. He comforts her and Tem admits she cannot petrify because Caspen refuses to teach her. Apollo speculates that Caspen does not want Tem to have to live with the knowledge she has killed someone, but he offers to teach her. Tem hesitates, clinging to hope that she will be able to persuade Caspen to teach her. Back in her chambers, she confronts Caspen about being unreachable (she sought his help telepathically during the riot and he did not respond). She feels rejected when he says he was hunting and claims there would be no point in her accompanying him since she cannot transition into her snake form.

Without revealing the riot, Tem explains that the villagers are becoming more resentful of the basilisks and expresses her frustration that Caspen doesn’t seem to care about humans. Impulsively, she proposes bringing Gabriel to the caves to experience basilisk culture. Caspen has reservations and points out dangers for Gabriel (he could be crested or petrified) but Tem pleads that they must do something to prevent further violence. Caspen tells Tem that the decision is hers, but she must live with the consequences.

Tem is still pondering the idea when it comes time for their weekly dinner at the castle. She and Caspen find the foyer empty upon their arrival and impulsively have sex. Leo appears moments after they finish, leaving Tem unsure about whether he saw them.

Evelyn and Leo lead Tem and Caspen into the dining room. Tem notices the tense atmosphere between the other couple. Evelyn reveals wedding preparations have stalled because the kingdom’s finances have collapsed. She suggests that some basilisks volunteer to donate blood (which can be alchemized into gold). Leo points out that more gold would be helpful to the villagers, but Tem can tell that Evelyn is only thinking about herself and likely returned to Leo to enjoy an opulent life that is now eluding her. Hoping to prompt Leo to feel more compassion for the basilisks, Tem volunteers to be bled. Both Caspen and Leo immediately forbid it. Tem puts pressure on Leo, forcing him to explain how he can justify bloodletting for others if he won’t subject her to it.

Evelyn interjects, suggesting they let Tem undergo bloodletting. Caspen is enraged. Leo caves and says Tem can make her own choice. When Tem says the procedures will begin the following week, Caspen storms out. Evelyn also leaves. Alone with Tem, Leo confesses he is unhappy in his marriage. He explains that Evelyn has changed and become greedy. Tem does not feel any sympathy, accusing him of following in his father’s footsteps and acting out of greed and cowardice.

Tem finds Caspen in their chambers. He explains he cannot allow bloodletting to resume, since it represents a threat to basilisk lives. He rejects Tem’s argument that Leo is merely falling in line with Evelyn’s wishes and urges Tem to use the crest to control Leo. Tem refuses to do so and Caspen threatens to crest Leo himself (as the Serpent King, he has the power to do so). Tem is horrified by Caspen’s arrogance and tells him that he will lose her forever if he crests Leo. When Tem confirms her love for Leo will never fade, Caspen is disgusted.

A few days later, Tem goes to the tavern and invites Gabriel to the basilisk colony. Gabriel is intrigued. He asks if the basilisks will leave the villagers alone if he goes, and Tem says they will. Gabriel cracks jokes, but seems to grasp the seriousness of the opportunity, especially when Tem cautions that she can’t promise to keep him safe. They walk to the caves together and undress (basilisks are always naked). To Tem’s relief, Caspen meets them at the courtyard entrance. He warns Gabriel that some basilisks are unhappy with his presence but personally guarantees his safety. The three proceed into the courtyard.