Page 267 of Split or Swallow

“That was the truth. It—”

“You said it was only physical—”

“It was only physical. I never—”

“You were fucking engaged to her.”

At her tone, Caspen pursed his lips, falling silent.

“You lied to me,” Tem whispered.

“No,” Caspen shook his head sharply. “You asked if it meant anything, and it did not. It is true that we were engaged. But it was not my doing. I did not propose to her—” he leaned in to touch the golden claw around Tem’s neck, “—as I did to you. There is no blood bond between Adelaide and I. Our families arranged it. It was purely political.”

Tem still didn’t know what a blood bond was. But that would have to wait.

“Political?” she scoffed.

“Yes,” he shifted closer. “It was a strategy to bring the Drakon and Seneca quivers together, nothing more. I was the one who broke it off.”

“And when, exactly, did you break it off?”

Now Caspen fell silent.

“When, Caspen?” Tem asked again, firmly this time.

He sighed.

“The first night of the training.”

A wave of horror passed over Tem.

“Before or after we met?”

From the look on his face, she knew the answer. He said it anyway:

“After.”

Tem’s stomach turned.

“Are you telling me you were engaged when I undressed in front of you?”

His voice was tight with pain:

“Yes.”

Tem felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. That was the night she’d touched herself—the night she’d slipped the claw between her legs.

“But Tem—” Caspen spoke quickly, clearly trying to get the words out, “—the moment I met you, I knew I had to end it. I have loved you from the beginning. You know this.”

Tem stared stiffly at the fire. She couldn’t bear to look at him for another sec⁠ond.

At her silence, Caspen said:

“Adelaide never meant anything to me, Tem. She will confirm it, if you wish.”

Tem snorted. The last thing she wanted was for Adelaide to confirm anything about her engagement—or lack thereof—with Caspen.

When she didn’t reply, Caspen began again: