Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
A pause followed, and it took Tem only a moment to reach for Caspen with her mind.
Leo has agreed to apologize in person. When should he come?
Caspen took a long time to answer. But Tem was used to this; she knew how to wait him out. Finally, he responded.
There is a council meeting tonight. He can attend.
Tem tried to control her expression, but it was impossible. Not only did Caspen want Leo to come to the caves, but he expected him to attend a council meeting? That was far and away more dangerous than just meeting Caspen alone, which was already well beyond Tem’s comfort zone. A council meeting meant that Leo would be outnumbered by the most powerful basilisks under the mountain.
Are you joking?
I am not. He should apologize to us all.
Caspen. You’re being unreasonable.
His presence loomed larger.
Am I?
His mind overtook hers, and a vision of dead bodies flashed before her eyes. Tem saw from Caspen’s perspective as he knelt over them, touching their cold skin. She felt his grief. The sensation was horrible; Caspen’s heart was a raw, aching wound. He harbored such anger toward Leo-not just for the deaths caused by the weasel attack but for the pain that Leo’s family had inflicted on his for generations. Caspen’s next words cut through her mind like a knife:
He can come tonight. Or he will not come at all. That is final.
Tem felt as if she were going blind with anger-most of it Caspen’s. She closed her eyes and shook her head.
Fine. I’ll ask. But I don’t know if he’ll-
Caspen cut off their connection. Tem opened her eyes with a gasp.
“Tem? What’s wrong? What did he say?”
Tem stared down at her plate, attempting to get her bearings. Caspen was in a volatile mood, and the last thing Tem wanted was for Leo to go anywhere near him when he was acting like this. But she had no choice.
“He wants you to come tonight,” she said, looking up at him. “There’s a council meeting you can attend.”
“A council meeting? What happens at those?”
There was no reasonable answer to that question, so Tem opted to ignore it. “Will you come?”
Leo didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said simply.
Tem was struck by how quickly he’d answered. “Don’t you need to run it by Evelyn?”
Tem shouldn’t have asked that. It was a blatant attempt to get the answer to the question she’d been bursting to ask all night.
“No,” Leo said just as simply.
Tem sighed. Still no clarity.
Leo looked determined-an expression she’d seen on him before. She knew he wanted to make things right. But he didn’t really know what he was getting into. His only experience in the caves had gone relatively smoothly, and this time was bound to be different. This time, Caspen was not weakened by the effects of the crest. Leo was. This time, they would be surrounded by not one but many basilisks, in a place where Leo would be at a deep disadvantage. He would have no weapons against them, no defense. Tem was his only ally, and even she had a foot in both camps. Leo’s life was her responsibility. It was a precious burden, and one she did not bear lightly. No harm would come to him under the mountain. Tem herself would get hurt before Leo did. She would keep him alive. She would keep him safe.
“When is the meeting?” Leo asked, breaking her from her thoughts.
“Later,” she said. “We can go…after dinner.”
Neither of them had been eating. Another minute passed before either of them spoke again.
“You should know,” Leo said. “That there will be no more bloodletting. It is no longer necessary.”
“How is it no longer-“
“There’s no need for it.”
“But how are you going to pay for things? For food for the villagers? Where will you get your gold?”
Leo shrugged. “I will do what you suggested. I will get a loan.”
Tem stared at him. “That wasn’t a serious suggestion, Leo. You’d need the world’s biggest loan.”
“Then I shall try something else.”
“What else is there?”
Leo shrugged. “Anything. I will sell my valuables. Do you have any idea how much gold is in this castle?” He lifted up a spoon. “This could pay for a month’s worth of food for one villager. It will be quite a long time before we run out. And by then, I’m sure I will have figured out something sustainable.”
“Leo…that’s…”
“Anything is better than seeing you bleed, Tem.”
Tem couldn’t argue with that. “And what does Evelyn think of this?” She knew she was pushing him-forcing him to acknowledge the elephant in the room. But it was killing her not to know.
“Her opinion does not matter.”
Tem could wait no longer. “Leo,” she whispered, “where is she?”
Leo downed the rest of his whiskey. “She left.”
A chill ran down Tem’s spine. “Leo, I…” But there was nothing to say. Tem wasn’t sorry Evelyn left. It was the single greatest thing she’d ever heard. Pure, unencumbered joy swooped through her. “I’m sorry,” she said even though she wanted to say something else.
“For what, Tem?”
“For hurting you. I don’t want to hurt you anymore. I never wanted to hurt you, Leo. But it’s all I do.”
In the silence, they watched each other. Tem looked at the bags under his eyes, the pale hue of his skin that seemed even paler than usual. Guilt laced through her. The crest was still in effect. Leo would feel the physical ramifications until they had sex. It would wear on him, as it wore on her. But at least Leo was no longer with Evelyn-at least the very first step to undoing her mistake had been completed. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Leo looked at her too. Beneath his gaze, she felt peace. Beneath his gaze, she blossomed. They had sat through so many of these dinners-horrible nights with Evelyn right beside them, watching their every move. But now they were alone, and for the first time, Tem wished this dinner could last forever. All she wanted was to look at Leo. It felt as if she hadn’t really seen him in weeks.
“I’m sorry,” she said again.
“You already said that, Tem.”
“I’m sorry for something else this time.”
“Which is…?”
“That Evelyn turned out this way.” Tem was sorry for so much more. But that would have to do for now.
To her surprise, Leo shook his head. “She was always this way.”
Tem didn’t reply.