Page 301 of Split or Swallow

“Leo. This is important.”

He sighed, running a hand through his thick blonde hair.

“Very well. I trust you.”

She looked into his eyes, seeing his sincerity. He trusted her. She could feel it.

“Then you should know the truth.”

But Tem paused. It felt as if the sky were falling down. Leo was staring at her, his expression unreadable. He leaned in.

“The truth about what, Tem?”

Me.

But she couldn’t say it. She just couldn’t. Instead, she borrowed Caspen’s line:

“It would be easier to show you.”

There was a hairline pause. Then Leo dipped his head.

“Lead the way,” he said simply.

Neither of them spoke the entire way back to the castle. Tem couldn’t help but think about the last time they were in a carriage together—how Leo had called her wicked—how she’d licked his cum right out of his palm. She wondered if he was thinking about it too.

When they arrived at the castle, they paused in the foyer.

“Is your father occupied?” she asked.

Leo shrugged. “Why?”

“I don’t want him to see us.”

The prince nodded slowly.

“He usually meets with his advisors in the mornings,” Leo said. “He will not disturb us.”

Tem nodded. Something else occurred to her.

“You can’t tell him I’m showing you this.”

Now Leo hesitated. The curiosity she’d sensed earlier reared its head again. She knew he understood that she was asking him to choose between her and his own father.

Leo made his choice:

“I will not tell him. You have my word.”

It was enough for Tem.

They navigated the halls of the castle together, winding down staircase after staircase until Tem was once more standing before the door to the dungeon. She paused, turning to Leo. This was an unprecedented moment for them. A moment of truth.

At her hesitation, Leo asked:

“Shall I do the honors?”

He raised his slender fingers to the door handle.

Tem could only nod.