Page 317 of Split or Swallow

But it was beyond her control.

“Thank you,” Tem whispered.

Leo bowed his head. Then she dropped his hand and they entered the cave.

Tem watched Leo as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, taking in the fireplace and the mat in front of it. It was strange seeing him here in this place where Tem had taken so many first steps—where Caspen had taught her everything she’d always wanted to know. Tem no longer recognized the girl who had come to this cave all those weeks ago. That girl was gone.

Tem turned to Leo.

“I should talk to him first,” she said.

He nodded. “Very well.”

“Just…wait here.”

Leo nodded again. He seemed determined, like no matter what happened he was resolved to his fate. Tem admired his bravery. It was no small feat to come face to face with a basilisk. To Leo, he was coming face to face with his enemy—the creature his family had villainized his entire life. It couldn’t be easy for him to unravel that prejudice in real time.

She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before dipping into the passageway. Her quiet knock on Caspen’s door was answered immediately.

“Tem,” Caspen said, and even now, her heart flipped at the sound of him saying her name. “What is it?”

She knew he hadn’t been expecting her. The last time they’d communicated had been when she’d spoken to Adelaide. Tem still didn’t know whether Adelaide had told him the contents of that conversation. She had no idea if he knew that the basilisk side of her was slowly dying—that his own fate was in question.

Tem looked up at him. He didn’t look well. There were shadows under his eyes that had never been there before. Was he simply not sleeping? Or was this a symptom of the joined effect of the crest? She wanted to reach for him, but didn’t. Instead, she said:

“I…need you to talk to someone.”

Caspen raised an eyebrow.

“Who?”

There was nothing for it.

“Leo.”

At the sound of his name, Caspen stiffened. His nostrils flared, and Tem knew he could smell the human prince on her.

“Why?”

“I told him you would be willing to see him.”

“You brought him? Have you lost your mind, Tem? He cannot be here.”

“Well. He is. And he wants to speak with you.”

If Caspen was shocked before, he was floored now.

“Why?” he hissed.

“He wants to discuss the future of the kingdom. He wants to end the bloodletting.”

Caspen’s eyes were dark with fury.

“There is nothing to discuss. There will be no peace as long as the royals are in power. You have seen what they are capable of.”

“Leo isn’t like the rest of the royals.”

“He is exactly like the rest of the royals. He considers himself better than the basilisks.”