Page 146 of Split or Swallow

Night had fallen; the only light was the warm glow of the town square in the distance, which was lit up like a chandelier. By the time they reached the festival, the celebrations were well and truly underway. Colorful candles were strung from one side of the square to the other, giving the cobblestones a magical quality. The space was packed with vendors selling food, trinkets, and ribbons like the ones Vera always wore in her hair. The statues of Jonathan and Christopher had been removed—the only thing in the center of the square was the large wooden stage. Tem scanned the crowd for the one person she knew would settle her nerves.

As expected, Gabriel was by the mead.

“Gabriel,” she said when she reached him. “Am I out?”

Gabriel threw his arm around her. He’d clearly started early.

“Don’t know, dearest. The prince didn’t eliminate anyone.”

“What? Why?”

He shrugged.

“Nobody knows. Didn’t even meet with half the basilisks. He had an argument with the king, then made everyone leave.”

“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!”