Page 147 of Split or Swallow

“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.”