Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
Caspen smiled. “Yes, that is the hope. But your heart may call to someone else, Tem.”
“How would it do that?”
“The tournament demands that you be honest with yourself. When it is over, your heart will call to your true mate.”
“Then my heart will call to you.”
“You cannot predict the outcome of the tournament.”
“Of course I can.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You cannot. It is not your decision to make.”
Tem shook her head. “I don’t understand. You said I would get to choose.”
“Your heart will choose. The heart does not practice logic or reason-it cannot decide who is best for you-it will simply decide who it wants most. It is not a practical choice, but a fated one.”
Tem didn’t like the sound of that at all.
Caspen finished quietly, “If your heart calls to someone other than me, we will both be forced to abide by its choice.”
This was a terrible time for Tem to be put to a test of fate. Her heart was in two places; it always had been. What if her heart called to Leo? She could only hope that a human wasn’t included in the ancient magic of the tournament. Perhaps her heart would only consider fellow basilisks. Of course, that wasn’t good either. Tem thought about Apollo and how close they had been lately. She couldn’t deny that there was an intimacy between them. It certainly wasn’t love, and it was nothing compared to what she had with Caspen. But the heart often knew things far before the mind did. And based on what Caspen had told her, it seemed there was always the possibility of surprise.
The heart does not practice logic or reason. That much was certainly true. And it might be the end of her.
“Temperance,” Adelaide said. “I know this must be a lot to process. But you will be partaking in a tradition that is centuries old. The tournament has a purpose-one that is bound by fate. It is how we will judge who is worthy of your hand.”
“Caspen is already worthy of it. We’re already married.”
“That may be the case. But two things can be true. You are already married, and that marriage is now in question. Those are the facts.”
Tem crossed her arms. As it turned out, she hated those facts. She opened her mouth to protest again, but Adelaide held up her hand.
“It is an honor to compete for you. Our people will be anticipating the tournament.”
Tem shook her head. She’d had just about enough of these infernal basilisk traditions. Could they not do anything normally? Everything was a ceremony or a tradition or a special process that required a thousand impossible steps. Everything was complicated and impossible. Tem was tired of the course of her life being determined by a group decision. If she couldn’t decide who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, then what was the point of living at all? Perhaps death was preferable to such a lack of control.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t want any part of it.”
“You feel that way now,” Adelaide said gently. “But you may find that the basilisk side of you demands to join.”
“What happens if I refuse to participate?”
“It would be unheard of,” Adelaide admitted. “But it will not matter whether you choose to participate. The tournament will go on.”
“How?”
“The tournament is an avenue for your heart to make its choice. If you choose not to participate, the choice will be made for you.”
Tem wrinkled her nose. “And how, exactly, will it be made for me?”
“The twelve contenders would all fight for you,” Caspen said quietly. “To the death.”
***
The next few days passed in a blur.
Mating season was over, but that did not mean it was quiet underneath the mountain. Buzz about the tournament spread quickly; Tem couldn’t go more than a hundred feet in any direction without hearing someone whisper about her or Rowe, or both. Much to her surprise, the general consensus seemed to be excitement. Tem supposed she could understand that; anyone not in her position would have quite the show to watch in the coming weeks. But for Tem, this was the worst thing that could be happening. The tournament would determine who had her heart-something Tem herself did not know. And she was not ready to find out.
As if the tournament was not enough to worry about, Tem dreaded the next Sunday-night dinner. She found herself intermittently flexing her fingers, the pain from the wires still fresh in her mind. Tem had no idea whether the blood she’d given was enough to properly feed the villagers, but there had been no news from Gabriel, and hopefully that meant that, for the time being, it was.
Caspen was gone all the time now.
For some reason, Tem thought he might remain by her side now that the tournament loomed before them. They hadn’t been able to touch each other since their marriage was contested, which meant they hadn’t had sex either. Instead, Caspen was constantly out hunting, whether to keep up his strength or simply avoid his circumstances, she did not know. Perhaps it was too painful for him to be near her and not touch her. But it was painful for Tem too, and she was in no mood to be alone. By the time Saturday night came around, she was sick and tired of being lonely. Tem groped for him with her mind, pressing against his presence as soon as she found him.
Caspen.
Tem.
Come home.
I am hunting.
But I miss you.
I miss you too. But I am also hungry.
She sent him a vision of them together: his head between her legs, his mouth on her center, showing him what he could eat instead. Equal parts arousal and agony swept through Caspen. Tem knew he wouldn’t be able to touch her. But she wanted him anyway.
Come home.
His presence grew in her mind, tightening around the base of her neck.
And what will you do if I come home?
Anything. Tell me.
Anything?
Yes.
I want you in our bed by the time I return.
What else?
I want you on your back with your legs open.
And then?
I want you soaking wet and ready to come. Can you do that for me, Tem?
Tem blushed so hard, it became difficult to concentrate. She could do that for him. And she would like it. So she said,
Yes.
She lay on her back, just as he’d asked. She was wet already, and the moment air hit her center, she became even wetter.
Touch yourself.
Tem did so.