Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
Tem drank the last dregs of her whiskeys. It was all she could do.
The celebration resumed, and Gabriel disappeared to the kitchens. Tem and Caspen found themselves near a group of royals whom Tem recognized from her own wedding. They were talking to Evelyn and Leo.
“We’re so excited to start a family,” Evelyn was saying. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Leo took a long sip of whiskey. When he didn’t reply, Evelyn continued.
“Everything worked out just the way it was supposed to.”
“I’ll say,” one of the royals said. “The last one was a chicken farmer, wasn’t she?”
It had been a long time since that simple taunt had made Tem blush. But it did so now, and she turned to Caspen. “Can we go?”
He was looking at the man with fury in his eyes.
Tem placed her hand on his arm, holding him steady. “Please, Caspen. I just want to go.”
But the man wasn’t done. “Seems like you upgraded. You wouldn’t want your children playing in chicken shit, would you?”
Immediately, Caspen opened his mouth to retaliate. But Leo beat him to it.
“Watch what you fucking say about my wife.”
Tem’s mouth fell open, and hers wasn’t the only one.
Evelyn stared at Leo with unbridled fury, her lips a tight, unforgiving line. There was no trace of hurt in her eyes-only anger. She reached for him immediately, clamping her fingers tightly around his arm.
“We’re leaving,” she hissed. “Now.”
Leo didn’t protest. He followed Evelyn out to the patio, and she slammed the double doors shut behind them. They were still visible through the glass panes, and Tem could see her beginning to yell. Tem knew she should turn away. But she couldn’t. Beside her, Caspen’s hand was gripping her waist. Tem felt for his mind, but it was closed off. She couldn’t fathom why. Perhaps he felt rage in that moment. Perhaps not. All she knew was how she felt, which was utterly enraptured by what was happening before her. She was watching their relationship fall apart. She could see it splitting at the seams like an old winter coat. Evelyn’s expression was one of complete fury and betrayal.
“Caspen,” she whispered, touching his arm again, repeating her earlier plea: “Can we go?”
He didn’t say a word. He merely placed his hand over hers and steered her out of the ballroom. Tem half expected him to take them outside, into a carriage, and back to the caves. Instead he guided her up the stairs, not stopping until they were back in their bedroom. The moment the door closed, he drew her into his arms.
Tem burrowed against his chest. All she wanted was comfort. All she wanted was him.
His mind was still closed. Tem didn’t know whether it was accidental or on purpose, and she was too afraid to ask. Instead she spoke out loud.
“He didn’t mean that. He just…” But she trailed off.
Caspen was the first to break the silence, finishing her sentence. “He loves you.”
He said it quietly. It was not a revelation-merely a fact. Tem didn’t know how to respond, so she simply said nothing. She had no idea how long they stood there. It wasn’t until a knock came on the door that they finally drew apart.
Caspen opened it to reveal Leo. He looked completely worse for wear. Tem had never seen him so worn down.
“May I…” Leo began quietly. An eternity passed as his eyes traveled from Caspen, to Tem, then back to Caspen. “…speak with Tem?”
The entire world went silent. Tem could hear nothing but her heartbeat, which was pounding like thunder in her chest. Tem looked at Caspen. She braced for impact.
But Caspen was only looking at Leo. He studied the prince with careful intent, clearly drawing some sort of conclusion. His nostrils flared. Tem held her breath.
“That is a question for Tem,” Caspen said. Then he stepped to the side.
Leo’s eyes met hers. “Tem,” he said, even quieter this time. “May I speak with you?”
Her mouth was completely dry. It took nearly all of her effort just to nod. As soon as she did so, Leo nodded back, turning and crossing to his bedroom. Tem looked up at Caspen, who was watching her closely.
“Do you want me to go?” she whispered.
Was she imagining it? Or did a smile cross his lips? “I want you to decide for yourself.”
Tem went. Just before she reached Leo’s bedroom, she looked over her shoulder to see Caspen one last time. But he was gone.
Leo closed the door after her. Tem couldn’t believe she was back in Leo’s bedroom for the second time in the span of an hour. This time, it was Leo who handed her a drink, and this time it was whiskey. She wondered wildly where Evelyn had ended up. Was she sequestered in another bedroom somewhere, drowning her feelings in expensive champagne? No. Tem would have bet everything she owned that Evelyn was still downstairs socializing, keeping up appearances, no matter the cost.
Leo still hadn’t spoken. In the silence, Tem thought of all the things she wished she could do. She wanted to run to him, to throw her arms around him, to press her lips to his. It was torture not to.
“You look beautiful, Tem,” he whispered. He shouldn’t be saying that. He shouldn’t be telling a woman who wasn’t his bride that she looked beautiful. But he was.
“So do you,” Tem whispered back.
Leo tilted his head. “Is that so?”
“Yes. Boys can be pretty too.”
He smiled. Did he remember when she’d said that to him the first time they’d slept together? Did he know that she still meant it? Tem had to break the moment.
“How are you feeling?”
To her surprise, Leo laughed. “How am I feeling?”
“I don’t know what else to ask.”
Leo crossed to the fire. “I don’t know how to answer.”
Tem joined him, and they stared at the flames together.
“I feel sad,” he whispered.
Tem turned to him. His gray eyes were shining. “Why would you say that?”
Leo stepped closer. “Because I can’t breathe when I look at you. Because it hurts”-he pressed his hands to his chest-“right here.”
Tem’s chest felt the same. It had felt that way ever since he’d walked off the stage at their wedding. Nothing had felt good since then. Nothing had felt right. There were too many memories here-too many reminders of what she and Leo had been through. Too many things that were no longer hers.
Leo was still talking:
“I think about you all the time, Tem. I can’t fucking stop. Nothing distracts me-nothing draws my focus. You’re always there, in the back of my mind, watching me.”
“I’m not watching-“
“I know you feel it too. I know what you did at our wedding did something to us.”
Tem stared up at him.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” He stepped even closer. She didn’t step away. “Something changed. We’re different than we were. It’s not just that you can give me orders. It’s something else-something permanent. Your basilisk magic bound us together, didn’t it?”
Tem didn’t trust herself to speak. She could only nod.