Tem kisses Leo, and they go to her bedroom. As they are about to have sex, she is struck by excruciating mental pain from Caspen, who floods her mind with shared memories and jealousy. She begs him to stop, and the connection breaks, leaving her sobbing. She explains her telepathic connection with Caspen to Leo. Leo comforts her and reassures her that he is happy with whatever intimacy she can offer. They kiss again but do not attempt sex and eventually fall asleep together. In the morning, Leo leaves, and Tem realizes she loves both Leo and Caspen. At the bakery, Vera boasts that King Maximus told her she was his first choice, then taunts Tem about not having a father.

That evening, Tem goes to the caves. Caspen apologizes for hurting her and clarifies that he loves her. Tem retorts that his feelings don’t solve any of their problems. They argue about Leo, and Caspen reluctantly reveals that the quiver has stipulated a ritualistic trial Tem will have to undergo if she wants to be considered as Caspen’s bride. Caspen keeps insisting there is no point even telling her what the ritual entails, since he won’t allow her to undergo it. Finally, Caspen admits that she would need to prove herself to his father—by having sex with him.

Caspen explains that in basilisk culture, sex is a measure of power. If Tem does not perform the ritual, his people will view her as a pet rather than an equal. If she can successfully perform the ritual and be deemed worthy by the king, she will be accepted as Caspen’s mate and the future queen. Without coming to a decision about the ritual, Caspen leads Tem deep below the chambers into a giant audience hall and shows her a stone memorial. It records the names of missing basilisks, including many members of Caspen’s family. He explains that although humans and basilisks are ostensibly at peace, basilisks are frequently abducted and held captive in the castle, where they are drained of their blood. He explains that basilisk blood can be alchemized into gold, and that her claw necklace is made from his own blood. Tem wonders if Leo knows about these cruel practices. Caspen warns Tem she will soon have to choose a side between humans and basilisks.

They return to his chambers and have sex. Tem demands to know whom Caspen crested in his past. He reveals that there is a long history of feuding between the Drakon and Seneca clans and his father forced him to crest Rowe’s father, which allowed Caspen’s father to become king. As a result, Rowe hates Caspen.

The next morning, Tem returns home, more confused than ever about whether she should undergo the ritual, and whether she can reconcile her love for both Caspen and Leo. She asks her mother why she left Tem’s father; her mother says his family would not allow them to be together and that true love is proven by sacrifice.

The next evening, Tem attends the Passing of the Crown ceremony, where Maximus hesitates before placing the crown on Leo. Jeremy, Jonathan’s brother, shouts for justice, and the crowd turns violent, chanting for the basilisks to be killed. Leo promises justice but states he does not want to act in haste. The villagers are not satisfied and a riot breaks out, endangering the royals. Tem and her mother hurry home to avoid the violence; communicating telepathically with Caspen, Tem tells him about the riot and complains that his actions have triggered this violence. Caspen is unrepentant. He tells her war has begun and she must choose a side.

Unexpectedly, Leo arrives at the cottage and Tem is touched that he wanted to confirm her safety. He asks her whether she will attend the ball for the final five competitors and whether Caspen will be in her mind during this time. She promises to attend and admits she doesn’t know about Caspen; Tem kisses Leo, reassuring him. After he leaves, she sends Caspen a mental message agreeing to the ritual.

The next night, Tem meets Caspen to discuss the ritual she has agreed to perform. He explains the rules: She will have sex with his father in front of an assembly of hundreds of basilisks. She must be on top and she must have sex first with his father and then with him; both men must climax outside her body. Afterward, she and Caspen must have continuous sex in a public suite until midnight to test her stamina and prowess. They decide the ritual will take place the next evening, as Tem wants to complete it before beginning the final stage of the elimination competition (in which she will move into Leo’s palace).

That night, Caspen calls Tem’s name in his sleep. She enters his mind, feeling his intense desire alongside deep worry for her safety. They have sex, and Tem experiences it from his perspective, learning how he constantly fights his basilisk instincts to keep her safe. In the morning, Tem goes home and spends the day resting before returning to the cave at nightfall. Caspen leads her, naked, to a large auditorium containing a giant statue of Kora, whose open hands form a stone altar. Hundreds of naked basilisks file in to watch. The Serpent King, Bastian, enters.

Tem and Bastian have sex, and she uses the knowledge she has gleaned from her encounters with Caspen to give him pleasure. Bastian achieves orgasm and the crowd seems to approve. Tem overhears a telepathic exchange between Caspen and Bastian, who seem to be arguing about something. Before she can figure out what is happenings, Bastian formally gives Tem his blessing. Then, Caspen and Tem have sex on the altar. After they climax, the audience erupts into a mass orgy. Caspen warns her that the basilisks are about to transition and orders her to close her eyes. She feels his body transform into snake form as a rare hive orgasm occurs.

Caspen tells her it is safe to open her eyes and Tem sees that he and the other basilisks have returned to human form. They move to the public suite to have continuous sex until midnight. Basilisks watch, and some approach to touch Tem respectfully. Suddenly, Rowe Seneca enters the chamber.

Caspen is offended by Rowe’s presence since the ceremony is supposed to be limited to members of the Drakon clan. However, Rowe quickly leaves and Tem and Caspen carry on having sex for hours. Eventually, Caspen begins to transition against his will, and his transforming body starts to injure Tem. Just as they reach the end of the proscribed time, he breaks her pelvis and she passes out. When Tem comes to, Caspen heals her with his magic, lovingly tends to her injuries and carries her back to his chamber. While they have successfully completed the ritual, Tem notices that some basilisks judge her for being exhausted and injured after the ordeal.

After Tem rests, she questions Caspen about a beautiful female basilisk named Adelaide. Caspen admits he and Adelaide have had a sexual history and that she does not approve of pairings between basilisks and humans. He reassures Tem that Adelaide means nothing to him although she continues to worry about whether he would be happier with a fellow basilisk. Caspen explains that the clan will report their assessment of the ritual, and whether the match is accepted, soon.

Tem presses him to make plans for the future. If she is selected as one of the final three girls in Leo’s competition, she will be expected to move into the palace for the final stages. To Tem’s surprise, Caspen wants her to continue in the competition and move into the palace. Caspen also explains that the basilisk community is fractured and there are rumors of an impending coup against the current ruler (Caspen’s father). To assert his power, King Bastian wants to overthrow the human rulers. He believes that “if the Drakons are the ones to defeat the humans, the Senecas will fall in line” (309). Caspen reveals that Bastian’s plan to defeat the human royals involves a role for Tem. He also shocks Tem by stating that she is part basilisk: Her mother conceived her while training with a basilisk more than 20 years earlier.

Tem is astonished by the news that she is a hybreed (half human, half basilisk). Caspen admits that he has known since he saw the pattern of freckles on her palms (which her father shares) and their telepathic communication confirmed it (since only basilisks can communicate with each other’s minds). Caspen also shares that her father vanished and is believed to be one the basilisks held captive in the palace.

Tem is very angry he concealed this information from her and asks why he forced her to undergo the ritual. Caspen explains he does not want the other basilisks to know that she is a hybreed. However, Bastian discovered she is a hybreed by accessing her mind during the ritual. Caspen reveals Bastian’s plan: Tem is to marry Leo and use her unique hybreed power to crest the royal family at the wedding, allowing the basilisks to easily take over (since the royals will become submissive and obedient once they are crested). Caspen also explains that Bastian has been waiting for centuries for a hybreed to be conceived in order to execute this exact plan. However, Caspen does not want Tem to participate in the plan, since it will be dangerous for her.

Feeling overwhelmed, Tem rushes home and confronts her mother, who admits she hid the truth to protect her. Tem goes to the church graveyard and finds Leo there. Noticing Tem’s distress (but not knowing the cause), Leo asks her to spend the day with him at the castle, and she agrees. At the castle, Tem notices how Leo takes his opulent life for granted but opts not to tell him about how the royal family acquires wealth by draining blood from the basilisks. Eventually, Caspen’s voice enters her mind, telling her his quiver has made their decision.