Author: admin

“I trust I have your confidence,” Evelyn said quietly. She had nothing of the sort. Tem would not be silenced-she would not allow the sacrifice she’d made to be for nothing. To keep Evelyn’s secret would be to lie to Leo. It would mean betraying his trust-trust that Tem had only recently earned and barely…

The truth was she didn’t want to leave Caspen unaccompanied. Tem had no idea what he would do here in the castle, alone and angry, without her by his side. Will you be here when I’m done? I will. Still, Tem hesitated. She was waiting for something-waiting for him to say- Go. At his command,…

“Whispers about what?” “A coup.” “A coup?” “Food is scarce again, Tem. Not to mention a man disappeared, and people think it was the basilisks.” Tem’s stomach turned. The man again. The one she’d petrified. His disappearance had fanned the flame of rebellion, and it was all her fault. “Jeremy took over when I…stepped down….

Tem’s mouth fell open. She could think of a number of reasons, and they were all terrible. Perhaps Evelyn wanted to punish Tem and, in turn, punish Leo. By bringing her here to the castle, she was rubbing their wedding in Tem’s face. There would be no place to hide, no way to avoid what…

“If my cock is out, I’m going to fuck you.” “I want to see it.” He smiled. “I know you do.” “Please, Leo.” “No, Tem. And don’t ask me again.” Tem couldn’t beg anymore. There were more important things happening-things that required her attention. The handle was moving quickly now, in and out, exactly as…

Anger darkened Caspen’s face. “It’s fine,” Tem said quickly. “We’ll be fine. Just go.” But her words were useless. The situation was beyond negotiation-beyond reason. They were rapidly approaching a precipice and were all out of control. They’d been circling it for days, she realized. Perhaps weeks. It had begun the first night of mating…

Her parents’ cottage was dark; it was late-or maybe it was early-and they were surely asleep. Tem knocked on the door anyway, pounding her fist until her father opened it, staring at her with bleary eyes. “What is the matter, child?” But Tem did not have the words. Everything was the matter. “Temperance?” Her mother…

Beside her, Apollo touched her waist. “I thought you merely cared for him, which I understood, given your circumstances. But you sent him away, Tem. You chose me.” Everything he was saying was true. Tem had chosen Caspen. But her mind had made the choice-not her heart. And the heart was not so easily swayed….

“You were willing to share me,” she whispered. “What changed?” “Your feelings for him.” “Those have always been the same.” Caspen just shook his head, smoke still curling around him. “Well, what did you think I felt for him?” Tem cried. Caspen spread his arms wide. “Infatuation. Lust. Either of those I could tolerate forever….

“I don’t know what to do,” Tem whispered. “I swore I would protect you,” Apollo said quietly. “But I cannot protect you from yourself.” Tem nodded because she couldn’t seem to speak anymore. She understood exactly what he was telling her. If everything fell apart-if her love for Leo destroyed her relationship with Caspen-it would…