Page 123 of Split or Swallow

“Remember your place. Or I shall remind you of it.”

Rowe stared up at him in defiance, but Tem didn’t miss the unmistakable flash of fear in his eyes. An endless moment passed as the two basilisks glared at each other. Tem didn’t dare break the silence. It was clear there was history here, but she had no idea what it could be. She remembered what Caspen had told her about basilisks: how their quivers were like their clans. Rowe was from another quiver—perhaps one that had tension with Caspen’s. She couldn’t begin to imagine the political climate of the basilisks. Surely, it was even more complicated than the royals.

They were still standing in silence when Vera appeared.

“Run out of dresses, Tem?” she chirped.

Her voice snapped the basilisks from their stalemate. Rowe turned to Vera.

“I told you to wait for me until the prince called us in.”

Tem raised her eyebrows. Rowe was Vera’s basilisk.

Vera’s eyes went jealously to Caspen’s hand, which was still on Tem’s waist. She touched Rowe’s arm in an imitation of the gesture.

“I know, but I—”

He brushed her off.

“Leave us,” he barked.

Vera’s face pinched. It was a dismissal, and not a kind one. For a moment, it seemed like she might protest. But one glance at Rowe’s face seemed to change her mind. With a final, dissatisfied huff, she flounced away. Rowe turned back to Caspen, continuing as if Vera were never there:

“I should rip that from her neck,” he pointed at Tem’s necklace.

Caspen immediately angled himself so that he was between her and Rowe, his body acting as a shield.

“Only if you wish to lose your hand.”

“The way you protect her…” Rowe’s nostrils flared. “…disgusting.”

“Say one more word,” Caspen hissed, and Tem felt a chill rush down her spine. “And you will join your father.”

Horror flared in Rowe’s eyes, followed by pure, unfiltered loathing.

Then he turned, and was gone.

Tem looked up at Caspen. He was staring after Rowe, his jaw locked. She had so many questions, but she was sure he wouldn’t answer any of them. Before she could decide where to begin, a butler appeared beside her:

“His Highness will see you now.”

There was no time to decompress after what just happened. The butler was already ushering them through the crowd, toward the doorway at the end of the ballroom. Tem felt a sudden prick of fear. Not only was Caspen about to be face to face with Leo, but he was already angry. There was no telling what he might do if provoked. Leo wasn’t exactly a peacemaker; he was even more prone to disruption than Tem was. The butler opened the door.

There stood Leo.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The prince held a glass of whiskey, which he swirled casually. His eyes flicked briefly over Tem’s dress before landing on Caspen. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then Leo stepped forward.

He moved slowly, stopping only when he was in front of the basilisk. They were dead even in height, but Caspen’s build made him seem taller. Tem would have paid good money to know what each of them was thinking. But Caspen’s mind was still closed off to her, and she’d never been able to access Leo’s. She merely watched, helplessly, as the two men in her life stared at one another. Leo broke the silence:

“Thank you.”

Caspen blinked.

“For?”