Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
“He fought with his father?”
“He did indeed.”
A chill rushed through Tem. It was because of her. It had to be. There was no other possible explanation as to why Leo hadn’t proceeded with the elimination.
“Well, what happened?”
Gabriel was drinking his mead with the same arm that was around Tem’s shoulders. She kept having to dodge his glass every time it went to his mouth.
“You sure ask a lot of questions.”
“Gabriel.” She grabbed his arm, pulling him so they were face-to-face. “Focus. What did Leo say to Maximus?”
“You know,” he said lightly, tapping the tip of her nose with his fingertip. “You’re rather bossy tonight.”
Tem sighed.
Gabriel pressed his lips to her cheek before answering. “I didn’t hear what was said. I was in the kitchen. But I’m sure Vera knows.”
Tem’s eyes found Vera, who was standing on the edge of the square looking decidedly less superior than usual. Was she one of the girls whose basilisk never met with the prince? Tem remembered the jealousy on Vera’s face when she saw Caspen touch her waist. Perhaps she was angry that her evening with Rowe had been cut short.
“I’d rather not talk to Vera,” Tem muttered.
“You and me both.”
Tem rolled her eyes, grabbing Gabriel’s glass of mead and downing the rest of it in one gulp.
He gasped in mock surprise. “Thief.”
“Oh, shut up. The next one’s on me.”
Gabriel laughed. “How very generous of you.”
Everyone drank for free during the festival. The alcohol was provided by the royals, and it was notoriously strong. Tem and Gabriel spent the next hour flitting around the square, drinking far more than they should. For Tem, it was a way to distract herself from what might happen later. For Gabriel, it was just another weeknight.
They were on what felt like their tenth glass of mead when Caspen’s presence loomed suddenly into her mind.
Tem.
Tem immediately spilled her drink onto the ground.
“Oy,” Gabriel yelped as he leaped backward. “Careful!”
“Sorry,” Tem muttered. To Caspen, she said: How was the council meeting?
A long pause.
Eventful.
It was a typical Caspen answer. Just enough to appease her-not enough to actually tell her what had happened.
Are you in trouble?
Another pause. No.
She had to trust he wasn’t lying. Still, it seemed impossible that there would be no consequences for his actions. Tem decided to push the matter: Will your quiver accept our engagement?
This time, the pause lasted so long, Tem thought he might have closed the door between their minds. A flare of irritation snapped through her.
Caspen? Will they accept?
His voice came back to her. On one condition.
Which is?
His hesitation was palpable. She sent an insistent wave of impatience at him, making it clear she would not wait any longer.
Tell me.
Not now.
Why not now?
We will discuss it the next time you are here.
Tonight?
No. You will come to me tomorrow.
But we-
I have matters to attend to tonight, Tem.
But-
Caspen severed their connection.
A hot coil of anger curled inside Tem. She hated it when he did that. It made her feel helpless in a relationship where there was already a significant imbalance of power.
“Tem.” Gabriel’s arm was around her again, jolting her abruptly back to the present.
“What?”
“Mr. Jawline has arrived.”
All the mead in the world couldn’t prepare Tem for the sight of Leo. He was flanked by his father and Lord Chamberlain, his long legs closing the distance to the stage. Lilly followed close behind, and Tem wondered what she thought of all this. It must be strange to watch her brother go through a public courtship process. Then again, nothing the royals did was particularly normal.
“He looks sad,” Gabriel whispered, pulling Tem from her thoughts.
Tem studied Leo’s face. His mouth was a tight line, his eyes on the ground as he walked. A wave of tenderness flowed suddenly through her. The last thing she wanted was to see Leo sad. To think he might be sad because of her was unbearable.
Gabriel nudged her. “Guess you’ll just have to cheer him up.”
To Tem’s surprise, she found that she wanted to. Before she could reply, Leo clapped his hands, and the crowd fell silent.
“Would the seven beautiful ladies I’ve had the pleasure of courting please do me the honor of joining me onstage?”
Tem watched as Vera nearly sprinted through the crowd. With a heavy eye roll, she handed Gabriel her mead and followed suit, falling into line behind the other girls. When they reached the stage, Lilly extended her hand to each girl, helping them up the steps. When her hand touched Tem’s, she winked.
Tem didn’t have a chance to wink back.
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.