Page 169 of Between Two Kings

Tem braced herself for what Caspen would do next: yell or possibly break something. Instead he turned to Tem and said, “You do not need me here.”

Then he left without another word. Tem stared after him in shock. They hadn’t made it through a single dinner without Caspen leaving early. It was his routine. You do not need me here. Caspen meant in every sense. If Tem had Leo to protect her, what role could Caspen play?

Evelyn stared at Leo expectantly. He avoided her eye.

“Fine,” she said. “You don’t need me either. Enjoy your meeting.”

As quickly as the evening had begun, it was over. Tem and Leo were left alone again, with nothing to do but look at each other. Tem stared at him in silence, wondering what exactly they were supposed to do next.

“Tem,” said Leo quietly.

She blinked. “What?”

“Will you stay?”

Tem sighed.

Evelyn was right; it was inappropriate for Tem to linger. But the fact remained that she wanted to—and needed to. Tem didn’t see a world where Caspen would be willing to discuss strategy with Leo, especially after what had just happened. That task fell to her. And even if there was no strategy to discuss, Tem would stay. The crest was still drawing them together—her heart still ached for him. It didn’t matter that the world was falling apart around them. Tem wanted to stay.

“Yes,” she said.

They went to the library.

Leo crossed immediately to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey, downing it in one go. The cords of his neck flexed as he swallowed.

He turned to face her. “Do you have to look so good when you come here?”

Tem’s mouth fell open. She was so surprised that she replied without thinking, “You’re one to talk.”

It was true; Leo looked so good. The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing the full length of his throat. His hair had started the evening combed back, but after running his fingers through it, blond pieces fell perfectly over his forehead. He looked the perfect amount of disheveled, as if he’d just finished having sex. The thought made Tem immediately wet.

“Don’t do that,” Leo said.

“Do what?”

“Don’t compliment me.”

Tem tried to smile. “That’s my line.”

His frown only deepened. “Evelyn’s right. We shouldn’t be doing this.”

Tem didn’t reply. Of course they shouldn’t be doing this. But they were doing it anyway.

A long moment passed. Leo poured another glass of whiskey and handed it to her. “The protests have stopped,” he said.

Tem took a moment to feel relief, to know that between her session in the dungeon and Gabriel’s visit beneath the mountain, there was temporary peace.

“But if there is to be no more bloodletting…” Leo trailed off.

Tem knew what he was going to say. This was just a lull in protests; as soon as the supply from Tem’s blood ran out, the villagers would be starving again.

They would be back at square one.

Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair again. “I don’t know what to do, Tem. Things are…not good. The villagers are angry. Your people broke the truce. They won’t forgive it.”

The image of Jonathan and Christopher flashed through Tem’s mind.

Caspen had broken the truce. For her.