Page 218 of Between Two Kings

Her climax left her gasping for air. Caspen was out of breath too, his face buried against her neck, his hands twisted in her hair. His mind joined with hers:

We will go slow next time, Tem. I just…needed you.

Tem pulled him closer. I needed you too. I never want to go without touching again.

We will not. You have my word.

He promised it with every kiss, assured her with every caress. Caspen knew how to make everything better—knew how to turn Tem’s world back on its axis. He was still inside her, still hard. He kept his word; this time, they went slow. The celebration raged around them, and they both ignored it. Nothing else mattered; no one else mattered. Caspen laid her down in the sand, thrusting into her with limitless patience. Even after she came again, Tem held him only closer, needing him over and over again.

Eventually, she could take no more. Caspen kissed her as he pulled out, both of them clinging to the other with desperate certainty. His fingers laced once more through hers, pulling her up from the sand. Tem wasn’t fully present—she was lazy and dazed from sex, her wetness dripping smoothly down her thighs. She didn’t bother wiping it away; she had no desire to remove any evidence of her congress with Caspen.

When they were upright, Caspen spun her around before kissing her on the cheek. She was not used to seeing him like this: loose and undone. He was usually so reserved; his joy was rare. But now he smiled freely, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked at her with pure, unencumbered love.

“I’ve never seen you so happy,” Tem said.

“I am always happy when I am with you.”

“You’re acting drunk.”

“You have never seen me drunk, my love.”

Tem realized he was right. “I’d like to.”

He smiled down at her. “Shall we do it together?”

Tem was sorely tempted. She’d tried the elixir enough times to know how it affected her; perhaps it was time to indulge in it properly. After the events of the tournament, she wanted nothing more than to be numb.

“Yes.” Tem stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Please.”

“Very well. Do not move. I will return with elixir.”

A moment later, he was gone. No sooner had he disappeared than someone said her name:

“Temperance.”

Tem turned. “Apollo,” she said quietly. “What did you do?”

A long silence followed. Tem resisted the urge to ask him again; she knew he would tell her. This was too important not to discuss. But Apollo said, “Not here.”

Tem didn’t bother arguing. She simply followed him out into the passageway.

Apollo turned to face her. “I performed an extraction.”

“An extraction?” The word was foreign to Tem. It sounded violent. Medical, almost.

“Yes.”

“But what does that mean? Why do I feel so…?”

“Empty?”

She looked up at him. “Yes.”

“I took your love for the human king.”

Tem blinked. “Took it?”

“Yes.”