Page 58 of Split or Swallow

“Should the snakes ever question their place, the balance may falter. So tell me, Temperance. Do you know your place?”

Tem didn’t answer. She was afraid if she did, she might say something rather rude.

“It is my son’s duty to choose a suitable wife,” Maximus’s sharp eyes met hers. “Are you worthy of that privilege?”

Tem held his gaze.

“Your son will be the judge of that.”

“Apparently my son’s judgement is questionable.”

A thorn of resentment pricked Tem’s side.

She didn’t want Leo. Couldn’t want him less. But Maximus was insulting her—saying she wasn’t good enough for his weasel of a son. And why shouldn’t she be? She was just as good as Vera—or any of the other girls—despite the fact that the world had told her otherwise. Tem tried to quell the anger inside her but it wouldn’t be stopped. She turned to face Maximus.

“If I wanted your son, I’d have him,” she said coldly.

Then she wrenched her arm from his grasp and walked straight toward Leo.

He raised his eyebrows.

“Let me guess,” he said as she approached. “My father told you you’re not worthy of me.”

“How’d you know?”

To Tem’s surprise, a harsh darkness flashed across Leo’s face.

“That’s his specialty, I’m afraid.”

Tem frowned. There was no mistaking the change in his mood. Without thinking, Tem reached for Leo’s arm. The moment she touched him, he relaxed, his expression sliding into one of practiced indifference. He downed the rest of his whiskey.

“Shall we?” he asked.

“Shall we what?”

“Get on with our date. Unless you’d prefer we stay here and mingle with my family all evening.”

Tem would not prefer that.

At the expression on her face, Leo laughed. Then he crooked his elbow, cl⁠e⁠a⁠r⁠l⁠y indicating he wanted Tem to take it. So she did. Without another word, Leo steered her from the parlor and out to the back patio, where a small, candlelit table was overlooking the maze. He pulled out one of the chairs, gesturing elegantly for her to sit.

“After you,” he said.

Tem sat slowly, watching Leo the entire time. He seemed calm, but there was a glimmer of rage just beneath the surface that Tem had no idea how to address. She decided to break the ice:

“This is…lovely,” she waved her hand at the table.

“You’re lovely,” Leo said without missing a beat.

Tem scoffed. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Compliment me. You’re terrible at it.”

“I can’t be that bad. You’re still here, aren’t you?”

“I’m still here because I’m hungry. And it seems like there might be food.”