Page 48 of Split or Swallow
He was silent for a moment before replying:
“In what way?”
Tem considered how much she wanted to say. She wanted to ask about their mental connection, specifically why he could speak to her, but she couldn’t speak back to him. It was just another way their power was imbalanced, and she wondered if he could control it—if he was somehow blocking her from accessing him. Rather than say what she was thinking, she raised her finger, tapping it gently against his temple. He caught her wrist with his hand, pressing her palm against his cheek.
“I cannot control that, Tem.”
“It seems like you can.”
He shook his head. “It is beyond the boundaries of my power.”
“Then why does it feel like there’s a wall between us? Why does it feel like you’re shutting me out?”
He shook his head again.
“I do not know.”
Tem was silent. She believed him, because she knew he couldn’t lie. And yet, it felt like he was keeping something from her—like he knew more than he was revealing.
She decided to change the subject.
“There’s an elimination tomorrow.”
Caspen’s eyes fell to her lips.
“Yes. There is.”
“Well?” she insisted. “Shouldn’t you give me some advice or something?”
A muscle tensed in his jaw.
“I have no advice to give.”
“Seriously?”
She was pushing him, and they both knew it. She wanted him to validate their bond—to acknowledge the fact that there was something between them. But Caspen only dipped his head, resting his lips on her throat as he said:
“I do not wish to discuss this, Tem.”
A twinge of anger twisted her gut.
“You don’t wish to discuss the exact thing you’re training me to do?”
His teeth grazed her jaw.
“No.”
“Even if it means I’ll be unprepared tomorrow?”
He lifted his head.
“Even then.”
From the look on his face, it was clear he was done with this conversation. But Tem wasn’t.
“You can’t have it both ways, Caspen.”
His eyes narrowed.
