Page 217 of Between Two Kings

Apollo tore violently at her mind, ripping at the barrier she’d built to keep him out. He was strong—and so determined. His roar of disapproval shattered her concentration, forcing her to hear him as he yelled, If you will not choose, then I will.

Tem didn’t know what that meant. All she knew was that one moment she was fine, and the next Apollo was touching her. Then a knife pierced her heart.

It felt like something had been removed—like Apollo had taken something from her. The way she felt for Leo—her love—was gone. There was still love left, but it was all for Caspen. The moment it happened, everything in Tem surged toward Caspen. The sensation was so strong that she fell immediately to her knees, her arms clutched to her chest. She screamed his name—whether aloud or in her mind, she did not know.

The crowd roared, and Tem knew it was over.

Adelaide’s voice came to her through the noise. “Congratulations, Temperance. Your heart has made its choice.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Everything was a blur.

“There will be a celebration now,” Adelaide continued. “Both quivers will attend.”

Tem nodded, barely registering her words.

“You did well.” Adelaide’s hand was on her waist, guiding her out of the arena. “The Drakons are thrilled.”

Tem didn’t know what to do with that information. If the Drakons were thrilled, it meant the Senecas were furious. It meant Rowe was furious. Victory for one quiver meant defeat for the other. The tournament was supposed to make everything right. This outcome did nothing of the sort.

“I need to see Caspen.”

“You will,” Adelaide said. “And soon. He will be at the celebration.”

It wasn’t soon enough. Tem desperately needed to look into his eyes and know that they were going to make it through this, that she had performed adequately—that Caspen did not notice the gap of time between when she drank from the chalice and when she had made her decision. Tem’s battle had been silent. To anyone watching, absolutely nothing unexpected had happened. Tem had been given a choice, and she had chosen Caspen. Only Apollo knew the truth. Tem scanned the crowd for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Was he talking to Caspen? Telling him of her deception? Tem still didn’t understand what Apollo had done in order to make it so that she could choose Caspen. All she knew was that her love for Leo—the thing that anchored her—was gone. When she thought of him, she felt indifferent, as if he were a casual acquaintance or a friend. It was bizarre to think of him that way. It was wrong.

By now, they had reached the lake. It was already filled with basilisks, all of them holding goblets of elixir. Rowe was nowhere to be found. Neither was Eros. Tem wondered whether they had left already. Before she could ask Adelaide about it, an arm was around her shoulder.

“Dearest,” Gabriel cried, pulling her close. “That was quite the performance. Who knew you had it in you?”

Behind him, Damon smiled. He’d watched the ritual; he knew exactly what Tem had in her.

“I can’t believe you’re allowed to fuck your husband’s brother,” Gabriel continued.

Tem smacked him on the arm. “Gabriel.”

“And for so long too.”

She smacked him again.

“What? I’m impressed. You should be studied. Scholars would marvel at your stamina.”

Tem rolled her eyes. Then her heart stopped.

There, walking toward her, was Caspen. Beautiful, stunning, glorious Caspen.

The same thing she’d felt for him during the tournament surged through her once more. Tem loved him. That was truth; that was real. She needed to touch him, and now she could. Tem ran toward him with all her might, knowing he would catch her.

The moment she reached him, everything fell away. Caspen’s hands lifted her up, his lips pressed against hers. They spun around together, clinging to one another, one body instead of two. Tem could have kissed him forever. Maybe she would.

Caspen set her down, cradling her face in his hands. His skin drew sparks from hers. “I love you.”

Tem stared up into his golden eyes. “I love you too.”

Then he was inside her.

For the first time, Tem understood just how much Caspen normally catered to her pleasure. Usually there was a buildup, a slow crescendo into sex that started with foreplay and ended with penetration. He did none of that now. Now he fucked her like she was the last person on earth—like he was suffocating and she was the air he breathed. He held her so tightly, she thought she might break. His fingers dug valleys into her thighs. Tem welcomed it all, pulling him only closer, knowing he needed this even more than she did, knowing he needed to claim her. Tem had no idea what it was like for him to watch her with Apollo. But now, with Caspen’s cock inside her, she remembered how all other cocks paled in comparison. Caspen filled her; Caspen fulfilled her. No one else could fuck her like this. No one else could dive so deep inside her. Tem welcomed him into every part of her body—every part of her soul. Caspen was hers, and she was his. They belonged to each other.