Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
It wasn’t even an option. But she had to say it.
Bastian’s cold smile returned. He pointed a single finger over her shoulder. Tem turned to see Leo, who was leaning against a statue, watching them.
“We had a deal, remember?” he murmured in her ear. “You perform the crest. I spare the human prince and his sister.”
“I don’t trust you anymore,” she snapped. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?”
Bastian’s voice dropped even lower, sending a chill down her spine. “Because otherwise, his death is guaranteed. Are you willing to take that risk?”
Tem knew the answer, even if she didn’t like it. She already had too many deaths on her hands; her fingers may as well have been dripping with blood. She would do anything for the chance to spare Leo. And Bastian knew it.
But Tem no longer believed that Bastian would keep Leo and Lilly safe. Their deal meant nothing; any promise of peace was a false one. It didn’t matter that Tem was marrying Leo to bring their two worlds together; it didn’t matter that Caspen and Leo wanted a different future for the kingdom. Nobody would be spared from the wrath of the Serpent King. The crest was supposed to save them all. And now? Bastian was forcing her to choose between Caspen and Leo. If she performed the crest, she lost Caspen. If she didn’t, she lost Leo. It was an inconceivable choice and one that was pointless. No matter what she chose, Caspen’s death was all but guaranteed.
Tem could see no way out, no solution to this terrifying problem.
“There has to be another way,” she said desperately.
Bastian let out a humorless chuckle. “The time for negotiation has passed, Temperance.” He took a step back, appraising her. “Crest the royals as soon as the ceremony is over,” he said, his voice like silk. “Or accept the consequences.”
Then he was gone.
Tem stood there, completely numb, her mind racing. Before she could even blink, a hand was on her back.
“Tem.” Caspen’s voice broke her from her trance. “What did my father say?”
What indeed.
Tem looked up into the golden pools of Caspen’s eyes, wanting nothing more than to lose herself within them.
“Tem,” he insisted. “Tell me.”
Just when she opened her mouth to speak, Leo appeared.
“Tem,” he said. “Is everything in order?”
Caspen’s eyes flicked to Leo’s before returning to Tem’s. For a moment, nobody said anything. Tem was deeply aware of how odd they must look-the prince, his future wife, and the basilisk, standing at the edge of the maze.
She turned to Leo. “I’m fine.” She turned to Caspen. It was time he learned the truth. “Your father means to crest me.”
Caspen frowned. Leo frowned too, and Tem knew he was about to hear some things that he wouldn’t understand and might deeply disturb him. But she could do nothing to prevent that now.
“Why would he do that?” Caspen asked.
“He knows I’ll be a threat once I perform the crest. He won’t let that happen.”
Caspen’s frown deepened.
Leo held up his hand. “Please,” he said. “I must know. What is a crest?”
To Tem’s surprise, Caspen answered. “It is a way for a basilisk to gain power.”
“By what means?” Leo asked.
But Caspen was done answering questions. He turned back to Tem. “You are the love of my life. My father would never crest you.”
Beside her, Leo scoffed, and Tem prayed he’d stay calm. This was not the time for petty jealousy.
“I told you, that’s exactly what he’s going to do. He admitted it, Caspen.”
“He would not-“
“Wouldn’t he?” Tem cut him off sharply. “There is no end to what fathers would do to their sons.”
A muscle twitched in Leo’s jaw. A similar one twitched in Caspen’s.
Caspen shook his head slowly. “He knows our engagement is bound by blood.”
“Engagement?” Leo interjected.
Tem placed her hand on his arm. She needed him to stay calm for just one more minute.
“Yes.” Tem nodded at Caspen. “He knows.”
“That means he…”
Caspen trailed off, and Tem watched as the truth dawned on him. A myriad of emotions passed over his face. None of them were surprise.
“He values power more than he values anything else, Caspen,” she said. “Including you.”
Caspen’s eyes met hers.
There was an incredible sadness in them, along with something resembling resolve. Perhaps Caspen had always known his father was capable of this. Bastian had asked him to crest another basilisk after all-an act that was forbidden. He cared nothing for the lives of others. He cared nothing for his family. He only cared for himself.
“There is a simple solution,” Caspen said.
“Which is?”
“You will not perform the crest.”
Tem sighed. They were coming to the heart of it now. She would not be able to conceal the truth any longer. “I have to,” she said.
“And why is that?”
Tem paused. In the silence, both men stared at her, Caspen with anger and disbelief, Leo with restrained bewilderment. Caspen shifted closer. So did Leo.
It was time.
“I’m…hurt,” Tem said.
“Who hurt you?” they asked at the exact same time.
Tem bit her lip. She looked at Caspen. “You did,” she whispered.
Caspen’s eyebrows shot up in surprise before knitting together with immediate concern. Beside her, Leo let out an enraged sound, and Tem tightened her grip on his arm.
“It’s not what you think,” she said quickly. “He didn’t mean to.”
“That hardly matters,” Leo scoffed. He was already stepping forward.
Tem moved between them, still aware that they were at a wedding-her own wedding-and there were people watching. “Stop it, Leo. We don’t have time for this.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.