Page 277 of Between Two Kings

You would not. It is between us.

Apollo, this isn’t right. You can’t—

I can, Temperance. And it is not your choice to make.

Tem understood, finally, what Apollo had been doing this entire time. Delaying.

There was no other way—no elegant solution. The curse could not be broken. Caspen’s father himself could not break it. What chance did Caspen stand?

There has to be a way—some way to fix this—

There is not. The blood bond is our most powerful vow. You broke it when you slept with Leo.

But he told me to. Why would he—

Because he had already accepted the consequences.

But Tem had not accepted the consequences. Would not accept them. She tried to come nearer, but Caspen snapped his jaws at her. He was terrifying like this. Tem knew if Apollo wasn’t holding him down, he would lunge at her.

He will not stop trying to kill you, Temperance. He will never stop.

We have to figure something else out. Someone must know something—

She cast her gaze around the cavern. Around them, the battle was quieting. Word of Rowe’s death had already spread: Tem saw basilisks pointing at his lifeless body, their eyes wide. Their fearless leader was gone.

There is nothing else to be done, and I cannot hold him forever.

No. You do not have my permission—

It is not your permission I need.

He angled himself so he had access to Caspen’s neck.

Tem leapt forward. Apollo, NO—

But she was not quick enough. Tem could do nothing but watch as Apollo sank his fangs deep into his brother’s neck.

Chapter Forty-Six

A pinprick. That was all Tem felt. A pinprick in her chest, right above her heart, as if someone were letting the air out of her. But within moments, that pinprick opened a chasm so deep Tem knew without a doubt what she was about to lose.

NO!

Unimaginable pain was spreading. It gripped her chest, pulling her to the ground. She was transitioning against her will, turning back into her human form. Tem knew in her gut that it would be for the last time.

Caspen was transitioning too. They fell to the sand together, both human, both gasping for air. He was covered in blood. Tem reached for him, pulling his head into her lap.

“Just hang on, Caspen. I’ll heal you.”

He shook his head with great difficulty. “You cannot heal a fatal injury, Tem,” he whispered. “We cannot reverse the path of nature.”

“But you said the basilisk bite isn’t fatal. You said—”

“A bite to the arm is not fatal. Or anywhere else that would heal on its own. But this…”

Tem stared at his neck. Apollo’s fangs had punctured him deep—so deep she knew there was no chance of healing it. The marks were nearly on top of Rowe’s.

She glanced wildly up at Apollo, who was also human once more. “How could you?”