Page 40 of Between Two Kings

“But that’s…”

There were no words for it, really. It was awful. And terrifying. And a little too close to Tem’s situation for her liking.

“Aren’t you…worried about…me?”

Caspen looked down at her. “And why would I worry about you?”

Tem rolled her shoulders uncomfortably. “Because of…everything that happened…with…”

For some reason, she couldn’t bear to say Leo’s name.

Caspen let out a dismissive laugh. “No. I am not worried.”

It was then that she remembered Caspen’s attitude toward Leo—how he never called him by his name, only referring to him as “the human prince”—how he didn’t consider Leo to be his equal. Tem and Caspen had a blood bond, a connection Leo couldn’t hope to replicate. Caspen probably thought that was proof enough of her loyalty. It was a viewpoint that was understandable, given the basilisk mindset. But it was wrong.

“But why not?” Tem asked before she could help herself.

“Because you sent him away.”

That was true. But it didn’t mean she’d fallen out of love with him.

“You accepted the blood bond,” Caspen continued. “That means you chose me.”

That phrase again. You chose me.

“But,” Tem said carefully, “I love you both.”

It was the same thing she’d said in the cave the night they’d agreed to share her. But now Tem wondered whether either of them had really agreed at all. What would that arrangement have even looked like? She couldn’t have been queen of both kingdoms. It was a problem without a solution—one that she had solved in the only way she knew how—by sending Leo off to find Evelyn.

Caspen’s eyes narrowed. The room seemed to grow colder as he said, “You love me.”

Tem could barely hold his gaze. It felt like he was giving her an order. It was true that she loved him. But she loved Leo too, no matter how unfathomable that was to Caspen. There was nothing else to say, so Tem didn’t say anything. But in the late hours of the night, she lay awake.

What would happen if Tem slept with Leo? Would Caspen kill her? Would his family praise him for doing so? She touched the golden chain around her neck. It had always felt like a gift, something that bound her to Caspen. But now it felt like an anchor—a shackle with no key. Tem couldn’t believe the cruelty of the curse. It seemed to go against everything basilisk culture had taught her: that everything was shared.

Everything except for hearts. Caspen’s mother hadn’t been able to resist hers.

Could Tem?

Chapter Six

The letter came the next morning.

Caspen read it first, his brow furrowed, before handing it to Tem.

Temperance Verus,

Your presence is requested at the castle for dinner tonight. A carriage will be sent for you.

Bring your husband.

She glanced up at Caspen, who looked indifferent. But her heart was racing.

The letter was only addressed to Tem. And her “husband”? It was an awfully formal way of addressing Caspen. Neither Leo nor Caspen seemed to be able to address the other directly, either by name or by title. But no amount of avoidance would change their circumstances. And if everything went accordingly tonight, this would be the first of many more Sunday-night dinners.

“Will you go?” Tem asked.

Caspen was watching her, his expression carefully controlled. “Why should I?”