Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
Both Evelyn and Tem stood abruptly, their conversation immediately abandoned. Evelyn opened the door to reveal the one person Tem wanted to see more than anything.
Leo was wearing a dark suit, his hair slicked back. He looked similar to the way he’d looked for their wedding, and the thought made her want to cry. His eyes went to Tem’s before settling on Evelyn’s.
“The guests are arriving,” he said. “Are you coming downstairs?”
“Yes, of course.” Evelyn threw a glance over her shoulder at Tem. “We were just finishing up.”
But they were far from finished. So much had happened in the past few minutes that Tem could barely process it. There were a hundred loose ends, a thousand new problems, and no way to solve them. Tem realized suddenly that if there were to be no more Sunday dinners, this might be her last chance to talk to Leo. She had to seize this moment right here, right now.
Tem squared her shoulders, stepping forward so she was right in front of Leo. His eyes flicked to hers as she said, “There is something you must know.”
Evelyn’s head whipped around, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.
But Tem would not reveal her secret. Evelyn’s undoing would be her own. Instead, she would tell Leo the one thing she hoped would make him see reason-the only thing that could convey the gravity of just how bad things had gotten between the kingdoms: “Earlier this week, a weasel was released underneath the mountains. Forty-six basilisks died.”
Leo’s eyes widened. Evelyn’s narrowed.
Tem knew Leo was imagining, just for a moment, what life would be like if forty-six villagers died on his watch. She let the silence sit, wanting him to stew in that thought.
“So many deaths,” he said. “From a weasel?”
“Their scent is fatal to the basilisk. Everyone knows that.”
Leo nodded quickly. “Of course, it just seems…unbelievable.”
“Well, believe it.” Her answers were tight. Stilted. Tem was not in the mood to coddle Leo right now. She needed him to see her pain.
“What about you?” Leo asked.
“What about me?”
“I mean…does the weasel…affect you?”
He was asking if she was hurt, if she had been in any danger. Evelyn’s lips pursed.
“No,” answered Tem. “I’m fine.”
Unmistakable joy passed over Leo’s face. “Thank Kora.”
His words hung between them. It was entirely inappropriate for him to act so relieved. But there was nothing Tem could do about it. It was not her responsibility to monitor Leo’s emotions. If he wanted to act this way in front of Evelyn, that was his choice. Tem was past the point of caring.
“I will make sure to find Caspen tonight,” Leo continued, “and tell him he has my condolences.”
Tem noticed how he didn’t say “our.”
“You can tell him,” Tem said. “But it won’t make a difference.”
Leo ran a hand through his hair, displacing several strands.
“He’s angry, Leo,” she continued. “And he has every right to be. The villagers are the ones who did this.”
“But why would they do this?”
“It was retaliation,” Tem said. “For Jonathan’s and Christopher’s deaths.”
Leo sighed. “I would never sanction such an attack,” he said quietly. “Surely, Caspen knows that.”
Tem didn’t answer.
Silence fell.
Evelyn stood between them, her arms crossed defensively. Tem couldn’t read her mind, but it was clear she didn’t approve of any of this, that she was upset they were even talking about such things on the eve of her wedding.
“You said that forty-six basilisks died,” Evelyn said.
“Yes. They did.”
“So…” Evelyn said slowly, her eyes flitting first to Leo, then back to Tem. “Are they buried? Or do basilisks practice cremation?”
Tem blinked. Why was Evelyn asking about basilisk funerary customs? It wasn’t like her to care. “They will be burned,” Tem said.
“Oh,” Evelyn said with obvious disappointment. She seemed extremely put-out.
“Is that quite acceptable to you?” Tem asked.
Evelyn sighed. “Of course. I was merely inquiring.”
“Why do you care what we do with our dead?”
She shrugged. “It just seems like a shame.”
Leo went pale.
“How is it a shame?” Tem asked. “They will be properly honored.”
“It’s a waste.”
“A waste?”
Horrific comprehension crashed into Tem. She finally understood why Evelyn was inquiring about the bodies. To her, there was still a use for them.
“You want them for bloodletting?”
“If there are forty-six basilisks available, we should-“
“They’re not available. They’re dead.”
“I just think that-“
“Evelyn,” Leo snapped. “Enough.”
Evelyn pursed her lips, then fell silent.
Tem’s insides turned to flame. She was beginning to think that Caspen shouldn’t have left her unoccupied. Caspen, with his centuries of self-control, would be just fine. Tem, on the other hand, was a hair’s breadth away from committing murder. She directed her words only at Leo: “The attack must be addressed. And soon.”
Leo nodded. “I understand. I will apologize tonight, in person.”
Evelyn interjected. “You cannot apologize.”
Tem stared at her. “Excuse me?”