Page 209 of Split or Swallow

He opened his eyes, looking at her with boundless reverence.

“You were more than enough. You were extraordinary.”

Her lungs felt as if someone were squeezing them.

“But when we came back here…”

She trailed off. Caspen had carried her back to his chambers after the ritual was over. The memory of the journey was blurry, but Tem knew she hadn’t imagined the blonde woman basilisk who’d sneered at her in the darkness of the tunnel, and she certainly hadn’t imagined what the woman had said to Caspen:

“A mate who must be carried to bed like a child, bleeding and broken. Is this who the prince deems worthy?”

Caspen had snapped immediately back:

“The king deems her worthy. An honor you cannot claim.”

The exchange lasted mere seconds. But the words were seared on Tem’s heart, and she knew she would never forget them.

Caspen’s eyes held hers.

“That was nothing, Tem.”

“It was the truth,” she said quietly.

“It was nothing. Jealous words from a jealous soul.”

“Who is she?”

Now Caspen looked away. She grabbed his chin, pulling his face back to hers as she said:

“You don’t get to keep secrets from me.”

He met her eye. The unsaid portion of her sentence hung in the air between them: Not after what I just did for you. Caspen knew it was the truth just as much as Tem did.

He let out a long breath before saying:

“Her name is Adelaide. She belongs to the Seneca quiver. We have…history.”

Tem knew as well as anyone what “history” meant. It meant they had slept together, and that Adelaide had satisfied him more than Tem ever could.

“Did you love her?” Tem whispered.

“No.”

She looked him in the eye, and she knew he was telling the truth. But that did⁠n’t make it hurt any less.

“Then why is she so angry?”

“Our values do not align.”

“How so?”

Caspen sighed.

“Must we discuss this, Tem? You have just been through—”

“Yes. We must.”

He sighed again, looking down at her in exasperation.