Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
“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 be entirely her fault. Nobody, not even Apollo, could prevent that from happening, as much as he might want to.
Tem had always known the facts; it was why she’d resisted Leo for so long. But there was no elegant solution here. If she didn’t sleep with him, he would die. And if she did, Caspen would kill her. How was that an acceptable outcome? Tem had fallen for both of them, and now their fates were intertwined because of it.
Apollo leaned in, and for a split second, Tem thought he might kiss her. Instead he brushed his lips gently along her cheek before whispering in her ear: “I cannot bear to watch you die.”
Despite his heat, Tem felt a chill. She’d never considered how this would make Apollo feel. The pain would be horrific for him. He would feel not only grief but guilt. His role in this was unquestionable now. The last thing she wanted was for Apollo to watch her die, much less at the hands of his brother. The loss would wound them both. Apollo had once told her that she could not break them. But Tem had a feeling she could.
She had just opened her mouth to speak when a voice cut between them: “Tem?”
It was Caspen.
For a moment, no one spoke. It felt like a mirror of when Caspen had found them in the grotto. That night had ended in orgasm. Somehow Tem doubted this one would too.
“Tem,” Caspen said again. The word was slurred. That’s when Tem noticed the goblets in his hands. He’d already started drinking.
“Brother,” Apollo said. “Steady.”
Tem raised her eyebrows at the warning. She had never heard Apollo chastise Caspen before. Caspen’s narrowed. “Do not command me.”
The air seemed to go cold. Tem couldn’t understand how things had taken such a quick turn. One moment, she was having a conversation with Apollo, and the next, everything felt wrong.
“What are you doing here with her?” Caspen asked.
Apollo rolled his shoulders. “Am I not allowed to speak with whom I wish?”
“There is no reason for you to speak with my wife.”
“Possessiveness is unbecoming, Caspenon.”
“I did not ask for your opinion on the subject.”
“She is not your property.”
“She is mine.”
Here it was again-the implication that Tem belonged to Caspen. He had said it many times before, and it had always been true. But it wasn’t the whole truth. She belonged to Caspen, yes. But not only him.
Caspen’s eyes slid to Tem’s. They were turning black. “Unless…” he said slowly, setting the goblets down and crossing his arms. “She is not.”
Tem crossed her arms too. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I saw what happened at the tournament. I saw you hesitate.”
Tem’s stomach dropped. How long had she stood in the arena, making her choice? She’d hoped that her moment of crisis hadn’t been obvious. But if Caspen saw it, that meant everyone did.
“I saw you hesitate,” he said again. “And now I find you here, with him.”
Tem blinked. “What are you saying?”
“You love my brother.”
“What? Why would you think that?”
“Because it is obvious.”
Tem almost laughed. Nothing could be less obvious. “I don’t love-“
“You can admit it, Tem. It will not hurt me.”
Tem stared at him, her mouth open. Of course it would hurt him. But it wasn’t true-not even remotely. She did not love Apollo. She loved Leo, and it was going to be the death of them all. “I don’t love Apollo,” she said. Beside her, Apollo shifted. Tem had no idea whether she had hurt his feelings by saying that. But his feelings were the least of her worries right now.
Caspen’s jaw tightened. “Do not lie to me.”
“I never have.”
“You are lying right now.”
“No,” Tem said firmly. “I’m not.”
In the silence that followed, they both stared at each other. Tem couldn’t understand why this was happening. It was ridiculous. Caspen had been completely led astray-he’d interpreted everything incorrectly, drawn all the wrong conclusions. But the truth was so much worse. Falling for Caspen’s brother would be understandable-acceptable, even. Caspen had said so himself. To jump from one brother to the next was not only socially acceptable, it was expected. Tem wished she were in love with Apollo. That would make everything easier. But she was not. And Apollo knew it. And soon, Caspen would know it too.
“I don’t love Apollo,” she said quietly but firmly, every inch of her spine pricked with anticipation as she gathered the courage to say what she knew Caspen needed to hear: “I love Leo.”
A deadly silence fell.
In it, Caspen looked at her with a curious expression on his face, as if he were realizing something for the very first time. Even Apollo did not speak. He glanced between the two of them, clearly bracing for impact.
“You told him to find Evelyn.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t love him.”
“You sent him away,” Caspen said.
“Two things can be true,” Tem whispered. She had sent him away. And she loved him still.
“You concealed this from me.”
“No. I didn’t.”
“You did. You lied.”
“I told you that I-“
“You did not tell me the whole truth.”
Tem fell silent. She had never seen Caspen like this. He was angry, first and foremost. But he was also drunk-she could see the effects of the elixir manifesting on his body. Smoke curled over his shoulders and down his arms, streaming from his fingertips. His eyes were completely black, boring into hers. His next words were a dangerous whisper:
“You did not tell me it was real.”
“I was completely honest with you,” Tem whispered back. “You were there. You agreed to share me.”
“I only agreed because
I knew I would lose you if I did not.”
Tem’s mouth fell open. Was this the truth at last? If they were speaking of lies, this was one of them. It was just as great a sin for Caspen to withhold this from her. It was not what they had agreed upon, and it was not fair.