Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
Caspen paused. And then: I will ensure that it is.
Tem heard the resolve in his voice. It brought her little comfort.
Tem? Caspen said when the silence dragged on. Will you attend?
Tem sighed. I’ll decide later.
Another long pause. Of course. I await your decision.
Tem severed their connection without remorse.
“Tem?”
She blinked. Leo was staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Where did you go?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you…went somewhere just now. Were you talking to him?”
Tem was surprised he could tell. There was no point in hiding it. “Yes.”
Leo’s brow furrowed. “What did he say?”
Tem hesitated. Was she really going to talk to Leo about her mind connection with Caspen? The day could hardly get any stranger. “He wants to see me tonight.”
Leo’s lips formed an unhappy line. “Do you want to see him?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“Yes.”
“I imagine that would make him angry.”
It is your right to spend time with whomever you choose.
“Yes. It does.”
“Is that why you came?”
Tem blinked. “What?”
Leo shifted, leaning toward her. “Did you come here just so you could make him angry?”
She considered the question. There wasn’t one singular reason why she’d come here. A combination of things had collided into a single perfect circumstance that resulted in her having breakfast in Leo’s bedroom.
“Partly. But I also came because I wanted to.”
Leo’s eyes held hers.
She had no idea whether he believed her. When he didn’t reply, Tem whispered, “Should I leave?”
He shook his head. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Even after what I just told you?”
To her surprise, he smiled. “Especially after what you just told me.”
Tem’s stomach turned over. There was so much more she had to tell him. They hadn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg. Leo didn’t know she was a hybreed, that she was capable of cresting, that there was a mutiny being planned as they spoke. He didn’t know anything that mattered.
When Leo saw the expression on her face, he sighed and said, “One thing at a time, please, Tem.”
Tem pursed her lips. He was right. One thing at a time.
“You’ve made it clear you won’t have a bath,” Leo continued. “Or champagne. So tell me, Tem, is there something else you’d care to do?”
She thought for a moment. “Will you read to me?”
Leo arched an eyebrow. “What shall I read?”
“The Raven and the Swan.”
Leo tilted his head, studying her. Then he said, “Very well.”
He stood, crossing to the bookshelf. On his way back to her, he lifted a blanket from the end of his bed and draped it over her shoulders. Tem was moved by the unexpected gesture. It reminded her of when he’d given her his cloak in the graveyard. The blanket was warm, the fire even warmer. Leo read calmly, and Tem found herself drifting off to the sound of his voice.
When she woke, she was still in the chair, wrapped in the blanket. Tem glanced over to see Leo fast asleep, his long legs still crossed, the book still open in his hands. The fire was almost out, and afternoon sunshine was peeking through the bedroom window.
“Leo,” Tem whispered.
He didn’t wake.
“Leo,” she whispered again, reaching over and tugging on his sleeve.
His eyes opened and he sat up, looking around at her. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Tem said. “It’s afternoon. You fell asleep.”
Leo stretched, uncrossing his legs. “On the contrary, you fell asleep. I didn’t think it polite to wake you.”
Tem gave him a look.
He smiled, then it faded. “In truth, you seemed like you needed it.” He paused, and his voice dropped. “I’ve…never seen you so peaceful.”
Tem stared at him. He was being sincere. “Oh,” she said. “Well. Thanks, I guess.”
“My pleasure.”
There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other. Then Leo’s mouth twitched. “Speaking of pleasure,” he said, snapping the book shut and setting it on the armrest. “We could-“
“No,” Tem said firmly. “We couldn’t. You’re about to ruin a perfectly nice moment.”
“Hm,” he said, still smiling. “I rather think it would enhance the moment. But if you insist-“
“I do insist,” she said, standing up. “Can you just take me home, please?”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.