Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
And thus began their life together.
They remarried in the garden at Tem’s parents’ cottage, with Lilly officiating. Leo gave her no ring; she had never stopped wearing the one he’d given her the first time. Gabriel came, and so did Damon, who regaled her with tales from the sea. Tem invited Adelaide, who politely declined but sent an elaborate selection of shells. Tem set them on her mother’s mantel, where they looked right at home next to the spray bottle of salt water.
Apollo sent his own gift-an enormous bouquet of deep purple and red flowers. The color of a bruise.
Complex. And beautiful. Just like you.
It was strange to continue her life without the basilisks, to have something taken away that never felt like hers to begin with. But in a way, becoming fully human felt like returning home-like finding something she’d never truly lost. There was no doubt that Tem mourned the loss of her basilisk side. But every time she looked at Leo, she was reminded of what she’d gained.
He was always by her side. Especially in the beginning, he was never more than a few feet away. Tem wondered if he did it consciously, or if it was more for his benefit than for hers. Either way, she appreciated it. Whenever she reached out her hand, he was there. Whenever she needed him, he was there. He would always be there.
Besides, all had not been lost.
Tem retained the ability to manipulate emotions. She often calmed Leo down when he asked her to-when the trauma of what happened became too much for him. She could also still heal wounds-something she’d noticed while gardening with her mother. One moment she’d cut herself with the spade, and the next it was healed. She could speak to basilisks using her mind, although her father was the only one left to speak to. They did it often, and Tem was grateful for that. She had no idea if she could crest and was not willing to find out. There was a constant, insistent thrum of power in her chest at all times, radiating through her skin, warming her even when she didn’t mean for it to. It was Rowe’s, and Tem basked in the fact that he would hate that she had it. The only thing she truly lost was the ability to transition. But there was no need for that anymore. She would not love another basilisk; she would never again need to embody her true form.
But perhaps, since she was half-human, she would focus on her true human form and Leo. He had also lost a part of himself-he certainly hadn’t still been in love with Evelyn, but the reality of her had taken his memories of first love from him.
Evelyn’s presence was scrubbed from the castle long before Tem arrived, but Tem swore she still felt her in the hallways, watching her. Her pinched mouth was ever present, even now. Out of sight but not out of mind. Tem wondered where she was-if she had simply gone back to living one village over, or if she had gone somewhere farther away. Surely, she would find some other rich man to take advantage of. Perhaps, in another universe, she would be friends with Vera. The thought amused Tem. They would be the perfect match.
Maximus remained in the dungeons. Leo never mentioned him, and Tem didn’t either. But Tem knew Leo thought about his father. Every once in a while, she saw him touch the scars on the back of his neck-the ones Maximus had given him during the Cutting. Four scars. Fourth in his bloodline. Father and son. But Leo was nothing like his father.
He was always there for Tem, comforting her in the middle of the night whenever she woke up to cry. He stroked her spine, murmuring words of comfort until she fell asleep against his chest. They never talked about it the next morning. But she knew he would be there the next night when it inevitably happened again. Still sharing her, even after Caspen was gone. Two men. Two loves. Two kings. On the nights when things got especially bad, Leo read to her in front of the fireplace. She sat curled up in the armchair, soothed by the sound of his voice.
Her scar never healed correctly. Some days it itched so badly, Tem had to take ice baths to soothe it. She’d never enjoyed baths before. But now she savored them. Most nights, Leo pressed his lips to it before he fell asleep. When she asked him why he did this, he answered, “Because it brought you to me.”
They visited the graveyard every morning, the same way Leo used to do. They sat on the bench together, facing the old willow tree.
E + L
And then, right below it:
T + C
Love is complicated, after all. It never goes away. Only changes.
Eventually, Leo let her read the letters. It was only fair, considering Evelyn and Caspen had both read them-a fact Tem almost found funny. She was always, even now, the last to know.
Leo left her alone while she read them. Perhaps he knew she needed privacy. Perhaps he knew she might cry. But to Tem’s surprise, the first letter in the pile was not from Leo. She opened it with trembling fingers to see the words were written in unfamiliar script. The moment she started reading it, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Tem,
It is my understanding that Leo wrote you letters. I thought it only fair that I write one of my own.
At first I found it odd that he would leave such precious materials in the very room in which we were staying on the eve of his wedding. Then, given the content of the letters, I suspected it was not his doing at all. There is a certain type of cruelty that I have experienced only a few times in my long life, and Evelyn possesses it. Even after I knew she left them with the intention of me finding them, I must admit that I read every single one. It was not my proudest moment, and I apologize for doing so. But once I started, it proved rather difficult to stop.
I used to think that my love for you was stronger than Leo’s. But I see now that I was wrong. Humans, in all their untidy glory, are capable of emotion just the same as basilisks are. If not more so. You taught me that, and I am forever grateful for the lesson. It is because of these letters that I find myself understanding, finally, what I must do.
It has been agony to watch you love Leo and love me at the same time. I had thought that perhaps you might get over him-that when you chose me, you would forsake the human prince. That was a juvenile hope, and an ignorant one. I should have known that your heart does not work that way. You do not work that way. You love freely and wholly and without apology. You love even when it is inconvenient and infuriating and maddening. You love shamelessly. It is a stunning quality, and it is one I envy.
I love covetously. I love greedily and without regard for others. I swore I would never hurt you, and I have broken that promise many times over. I pray you forgive me. All I ask is that you remember me the way I was-before my anger took my kindness. I should never have married you. I do not say that to hurt you, so please do not take it that way. What I mean to say is that my love for you was selfish. I could not resist you, no matter how hard I tried, even when I knew that loving you meant drawing you into my world. I proposed to you without you knowing. I concealed details of my family, my quiver, my people. You took it all in stride when you should not have had to take it at all.
You came to me new and eager and innocent. I was living in darkness, and the sun came up when I met you. I could not believe how strong you were for someone so young. I have told you before, but it bears repeating: I fell for you the moment I met you. You are bold, tenacious, and unstoppable. You are the most capable woman I have ever met, and I have always wanted more for you. At first, I thought that meant me. But now I understand you are whole all on your own. I have no doubt that the life you live will be sensational. Leo is lucky to live it with you.
When my father died, he bequeathed his power to me, and it has been a burden every day since. Part of me has always known that you are far more worthy to wield it. Leo has always understood that about you. It is I who took too long to realize you do not need me to soar. I understand now why it was so difficult for you to transition-that the effects of the crest were debilitating. I should not have taken my anger out on you. It was never about your ability to turn. It was the reason you could not turn that tortured me. Perhaps, in the depths of my heart, I already knew things would end up this way.
Everything that has happened has been because of me. I am the one who drove you into Leo’s arms, all the while insisting you remain in mine. I am the one who demanded you crest him, and now his life hangs in the balance. It is killing you just as surely as it is killing him. I cannot blame you for loving him when I myself could not resist loving you. I understand, more than anyone, how you must feel.
You must forgive me if I am angry when you return from your conversation with Evelyn. You must forgive me if I am angry for a while. But I will not be angry forever, and you will soon know why. What I must do will seem cruel to you. But it is the only way to end this. Kora knows I am not perfect. But you do not need me to be perfect. You simply need me to make the decision I should have made a long time ago. I am sorry you will have to watch me die. But it is so you do not have to do the same with Leo. That would be too great a burden to bear, even for you.
Before you return and I destroy us, I owe you an apology. I should never have asked you to crest Leo. I knew how you cared for him. I knew you loved him. I could not have predicted that you would order him to find Evelyn, but in hindsight I should have known you would try to do right by him. You always try to do right by those you love. Believe it or not, I endeavor to do the same. In fact, I am endeavoring to do so right now.
There is one more matter I wish to mention. You know that I lived a long life before you, and you have often asked me about it. I wish I had answered your questions when you asked them, and now I will no longer be around to do so. But I kept a journal. Apollo knows where it is, and you are welcome to it if you wish. I want you to know everything there is to know about me. I am done keeping secrets from you.
After you consummate the crest, you will be able to transition again. Only then will you be strong enough to defeat Rowe. Only you can do the impossible. You are extraordinary, Tem.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to love you. I only hope I was worthy of your love in return.
Yours,
Caspen
Leo’s Letters
Leo’s Letters
Tem,
I am only writing these infernal letters upon your request, and I wish to state for the record that I think it is a stupid idea. But since I have no other ideas myself, I suppose I shouldn’t disparage it. Any idea, no matter how stupid, is worth trying at this point. I have to get you out of my head.
Yours,
Leo
Tem,
I told the caterers to make that souffl? tonight-the one we had when you stayed in the castle. Do you remember? Do you remember how I fed you a bite, then you kissed me on the cheek? I swear I felt that kiss for hours.
I would give anything for a kiss like that from you right now. Just one.
Yours,
Leo
Tem,
Dinner was torture tonight, as it is every fucking Sunday. Every time you reached for your whiskey, I thought you might be reaching for me. To make matters worse, your brute of a husband simply sat there and stared at me the entire time. Doesn’t he ever eat? Don’t answer that. I don’t want to think about what he’s been eating when it’s all I want to eat too.
Yours,
Leo
Tem,
Are you aware that every time you come here, you look more beautiful than you did the time before? How dare you look like that. It should be illegal to be so stunning. And don’t think I don’t notice when you wear something low-cut. I know you do it for me. And I know you know I know. Stop doing that.
Yours,
Leo
P.S. Never stop doing that.