Cassius froze, staring. The sight was both alien and oddly magnetic, the twin tongues sliding like paired serpents, flickering in and out of the dim light. Erotic, unsettling, beautiful, horrifying, every word applied at once.
But Nala didn't see it that way.
Her heart hammered as she saw his expression, saw his eyes widened, his lips parted, and she misunderstood all of it instantly. Her cheeks flamed deeper, her gut twisted like she'd been stabbed.
To her, that was disgust. That was shock so deep it bordered on horror.
He wanted to run, she was sure of it. He wanted to tear his gaze away, but couldn't.
She then slammed her mouth shut, teeth clicking, her face aflame as she drew herself back in a rush.
Triumph poured over her words like venom as she spat.
"See?! I told you! I told you you wouldn't like it! No human man could ever stomach this! Even among lamia—no one else has this cursed tongue, just like my white tail. You can't love me like this, you can't!"
