Page 297 of Split or Swallow

Tem looked up at him, losing herself in the golden pools of his eyes.

She thought of all the decisions Caspen had made for her—decisions that involved her body. He’d proposed without telling her, he’d given her his venom, he’d bound their lives together by blood. He’d done those things to protect her. She understood that now, more than she ever had before.

They had been through so much together—survived so much together. The training, their engagement, the ritual—even Rowe. Caspen was her anchor. She would not allow anything to happen to him. She would do what was necessary to save him—to save herself.

Now it was Tem’s turn to protect him.

Her path was clear. She would marry Leo. She would crest the royals. She would heal the basilisk side of her before Caspen found out that he was dying. It was time for him to trust her as she had once trusted him. Tem was the one keeping secrets now. And she would not apologize for it.

“I do not mean to shut you out,” she whispered against his chest.

Caspen’s fingers brushed gently through her hair. His want was evident; she could feel the hardness of his body, the way he drew her in. His lips were on her neck. Tem let him kiss her for one moment—just a single, infinite moment, before pulling away.

“Caspen,” she whispered. “I have to get back.”

His grip only tightened.

“Tem,” he said, his voice low. “You need to transition.”

He was right. She needed practice. But she couldn’t linger here.

“I can’t stay, Caspen,” she said again, softly this time.

His grip still didn’t loosen.

“We must prepare you, Tem.”

But there was no time to prepare. Not now—not when it was nearly morning. If Leo discovered she’d gone to see Caspen, there would be no wedding at which to perform the crest anyway.

“I’ll come again as soon as I can,” she said. “I promise.”

Caspen wasn’t pleased. She could sense it in the way he kissed her at the head of the trail, holding her too tightly. He missed her. And she missed him. But there were bigger things than just their relationship to consider. Caspen’s life now hung in the balance.

It had rained while she was in the caves, and Tem fought to keep up her pace on the muddy trail. By the time she was back at the castle, the sun was about to rise. The trellis was slippery; she nearly fell twice. But she managed to haul herself into her bedroom in one piece, running her fingers through her tangled curls and shaking the water from her hair.

There was a sudden knock on her door.

Tem froze. There was no time to take a bath—no time to clean herself off. All she could do was kick her muddy shoes under the bed, tear her dress from her body, and throw a robe over her shoulders before opening the door.

Leo stood before her.

“Tem,” he said breathlessly, “Good, you’re awake. I came to tell you that I—”

But he cut off as he took in her wet hair. He frowned, and Tem’s heart slammed in her chest.

“I took a bath,” she said preemptively.

But the frown on Leo’s face remained in place. He stood perfectly still as his gaze went behind her, where her dress was crumpled on the floor. His eyes travelled from the dress to the muddy footprints that lead to the windowsill.

“Where were you?” he asked slowly.

Tem didn’t answer. Something about the way he asked it filled her with dread. Leo stepped closer.

“Were you with him?”

Tem tried to change the subject:

“What were you going to tell me?”