Page 259 of Between Two Kings

When they reached the doors to the council meeting, Leo hesitated. “Tem, wait.”

She waited.

It took a long time for him to form his words, and when he did, they were a whisper. “I cannot die tonight.”

“You won’t,” Tem whispered back. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise. ”

Leo stared back at her, the moment becoming electric. For some unfathomable reason, he smiled. He didn’t try to kiss her; he didn’t pull her closer. He simply nodded, resolved to his fate.

They entered the council meeting together.

Chapter Forty-Three

It was just as Tem remembered it: the long marble table, the stone chairs surrounding it.

Caspen sat at the head of the table, his face as hard as the stone around him. Everyone was naked, but this time, a coldness hung in the air that Tem could not escape—it bit into her skin like frost, and she found herself shivering.

Their presence was clearly unprecedented; Tem had no idea whether a human other than herself had ever attended a council meeting before. But Tem was a Hybreed, so in some way, she belonged. Leo, on the other hand, was utterly out of place. Despite this, he held his own. Tem was impressed by the way he carried himself: tall, the way a king should. His shoulders were thrown back, his chin held high. He didn’t look scared—only wary. And Tem understood more than ever just how much his life was in her hands. She would not endanger him—she would allow no harm to come to the human king.

As they approached the table, the woman closest to them looked at Leo.

“I have never been with a human,” she said musingly, her gaze traveling up and down his body as if he were her next meal.

“And you’re not going to start now,” Tem snapped, stepping possessively in front of Leo.

The woman laughed softly. “Why do you care? You are wed to the Serpent King. You already have a mate.”

“He’s my responsibility,” Tem said. “And I will protect him.”

“Will you fuck him too? Or can the rest of us do that?”

Tem resisted the urge to rip her head from her shoulders.

“Is his cock as hard as a serpent’s?” the woman continued, her eyes flicking between his legs. “Or is it fragile, like the rest of him?”

“Enough,” Caspen said.

The woman fell silent immediately, and everyone turned to face him. Last time, Tem had sat with him at the head of the table, sharing his seat. This time, she didn’t know where to go, so she stayed standing next to Leo. He was a light in this dark room, and she savored his body next to hers.

Tell him he can speak.

Caspen’s voice was clipped. Tem hadn’t realized that he wouldn’t even be addressing Leo directly. It was ridiculous, but it was also his right.

Tem leaned closer to Leo. “He says you can speak.”

Leo raised his eyebrows. Tem doubted he’d expected things to start off so abruptly. Neither had she.

“I come before you with my sincere condolences,” he began. “I am deeply sorry for your loss.”

Tem realized she was holding her breath. If there was ever a time for Leo’s words to work their magic, it was now. But Caspen was immovable. He stared not at Leo but at Tem, and she held his gaze despite the rage in his eyes. This was just as much her apology as it was Leo’s. Tem was the one who had brought the two kingdoms together—it was her word and her actions that had created the problem they were in right now.

When Caspen didn’t respond, Leo kept going, his words steady and true.

“I know you do not think much of me. And I cannot say that I blame you. But you must know that I never wanted this, and I did not order the attack on your people. That is the last thing I would ever do.” His gaze flicked to Tem, and she knew he was thinking of how much he loved her. “I understand that your people have suffered at my family’s hand. It is my greatest shame to carry that legacy. I only want peace, which is why I abolished the bloodletting.”

Leo paused, glancing at Tem for guidance.

“That was perfect,” she whispered. “You can stop now.”