The basilisk is tall, attractive, and imposing, with golden eyes and dark hair. He introduces himself as Caspenon or Caspen. He reveals that his students are always chosen by the prince. Caspen notes that Tem does not seem as invested in the competition as women typically are. Caspen commands her to undress. After she insists he undress first, he complies, revealing his formidable physique. Tem undresses in turn.

Caspen examines Tem, determining she is fertile, and instructs her to gain weight and keep her hair long, as the prince prefers. He asks her to open herself for inspection. As he kneels between her legs, both become aroused. Tem begins to masturbate, and Caspen joins her. After they both orgasm, Caspen uses magic to transform his ejaculate into a smooth, curved claw. He tells Tem to keep it inside her to connect them while apart, explaining it will pulse when he thinks of her. Tem inserts the claw. Caspen walks her out, explaining that she will return the next night so they can continue their lessons. When Tem first feels the claw pulse inside her, she is overwhelmed by pleasure.

The next morning at breakfast, the claw pulses, confirming Caspen is thinking of Tem. At church, she sits with her mother and Gabriel while the congregation prays to Kora, a goddess of love and fertility. During the service, Caspen sends intense, prolonged pulses while Tem watches Vera openly masturbating Jonathan in a nearby pew. The pulses sync with Vera’s movements, and Tem climaxes just as the hymn ends. After church, Gabriel asks about the training, and Tem shares some details but omits the claw. She also meets with Vera, who reveals that her basilisk did not reveal his name to her, and merely looked at her naked body. Tem is thrilled that Caspen breached the norms of the training process for her. That evening, Tem prepares for her second session in the cave.

Inside the cave, Caspen gives her detailed information about their respective anatomies and the pleasures their bodies can provide. He guides her through bringing him to climax with her hand and then pleasures her in turn.

After their sexual encounter, Caspen and Tem eat together. He seems startled when he notices some freckles on her palm. He explains that, on the next night, she will not come to the cave but will instead go to the palace with the other girls so that prince can inspect his potential wives.

The next day, Tem is nervous about visiting the palace and disappointed that the claw does not pulse. She snaps at Vera after the latter taunts her for not having a new dress to wear for the viewing. Shortly before it is time to leave, Tem is startled to receive a package from Caspen. It contains a beautiful gown and a gold necklace with a smaller, pendant version of the claw hanging from it. Tem dresses in the gown and the pendant and gets into the carriage that has been sent to collect her. She arrives at the palace, dazzled by the lavish surroundings and the many wealthy guests who have assembled. She eventually slips away and explores the palace, noting paintings and emblems depicting the royal family’s triumph over the basilisks. She is startled to run into Lilibet, the princess and sister of the man Tem is competing to marry.

Tem wanders into a study and reaches for a basilisk skull displayed on a shelf. Caspen’s voice thunders in her mind, stopping her and flooding her with visions of the brutal war between humans and basilisks. Tem realizes that the basilisks suffered terrible losses during the war and most of Caspen’s family was killed. Suddenly, Prince Thelonius (called Leo) appears.

Tem and Leo talk about the skull. Tem senses that Leo is arrogant and entitled, but she is pleased to notice that he is clearly attracted to her. They drink together and engage in verbal sparring. When they part ways, Tem is worried that the prince may not be attracted to her blunt and forthright nature. Back at the party, she runs into both Vera and Gabriel (who works as part of the castle staff). Gabriel explains that a surprise elimination is going to take place, which alarms Tem.

In the ballroom, the 13 girls in the competition line up; Leo surveys them and then sends the two standing on either side of Tem home. Tem suspects he did so to maximize her fears that she was about to be eliminated. Then Leo assigns the remaining 11 to podiums based on his assessment of their beauty. Tem is outraged when Leo ranks her last. She pursues him as he walks out of the ballroom and chastises him. She is surprised to realize that Leo is insecure about whether she is attracted to him but decides not to reveal that she is. Tem speaks boldly to the prince before leaving, gambling that he will be attracted to her bluntness.

The night after her visit to the palace, Tem returns to the cave to see Caspen. He kisses her and they continue to explore each other’s bodies, but Tem is irritated when he refuses to engage in intercourse with her. Caspen points out that she is headstrong and impatient, which will likely not appeal to the prince. When Tem responds petulantly, Caspen orders her to put on her clothes and leave the cave. He does not give her the claw. For the next few nights, Tem visits the cave every evening but only engages in superficial interactions focused on Caspen’s pleasure. Caspen is cold and aloof with her.

On the fourth night, Tem refuses to continue these humiliating and lonely encounters. Caspen asks what she wants to do instead, and she says she wants to talk. He agrees. They converse for hours and he tells her about his family, explaining that he is part of a clan known as Drakon. After talking and laughing together, Caspen pleasures Tem again in a satisfying and intimate encounter. They eat together, and Caspen returns the claw, resuming frequent pulses throughout her days.

A short time later, Tem receives a formal invitation summoning her back to the castle.

Tem visits Caspen’s cave, worrying about her forthcoming visit to the castle. Traditionally, the next stage of the elimination will involve the prince kissing each of the competitors and then deciding who to eliminate, but Leo has already deviated from the process, so Tem is unsure what to expect.

Caspen initiates performing oral sex on Tem, but she is hesitant and admits that she is insecure. Without pressuring her, he reassures her, and Tem is touched by the care and consideration he shows. Tem asks why he can communicate with her telepathically, but she cannot speak to him; he claims he doesn’t know and can’t change this aspect of this condition. She also notices that he is reluctant to discuss the upcoming elimination. They spend most of the evening kissing and cuddling and then Tem heads home.

The following day, Caspen provides another dress, which Tem wears when she returns to the palace. Upon entering the palace, Tem is overcome with a sense of dread and hears a faint voice telepathically asking for help. She flees to the garden, where she encounters Leo near a maze. He flirts with her, telling her about how he typically seduces women by taking them to his room for baths and champagne.

Back in the ballroom, Tem begins chatting with some of the other women in the competition. She is shocked to realize that all of them are having sex with their basilisk mentors and wonders if Caspen is rejecting her. Hurt and angry, Tem finds Leo and kisses him forcefully. Afterward, Leo ranks her first in the competition and eliminates two more women. On the way home, Tem is informed that she will be going on a private date with the prince the following evening.

Tem’s mother is proud of her success in the competition, but Tem is conflicted. She frets about missing her training session with Caspen to attend the date with Leo. However, she is increasingly worried that Caspen doesn’t desire her, since he has not yet initiated sex, and she takes comfort that Leo clearly wants her. Tem is irritated when Leo sends a revealing dress for her to wear on their date, but Caspen communicates telepathically and instructs her to wear it.

That evening, at the castle, Tem meets Leo’s family, including his father, sister, brother-in-law, and uncle. King Maximus, Leo’s father, coldly assesses Tem, making a disparaging comment about her appearance. The king later corners Tem and cautions her not overstep her social position. He makes it clear that he does not consider her worthy of becoming a royal bride. When she reunites with Leo, he can tell that she is upset and is unsurprised that his father was rude to her. Tem’s realization that Leo has a strained relationship with his father makes her feel closer to him. They are flirting when Tem again hears the plaintive voice asking for help. Leo doesn’t seem to hear anything, and they go out to the maze together, where he questions her about whether she desires him. Tem is reticent but admits she is open to getting to know him better and exploring their attraction to one another.

After she departs, she overhears Leo and Maximus arguing. The king forbids Leo from choosing Tem and references Leo’s past with someone named Evelyn. Leo insists he will not let his father control him again.

Tem returns to Caspen’s cave, curious about whether he will ask about her date with Leo. She initiates performing oral sex on him. They are both enjoying the experience when Caspen abruptly begins transforming. Scales spread across his skin, smoke rises, and his form elongates. He orders Tem to leave as he transitions into his true serpent form, a deadly basilisk whose gaze can turn her to stone. Tem refuses so Caspen commands her to close her eyes, fighting the transformation with agonizing effort. However, Tam is unafraid and opens her eyes; unable to see clearly through the smoke, he begins sending powerful pulses. Tem feels intense pleasure and a newfound sense of intimacy, but when she reaches out and feels his scales, Caspen roars in agony and shifts back to human form.

Furious, Caspen berates Tem for her recklessness, saying she could have died. He orders her to leave. Before she goes, he heals her wounded hand with magic. At home, Tem sits in the garden and attempts to contact Caspen telepathically. After several tries, he finally responds.