Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
Evelyn turned to Leo. “We must show solidarity with our people.”
“Your people caused this,” Tem snapped. “My people died.”
“Your people are not people at all. They are snakes.”
All the rage she’d suppressed toward Evelyn was threatening to spill out at the seams now. Tem wanted to lunge at her, to rip her apart limb from limb. She wanted to throw her down in the dungeons with Maximus so they could both rot together for all eternity. She wanted to kill her. But before she could do any of that, Leo placed his hand on Tem’s waist.
Not her arm. Not her shoulder. Her waist.
A moment passed as they all stared at Leo’s hand. Suddenly, Tem realized how he was standing: his body facing Evelyn, his shoulder between them…protecting Tem.
“You should leave,” Leo whispered to Evelyn. “It’s what you do best.”
Evelyn raised a singular eyebrow. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and for a very real moment, Tem wondered if she was going to hit Leo. Then her shoulders relaxed, and her lips formed a cold smile. “We will discuss this later,” she said. “When we are alone.”
Then she swept out of the room.
The moment she was gone, Leo leaned against the mantel, the color drained from his face. Tem immediately crossed to the cart and poured him a drink. He took it, gulping it down without a word. Tem refilled it immediately. This one he sipped slowly, still leaning against the mantel. He looked completely worn down, and Tem wanted to reach for him. But they’d crossed so many lines already-she wasn’t willing to cross any more. Instead, she just watched him as he watched the fire, wishing she could make things better. His scent had changed, she realized. Leo used to smell like a summer breeze. Now he smelled heavier. Darker.
“Leo,” she whispered.
He didn’t look at her. “My guests are arriving,” he said stiffly. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
“Leo, wait-“
But he was gone, leaving Tem alone once more. She cast a single last glance around Leo’s bedroom before crossing the hall to hers. Caspen was sitting at the desk when she entered. He stood up the moment she opened the door.
“Tem,” he said. He had a curious expression on his face, as if he’d just realized something.
“Caspen.”
A pause. “I think it’s starting. We should go downstairs.”
“Very well. Lead the way.”
He didn’t ask her about her conversation with Evelyn. Tem didn’t know what she would have told him about it anyway. Instead, they made their way downstairs in silence. The ballroom was filled with familiar faces-all the royals who had just been at her wedding mere weeks ago were here again, for this one. Some of them looked rather wary, especially around Caspen, and Tem couldn’t help but remember that the last time they’d been here the basilisks had attempted a hostile takeover. She wondered whether they were worried it might happen again.
Notably absent was Maximus. Tem hadn’t expected to see him. Still, she found it significant that the father of the groom would not attend his own son’s wedding. Even Lilly was here, despite what she’d told Tem in the bathroom with the golden sink. When their eyes met across the room, she gave Tem a knowing look. Tem simply looked away.
The scarcity in the village was nowhere to be found here. Evelyn hadn’t been kidding when she said they would spare no expense. Great boughs of holly were wrapped around the columns, framing the ballroom like vines. Table after table was piled high with every type of food imaginable. Tem thought of the barren full-moon feast and fought the urge to vomit.
There were other notable details as well.
White flowers. Just like the ones Tem had picked. At first, Tem thought it might be a coincidence. But then she saw the harpist in the corner-the same one who had played at her wedding. There was no doubt in her mind that Evelyn had asked the maids what Tem had chosen, then chosen it for herself in turn.
Tem broke out in a sudden sweat. She shouldn’t be here. It was wrong. But she couldn’t leave. Caspen himself had insisted they attend. If she showed her hand-if she displayed any weakness or emotion whatsoever-Evelyn would win.
So she held her head high and stepped into the crowd.
Caspen never left her side. Despite their circumstances, Tem felt a sudden surge of appreciation for him-for just how difficult it was for him to be here. Every royal they passed looked upon him with pure terror. They recognized his height, his golden eyes. They knew he was a basilisk and that he had trained Tem. He was the Serpent King, after all. Many of them had been at the wedding of Leo’s mother, and Caspen had trained her too. There was no end to his influence. His legacy was not the only presence the basilisks had here. Tem saw gold everywhere-in the veins of the marble columns, in the grout between the tiles. Caspen’s people were tortured here.
Her people were tortured here. And Evelyn wanted to bring it all back.
They made the rounds of the room, hardly speaking with anyone. Finally, she saw a familiar face:
“There you are, dearest.” Gabriel bound up to them, wrapping Tem in his arms. “How are we tonight?”
“Could be better.”
“Good thing I’m here to cheer you up.” He moved on to embrace Caspen, who received it with a bemused expression. “I know where they keep the good booze.” He brandished two glasses of whiskey.
Tem took them both, downing them one after the other.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Celebrating tonight, are we?”
When Tem didn’t reply, he turned to Caspen.
“I heard about the weasel,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I’m so sorry.”
Caspen shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was not your doing.”
“I know. But I tried to warn you, and I couldn’t.”
“What?” Tem asked. This was news to her.
“Vera was in the Horseman bragging about it just before it happened. When I asked her where she got the idea, she said she was just following orders. I ran to the caves, but they’d already sent someone with the weasel.”
Tem and Caspen both stared at him, stunned.
“Orders?” Tem said. “Who is Vera taking orders from?”
At that exact moment, the sound of clinking glass filled the room.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Leo said. He was standing next to Evelyn, who clung tightly to his arm.
Tem turned to Caspen.
We don’t have to stay. This is going to be boring. And probably horrible.
Caspen’s hand darted around her waist, as if to hold her in place.
We shall stay.
They watched as the crowd cleared around Leo and Evelyn, giving them space to speak. Leo raised his glass.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for coming back so soon.”
A gentle ripple of laughter. Tem had forgotten how good Leo was at disarming people with his words. He waited until the crowd was quiet before continuing.
“For some, the path to love is simple,” he began. “For others, it is not so easy.” He paused, turning to Evelyn. “You were my first love, and I was yours. Our paths may have diverged, but we found our way back to each other again.”
It was an odd speech-notably different from the lyrical way he usually spoke. He wasn’t really saying anything. Leo seemed to be listing a series of facts, neither positive nor negative. It was true that he and Evelyn had been each other’s first loves. It was true that they had diverged, then come back together. But what Leo neglected to say was how any of that made him feel.
He looked straight into Tem’s eyes as he delivered his final line. “Somehow I always find my way back to you.”
Again, it was simply a statement. But it was enough for the crowd; they erupted into applause, cheering as Leo gave Evelyn a kiss. Tem’s stomach roiled at the sight.
Leo raised his glass. “To finding your way back.”
The audience raised their glasses. “To finding your way back.”