Page 272 of Between Two Kings

I am coming back.

Apollo’s eyes widened. He looked desperately at Tem. But she just shook her head as Caspen said, You must leave, Tem. Get as far away as possible.

No, Caspen. I have to fight Rowe.

You have to do nothing of the sort. Apollo, make her leave.

I am trying, Brother. She will not listen.

She never does.

Will you two stop it?

Tem slammed her connection with Caspen shut, turning to Apollo. “I’m not leaving.”

“I cannot protect—”

“I know you can’t protect me from both. So choose one. Protect me from Caspen.”

The screams were becoming louder.

“Hold him back, Apollo. I will handle Rowe.”

Apollo shook his head. But Tem knew he would do as she said. Unlike Caspen, who would never allow her to run toward danger, Apollo had always trusted Tem to make her own choices. Apollo understood who she truly was. “I do not know how long I can hold him.”

“Just give me as long as you can.”

Apollo didn’t reply. But his jaw was set, and so was Tem’s. With one last glance at her, he left.

Tem turned to Damon. “Get them both out of here.”

He bowed his head. “Of course.”

“You can take them to my parents’ cottage. They’ll be safe there.”

“Your Highness.” Gabriel winked at Leo. “Ready for a field trip?”

Leo turned to face her. “I can’t lose you again, Tem.”

“You won’t.”

“I need you to come back to me.”

“I will.”

Leo cupped her face in his hands, pulling her close. He kissed her—perhaps a little harder than necessary—and Tem felt how terrified he was for her. He’d just gotten her back. She’d just gotten him back. If there was to be a future for them, it would start after the events of tonight. And Tem dearly wished to be there to see it. Finally, Leo pulled away. Then he followed Gabriel into the passageway.

“Who was that man kissing Tem?” she heard him ask Gabriel as Damon ushered them away.

“That’s Apollo,” Gabriel replied. “Caspen’s brother.”

“His brother?”

Then they were gone.

Tem focused immediately on the task at hand, opening her mind to the collective consciousness of the basilisks. It was full of communal pain—all throughout the mountain, her people were dying. Their deaths pressed against her like a thousand grains of sand, suffocating her, closing in.

Focus, Temperance. Find Rowe.