Page 244 of Between Two Kings

“I just think that—”

“Evelyn,” Leo snapped. “Enough.”

Evelyn pursed her lips, then fell silent.

Tem’s insides turned to flame. She was beginning to think that Caspen shouldn’t have left her unoccupied. Caspen, with his centuries of self-control, would be just fine. Tem, on the other hand, was a hair’s breadth away from committing murder. She directed her words only at Leo: “The attack must be addressed. And soon.”

Leo nodded. “I understand. I will apologize tonight, in person.”

Evelyn interjected. “You cannot apologize.”

Tem stared at her. “Excuse me?”

Evelyn turned to Leo. “We must show solidarity with our people.”

“Your people caused this,” Tem snapped. “My people died.”

“Your people are not people at all. They are snakes.”

All the rage she’d suppressed toward Evelyn was threatening to spill out at the seams now. Tem wanted to lunge at her, to rip her apart limb from limb. She wanted to throw her down in the dungeons with Maximus so they could both rot together for all eternity. She wanted to kill her. But before she could do any of that, Leo placed his hand on Tem’s waist.

Not her arm. Not her shoulder. Her waist.

A moment passed as they all stared at Leo’s hand. Suddenly, Tem realized how he was standing: his body facing Evelyn, his shoulder between them…protecting Tem.

“You should leave,” Leo whispered to Evelyn. “It’s what you do best.”

Evelyn raised a singular eyebrow. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and for a very real moment, Tem wondered if she was going to hit Leo. Then her shoulders relaxed, and her lips formed a cold smile. “We will discuss this later,” she said. “When we are alone.”

Then she swept out of the room.

The moment she was gone, Leo leaned against the mantel, the color drained from his face. Tem immediately crossed to the cart and poured him a drink. He took it, gulping it down without a word. Tem refilled it immediately. This one he sipped slowly, still leaning against the mantel. He looked completely worn down, and Tem wanted to reach for him. But they’d crossed so many lines already—she wasn’t willing to cross any more. Instead, she just watched him as he watched the fire, wishing she could make things better. His scent had changed, she realized. Leo used to smell like a summer breeze. Now he smelled heavier. Darker.

“Leo,” she whispered.

He didn’t look at her. “My guests are arriving,” he said stiffly. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Leo, wait—”

But he was gone, leaving Tem alone once more. She cast a single last glance around Leo’s bedroom before crossing the hall to hers. Caspen was sitting at the desk when she entered. He stood up the moment she opened the door.

“Tem,” he said. He had a curious expression on his face, as if he’d just realized something.

“Caspen.”

A pause. “I think it’s starting. We should go downstairs.”

“Very well. Lead the way.”

He didn’t ask her about her conversation with Evelyn. Tem didn’t know what she would have told him about it anyway. Instead, they made their way downstairs in silence. The ballroom was filled with familiar faces—all the royals who had just been at her wedding mere weeks ago were here again, for this one. Some of them looked rather wary, especially around Caspen, and Tem couldn’t help but remember that the last time they’d been here the basilisks had attempted a hostile takeover. She wondered whether they were worried it might happen again.

Notably absent was Maximus. Tem hadn’t expected to see him. Still, she found it significant that the father of the groom would not attend his own son’s wedding. Even Lilly was here, despite what she’d told Tem in the bathroom with the golden sink. When their eyes met across the room, she gave Tem a knowing look. Tem simply looked away.

The scarcity in the village was nowhere to be found here. Evelyn hadn’t been kidding when she said they would spare no expense. Great boughs of holly were wrapped around the columns, framing the ballroom like vines. Table after table was piled high with every type of food imaginable. Tem thought of the barren full-moon feast and fought the urge to vomit.

There were other notable details as well.

White flowers. Just like the ones Tem had picked. At first, Tem thought it might be a coincidence. But then she saw the harpist in the corner—the same one who had played at her wedding. There was no doubt in her mind that Evelyn had asked the maids what Tem had chosen, then chosen it for herself in turn.