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It wasn’t even an option. But she had to say it. Bastian’s cold smile returned. He pointed a single finger over her shoulder. Tem turned to see Leo, who was leaning against a statue, watching them. “We had a deal, remember?” he murmured in her ear. “You perform the crest. I spare the human prince…

It was true. The sun was setting, and the early moon would soon rise. People were beginning to find their seats. They had to resolve this before the ceremony commenced. Tem turned to Caspen, her hand still firmly on Leo. “When you crested me, it wounded my basilisk side. It’s been dying ever since.” Caspen…

“Apparently.” There was a silence, and Tem dearly wished Leo had gotten her that drink. It was difficult not to feel nervous when Bastian was looking at her as if she were his next meal. It was not unlike the way he’d looked at her during the ritual. “Congratulations on your nuptials,” the king offered….

Her mind was spinning with worry-with fear. She felt slightly better now that she’d claimed Leo. But beyond that, she had no guarantees that anything would go well. Soon the basilisks would be here, at the castle, and they would be angry. They were ready for war-a war that was completely up to Tem to…

Eventually, it was time for Tem to say goodbye to her childhood home. She sat on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. She smelled the bottle of salt spray on her mother’s dresser. And she walked through the chicken coop one last time, reveling in the fact that she may never hear a…

“No.” Tem raised her eyebrows. He’d answered that awfully quickly. At the look on her face, Leo softened. “He won’t be pleased, Tem. I’d rather you not hear what he has to say.” Protecting her again. Tem nodded, because it was just easier that way. She didn’t particularly want to hear what Maximus had to…

She touched his arm gently. “Please,” Tem whispered. For a long moment, he didn’t react. Then he uncurled his fingers, letting his hands hang loose at his sides. They entered the cave. Leo was leaning against the wall but straightened when he saw them. He immediately glanced at Tem before looking at Caspen. A long…

Leo was smart. He knew that the timing of this meeting was not accidental, that surely, the basilisks were planning to take down the royals. He didn’t know about the crest-he had no clue that his father’s free will was being used as a bargaining chip. But there was no need for him to know….

Tem knew Caspen would never agree to meet with Leo. Their last meeting had gone so poorly, she wasn’t at all optimistic about how things would go if he saw the prince again. But even if Tem wanted to ask Caspen for a meeting, she wouldn’t be able to anyway-their mental connection was so weak,…

She shook her head. “No. He doesn’t. Not anymore.” “Of course he does, Tem. He is no different from his father. He will never show us mercy. He would have us all killed.” “Leo is not his father.” Caspen stepped closer. Tem resisted stepping back. “You are a fool if you believe that.” Anger coiled…