Page 276 of Between Two Kings

It had seemed impossible at the time. Laughable, even. But all the other legends were true, were they not? Perhaps this one was too. The next time she had an opening, Tem hurled herself in the direction of the lake. She dove into the water, knowing the other three would soon follow.

Temperance? What are you—?

Tem shut Apollo out, closing her eyes, feeling nothing but the water around her—the water Kora herself had bathed in. She drew comfort from its weight, allowing it to pull her under. There was something here that called to Tem, a vibration that knew her name. Complete clarity overcame her. The others were coming; they were nearly upon her. But time did not exist for Tem. She went deeper, allowing the water to swallow her whole. When she touched the bottom, she finally saw it: a figure in the murky dark.

A woman who looked like her mother was walking toward her.

It wasn’t until the woman reached her that Tem realized she herself was human once more. Some part of her knew it was a vision—that her basilisk form was intact at the bottom of the lake. So it did not scare her when the woman reached for her hands, holding them in hers. She turned them so her palms faced up. Twelve freckles. Twelve lovers. Twelve choices she could have made. There was only one choice now, and Tem had already decided to make it. Apollo had taught her how, and Tem had been a willing student. She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the task—preparing herself to take. Tem took and took until she was filled to the brim with power, so much that she thought she might explode. When she opened her eyes, the woman before her was gone, and Tem knew it was time to return.

She swam—faster and faster—toward the light. As the surface of the lake approached, so did Rowe. He was powerful—so powerful. But no longer more powerful than Tem. She waited until they had reached the shore before whirling on him like lightning. Tem opened her mouth, bared her fangs, and bit. Unlike last time, when she had been unable to penetrate his scales, this time, her teeth sank deep into his flesh. Rowe let out an agonized roar that shook the entire cavern, forcing waves against the sand. Behind them, Apollo and Caspen emerged from the water. Tem ignored them, focusing only on her prey. When Rowe had bitten Caspen, he’d shown restraint—taking power gradually—subjecting Caspen to a slow descent into decay.

Tem showed no such restraint.

The moment she bit him, she began to siphon, holding his neck between her teeth as she did so. Tem could feel his power joining hers, and with it, the power he’d taken from Caspen. Somehow, she could tell the difference between the two: Rowe’s power was hostile, borderline destructive; Caspen’s was refined, seeping into her like honey, rounding out the rough edges created by Rowe’s. Between them, there was balance—equilibrium. Rowe’s mind was not quiet during this process. He thrashed in her grip, screaming obscenities, screaming for mercy. But Tem owed nobody her mercy. She wanted nothing but to watch him die. When he was nearly empty, Tem yanked him into the air with brutal finality. Rowe’s neck snapped. His life force flickered. Then it went out.

Behind Tem, the brothers were still fighting. Apollo held Caspen down as he thrashed on the sand, attempting to get to her. Through the hum of her newfound power, Tem realized they were having a heated conversation:

Do not make me do this, Caspenon.

You already agreed.

You ask too much.

It was you who told me to know when to step aside.

I did not mean—

You gave me your word.

I cannot do this, Caspenon.

KEEP YOUR WORD, BROTHER.

Caspen was straining against Apollo’s grip, their great bodies tangled in a violent knot. Caspen’s eyes met Tem’s. If she were a human, she would have been dead. Instead she held his gaze, seeing just how difficult it was to resist her.

What is he talking about, Apollo?

He wants me to kill him.

Tem must have misheard. He couldn’t possibly have just said—

He made me promise, Temperance. It is the only way.

Caspen was still trying to reach her, still bound by the curse. It was clearly taking everything Apollo had to restrain him.

You said there was another way—

This is the way.

Horrible comprehension struck through her. NO—

I must, Temperance. I gave him my word.

Why would you do that?

Because I am in his debt.

I don’t understand.