Page 238 of Between Two Kings

It was the same thing humans believed.

“When one of us dies, we all feel it,” he continued.

Tem could understand that. Basilisks were all connected—all one. “Do you have funerals?”

“We do.”

“What are they like?”

“We will burn their remains, then return their ashes to the lake.”

Tem nodded. She could think of no better send-off.

By the time the night before the wedding arrived, Tem was emotionally spent. The carriage ride was silent, and Tem tried not to project her anxieties onto Caspen. He seemed much calmer than her, although she couldn’t tell if he was sad or angry. Possibly he was both.

Evelyn greeted them at the door. “Thank you so much for coming,” she said smoothly, as if this were a regular Sunday-night dinner and not the night before her wedding. “We’re so happy to have you.”

Tem had no idea who “we” was supposed to be. Leo was nowhere to be found.

“Shall I take you to your room?”

Neither of them answered. Evelyn was acting…strange. Cheerful, almost. It was a stark contrast to her usual mood, and it was throwing Tem off. Was she simply excited about the wedding? Tem could imagine she was thrilled to officially get her claws in Leo. Or perhaps she was eager to rub it in Tem’s face. Either way, Evelyn was positively beaming as she ushered them up the stairs. Tem’s stomach immediately dropped as she realized where their room was.

Right across the hall from Leo’s.

Tem stared at his bedroom door, remembering the last time she was behind it. Leo had asked her to marry him not ten feet from where she was standing. He’d gotten down on one knee and given her the silver ring that was currently on her finger. Tem touched it now, trying to control her rage. Surely, this was purposeful. Surely, Evelyn had done it to be cruel.

Her next words confirmed it: “I put you nice and close to us, in case you need anything.”

The only thing Tem needed was a lobotomy.

“Tem?” Evelyn said. “Could I have a word?”

Immediately, Tem’s adrenaline spiked. “Why?”

“Oh, you know. Girl talk.”

Not this again. Tem had had enough girl talk with Evelyn to last her a lifetime.

“Come,” she chirped. “Let’s talk in my room. We’ll give your husband a chance to settle in.”

My room. Your husband.

Tem looked at Caspen, who looked disinterestedly around the room. There was nothing in it but a bed, a desk, and a chair. For all intents and purposes, he was already settled in.

Will you be fine here?

I will be fine, Tem. I am not a child. You can leave me unaccompanied.

I know, but…

The truth was she didn’t want to leave Caspen unaccompanied. Tem had no idea what he would do here in the castle, alone and angry, without her by his side.

Will you be here when I’m done?

I will.

Still, Tem hesitated. She was waiting for something—waiting for him to say—