Page 333 of Split or Swallow

Tem frowned, unable to stop her train of thought.

If she successfully performed the crest, it would give her an indescribable amount of power—far more power than Bastian possessed. It was not an ideal situation for someone who wanted to retain control over the quivers. Tem couldn’t imagine a world in which the Serpent King would allow someone like her to surpass him. She voiced her realization out loud:

“Once I perform the crest, I’ll be more powerful than you,” she said.

Bastian tilted his head.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“How fascinating. I did not realize you coveted power so.”

Something was brewing within Tem—an epiphany she didn’t want to face.

“I don’t,” she said slowly. “But you do.”

The king raised a single, thick eyebrow.

“Is that so?” he said again.

She crossed her arms, focusing on Bastian’s face and blocking out the rest of the wedding.

“Why would you let me become more powerful than you?”

Bastian’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you accusing me of something, Temperance?”

Malice bit into his voice, and the chill from earlier returned to Tem’s spine. He was testing her—seeing whether she’d challenge him. As it so happened, Tem was in a challenging mood.

“You don’t do anything that doesn’t benefit you. You said so yourself. So why do this?”

The cool stone of Bastian’s face hardened.

“Those who have no experience with power do not deserve to wield it. Would you not agree?”

The words of her father came to her suddenly:

Power corrupts.

“No,” Tem said, jutting her chin. “Those who deserve to wield power are the ones who will not be corrupted by it.”

Bastian snorted.

“That is the opinion of a child. Corruption is merely the other half of the coin. It is inevitable. War is inevitable.”

“No. It isn’t.”

“Ah,” the king said. “But it is.”

Tem shook her head. She thought of the conversation she’d just witnessed between Caspen and Leo—how the two men had been willing to put aside their differences for the greater good.

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. “There can be peace.”

“Perhaps,” mused Bastian. “But why risk it?”

“What are you saying?” Tem whispered.