Page 226 of Between Two Kings

Apollo opened his mouth again, but Caspen cut him off.

“Leave us, Brother.”

Tem expected Apollo to go. Instead, his eyes flicked to hers, then back to Caspen’s. He shook his head. “I am not leaving you alone with her.”

Anger darkened Caspen’s face.

“It’s fine,” Tem said quickly. “We’ll be fine. Just go.”

But her words were useless. The situation was beyond negotiation—beyond reason. They were rapidly approaching a precipice and were all out of control. They’d been circling it for days, she realized. Perhaps weeks. It had begun the first night of mating season, when Apollo flirted with her. The tournament had been the final straw.

Apollo only shook his head, directing the same words at Caspen once more. “I am not leaving you alone with her.”

Caspen’s eyes narrowed. “Do you truly think I would harm my own wife?”

“You are angry with her.”

“I am also angry with you.”

A long silence passed.

“Or perhaps you are angry with yourself.”

Caspen closed his eyes. A vein jumped in his temple as the three of them stood in silence. Tem understood what Apollo was trying to say. It was the very same thing she’d said to herself, in the middle of the night, when Caspen was asleep and the darkness was absolute. Caspen was the one who told Tem to crest Leo. He’d insisted that she do it. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t known the full consequences of his actions. He’d still been the one who told her to do so. Caspen was culpable in this just as Tem was. Despite what he claimed, Caspen had always known how Tem felt about Leo. He had chosen not to see it.

“No matter how you feel,” Apollo said, “you cannot take it out on Temperance,”

Caspen’s eyes flew open. “Then I shall take it out on you.”

He moved so fast Tem didn’t even have time to blink before they were upon each other.

She flinched as brother met brother, each of them releasing a guttural cry. It was the second time in twenty-four hours that two men had fought over her, and it was just as brutal as the first time. Apollo was a willing target. Perhaps too willing. Tem could do nothing but watch as he absorbed hit after hit, clearly letting Caspen take out every frustration he was feeling.

Tem wanted to scream.

But then, as quickly as they began, they stopped. The brothers stepped apart, and it wasn’t until they were fully disentangled that Tem saw Caspen holding his throat. Blood seeped between his fingers, but it was not Apollo’s doing. It was the wound from earlier—the one Rowe had inflicted during the first tier of the tournament. Tem stared at it, watching as blood poured down his chest from the two distinct puncture marks on his neck.

“What’s happening?” she cried. “The bite—”

“It is Rowe’s doing,” Apollo said, his breath still coming in short bursts. “He is siphoning from Caspenon.”

Caspen clutched his neck. Without thinking, Tem ran forward, pressing her fingers over his, applying pressure in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

“When will it end?” There was so much blood.

“It will not end. The wound will open every time Rowe wishes to take his power. He can do so until there is no power left to take.”

Blood was covering Tem’s fingers, dripping down her wrists. “Caspen,” she said desperately. “Please—”

But Caspen wrenched himself away from her, steadying himself against the side of the passageway. He stared at them both. Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Tem immediately stepped forward, but Apollo grabbed her arm.

“Temperance,” he said, his lips on her ear. “Do not go after him.”

“But he’s—”

“He is drunk,” Apollo said, his hand still around her arm. “And he is angry. He will not be convinced of anything right now.”