Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
But Caspen would not be so easily convinced. “And when your possessions run out? What then?”
Leo sighed. “I do not know. But I am willing to have many more discussions to come to an acceptable solution for both of us, if you are willing.”
Again, an answer they liked. A murmur of approval went around the table, even from the woman who was still looking at Leo like she wanted to jump on him right then and there.
“And you think the villagers will tolerate such a solution?”
“The villagers do not care where their gold comes from. They care only that they have food on their plates.”
As a former villager, Tem knew that was certainly true.
“Still,” Caspen said, his voice low. “They are angry. They take it out on us.”
Leo pursed his lips. He had already apologized; there was nothing more he could do. Rather than fill the space with words, he let the silence sit, letting Caspen dictate where to take this next.
Tem waited, still holding her breath.
The next basilisk to speak was a man from the Seneca side of the table. “The villagers are not the only ones who are angry,” he said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“The outcome of the tournament was unacceptable to the Senecas.”
Caspen scoffed. “The outcome of the tournament is sanctioned by Kora. You cannot dispute it.”
“I did not say we dispute it. Only that it is dissatisfactory. She”-he pointed a finger at Tem-“belongs to us.”
Not this again. The entire point of the tournament was to settle this quiver dispute once and for all.
“You dare question my authority?” Caspen said.
“We question
Drakon authority. And we are not the only ones. If the attacks continue, why should we trust you to handle them?”
Caspen looked angry. That was nothing new. But something else was clearly present on his face: restraint. He was shifting in his seat, clenching his fists as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Tem reached for him with her mind:
Caspen? What is it?
They are speaking of rebellion.
I thought most of the Senecas went back to the sea. Are there even enough left to rebel?
They went to the sea to follow Rowe. He has planted seeds of dissent ever since. When the outcome of the tournament was not in his favor, it only made him angrier.
How do you know this?
I have seen it myself.
When?
He didn’t answer.
Tem thought about the gap of time after the tournament when Caspen had been gone for days. When she’d asked him where he was, all he’d said was that he was with Apollo. Was this the true answer? That he had been to the sea, that he had seen the signs of rebellion with his own eyes?
But what does this mean, Caspen?
It means that Rowe has become more powerful since the tournament.
Without thinking, Tem’s gaze fell to Caspen’s neck. The bite mark wasn’t bleeding, but it was red and angry, as if it were about to.
He plans to use that power to dethrone me.
You mean he plans to use your power.
Caspen didn’t reply. They both knew the implications of the bite-how Rowe could siphon from Caspen until there was nothing left to siphon.
The Seneca man was still waiting for his answer.
Finally, Caspen said, “You just heard from the human king. The villagers will be fed; there will be no more attacks.”
The man stood. “That’s not good enough.”
Caspen stood too. “You have my word.
That is good enough.”
The rest of the council stood too. Immediately, Tem stepped closer to Leo.
“Perhaps your word no longer holds weight, Caspenon. Perhaps the time has come to step aside.”
“Step aside?” Caspen scoffed. “And who would you have take my place? Rowe? He is a disgrace. He used bloodletting to galvanize himself. It is against our laws. He cannot be rewarded for that.”
“Perhaps our laws are outdated. Rowe is a visionary. He sees a new way to power.”
Caspen’s words returned to Tem suddenly:
The royals make their own rules. So, apparently, did the Senecas.
“That way is wrong,” Caspen said, his voice low. “We corrupt ourselves if we allow it.”
Basilisks determined their ranking by their sexual prowess. It was how they decided who ascended, who ruled. If Rowe had figured out a way to bypass it-to use his blood to give himself power and to take Caspen’s-their entire society was at risk. It would change everything about the way basilisks lived. It made it so anyone, no matter who they were, could fight for the throne. There would be no order, no process. It would be chaos.
The Senecas who stayed were supposed to be loyal, to fall in line. But the basilisks before her were anything but compliant. Tem knew without question that the meeting had spun out of control. Her gaze found Leo’s. She wished she could reach his mind.
“The Drakons have ruled long enough,” the man said. “It is time for a change.”
Caspen opened his mouth to reply. But his words were cut off by the loudest crack Tem had ever heard. Everyone in the room looked up at the same time to see an enormous fissure split the ceiling. There was another crack, and the crevice split more, fracturing into a lightning bolt. Rock began to fall.
Leo’s arms wrapped immediately around Tem’s waist, yanking her sharply away from the damage. All around them, the council members were in chaos, some running from the room while others cowered in their seats, their hands above their heads. Through it all, Caspen’s eyes met hers.
It has begun.
What has begun?
But Caspen was already in motion, moving so quickly Tem didn’t have time to blink before he had corralled both her and Leo into the passageway. The moment they were away from the council room, he turned to Tem.
“You must sleep together. Now.”
Leo blinked. “I beg your pardon?”