Page 300 of Split or Swallow

“Fine.”

Tem pushed past him, heading for the kitchen.

It took no time at all to locate Gabriel. He was washing dishes, laughing with the other kitchen staff as they prepared the morning meal.

“Gabriel,” she cried. He turned, his eyebrows rising in surprise.

“Tem? What are you doing down here?”

“I need a favor.”

He twirled a soapy spoon dramatically.

“Anything for you, dearest.”

“Can you get me a carriage?”

He winked.

“You’re lucky I know a stable boy.”

Gabriel disappeared, returning a few minutes later with Henry. Or maybe it was Peter. Tem was finding it hard to focus on anything but getting to Leo as quickly as possible. She barely felt the kiss Gabriel pressed to her cheek before she followed Henry—or Peter—out to the stables. They secured a carriage, taking extra care to avoid discovery by the gardeners who were performing their duties on the grounds.

Tem sat with her hands clasped in her lap as the carriage took her into the village. The journey was rough, the streets still wet from the rain the night before. By the time they arrived at the graveyard, Tem’s stomach felt like it was eating itself. She had never been so nervous for anything in her life—not even for her first night in the caves. Back then, she hadn’t known what she was getting into. Back then, her biggest worry was having her first kiss. Now she understood the gravity of what she was about to do, and she simply had to do it anyway.

Leo was there, sitting on the bench beneath the willow tree, just like she hoped he’d be.

He looked up as she approached. Only this time, he didn’t seem pleased to see her.

“Tem,” he said as he stood. “Unless you’ve come to tell me that you—”

“I can’t end things with him,” she said.

Leo snorted. He turned to leave.

“But you deserve to know why,” Tem grabbed his arm, and Leo paused, looking back at her with clear contempt in his eyes.

“You love him,” he snapped. “That’s why.”

“I do love him,” Tem stepped closer. “But that’s not the reason I can’t end things. At least…not the only reason.”

Leo turned to face her. He didn’t say anything. But she could sense his curiosi⁠t⁠y, and now that Tem had his attention, her heart beat even faster.

She knew what came next would determine not only their future but the future of the entire kingdom. The fates of everyone she loved depended on how Leo would react to what she was about to tell him.

So she asked:

“Do you trust me?”

He blinked.

“I do.”

“I’m not asking if you like me. Or if you want to fuck me. I’m asking if you trust me.”

A shadow of a smile lightened his face.

“Just because I like you and want to fuck you doesn’t mean I don’t trust you, Tem.”