Page 206 of Between Two Kings

Put your emotions aside, Temperance. Your husband needs you.

But Tem had never been good at putting her emotions aside. It was the one thing she couldn’t master—the one thing Caspen had always tried to train out of her but couldn’t. Tem was ruled by emotions. There was only one thing she could possibly do to suppress them.

Make me calm.

Apollo hesitated.

Please, Apollo.

Still, he hesitated. It wasn’t until Rowe roared—and Tem flinched—that he said, Very well.

Apollo’s hand went to her waist. The second his fingers touched her, Tem felt calm envelope her. His influence was different from his brother’s. Caspen’s was gentle, softening the sharp edges of her anxiety. Apollo’s was commanding, forcing her into a state of numbness that felt brutally clinical, devoid of anything except for what was in front of her. It was fascinating to experience the differences between the brothers. Of the two of them, Tem preferred Caspen; that was no surprise. But there was a benefit to Apollo’s assistance, namely that Tem was immediately able to suppress the panic rising in her chest.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

She didn’t have the energy to roll her eyes. He was a little too self-satisfied for her liking, but that would have to wait. Instead, Tem concentrated on Caspen. He was still fighting, and in the wake of her calm, he was winning.

The next time Caspen advanced on Rowe, Tem’s nipples peaked. She bit her lip, shocked at her body’s reaction. Her basilisk side was fueled by the violence, reveling in the efforts of the suitors before her. The urge to touch herself was so strong, she suddenly had trouble thinking of anything else. Even the importance of the tournament couldn’t distract her from how wet she was.

“Adelaide,” she whispered. “I’m—”

The roar of the crowd cut her off.

Adelaide turned to her. “What is it, Temperance?”

“I feel…” But how to say it?

Adelaide raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently for her to elaborate. But Tem couldn’t find the words. Men were fighting over her, and it was turning her on, and although her human side was horrified at the proceedings, the basilisk side only wanted one thing.

Without thinking, Tem’s hand went between her legs. It felt so good to touch herself that she gasped aloud, squeezing her eyes shut in surprise.

“Ah,” she heard Adelaide say. “I see.”

Tem barely heard her. The sensation of her fingers sliding into her center was enough to make her want to scream.

“You may have sex with someone if you wish, Temperance.”

Tem opened her eyes. “What?”

Beside her, Apollo perked up.

“Any of the contenders are at your disposal,” Adelaide continued. “They are competing for your hand—it would be an honor if you chose any of them to satisfy you right now.”

Tem shook her head. The fight raged before her; blood soaked the sand.

“No.”

“Are you sure?” Adelaide’s eyes slid to Apollo, who was clearly ready to volunteer.

“I’m sure,” Tem snapped. She didn’t want to hear how Apollo was at her disposal again. Fucking Caspen’s brother while Caspen fought for their marriage was a line Tem was unwilling to cross, even now. With supreme effort, she removed her hand from between her legs, clamping it instead beneath her thighs. She would watch the rest of the fight like this if that was what it took to resist. But it was not so easy. Her basilisk side roared in her mind, grating against her human defiance. Tem was so turned on.

I am more than happy to assist with that, Temperance.

I don’t need assistance.

Are you sure? It rather seems like you do. Apollo’s voice was barely audible over the roar of the crowd, which was so loud it felt as if the arena were shaking.