Page 251 of Between Two Kings

Aroused.

That earned her a proper laugh. Tem laughed too, and for the first time in days, things felt lighter. Caspen shifted closer to her as she continued.

I felt…scared. But also brave at the same time.

Bravery is often the bedmate to fear. One cannot be brave unless one is afraid.

Tem supposed that was true. She’d never considered herself a particularly brave person, but that had changed since meeting Caspen. He was the one who pushed her to do more—to step into who he believed she could be.

I felt afraid too. His admission was so quiet Tem nearly missed it.

You did? Why?

Caspen waited a long time before answering, and when he did, the words were even quieter still. Because I knew what was to come.

It was all he said, and Tem didn’t press him. Something about the way he said it made her worried, and she didn’t want to feel that way right now. Right now, all she wanted was to feel happy.

I’m sorry about the wedding. We shouldn’t have gone.

Caspen brushed his fingers gently up her spine. It was the right thing to do.

I don’t even know if they ended up getting married. Leo…told me to leave.

His fingers stopped. Tem expected him to say something, but he didn’t.

Maximus paid Evelyn to leave Leo. I thought he deserved to know the truth.

Still no reply.

Are you angry with me?

No, Tem. I am not.

Are you angry with him?

Silence.

Tem knew in her gut that she would get no more from him tonight. She didn’t care to anyway. All she cared about was the feel of his skin against hers. There had once been a time, not so very long ago, when she couldn’t fall asleep in her husband’s arms.

But she could do so now, so she did.

***

“I will not go tonight,” Caspen said stiffly.

They were lying in bed, intertwined, the fire roaring beside them. It was Sunday evening, and they hadn’t gotten out of bed since the funeral.

“Caspen.” Tem sat up. “We have to go.”

His hand found her hip, pulling her back down. “I do not wish to see the human prince.”

So they were back to this. Caspen only called Leo the “human prince” when he needed to create distance between them—when his name was too humanizing. It was doubly insulting given the fact that Leo was now king. And yet, it was also warranted. The weasel had been a step too far, even if Tem knew it wasn’t Leo’s fault. Why should Caspen forgive the unforgivable?

“Caspen…” But Tem trailed off.

“We have sacrificed enough for him.”

“He didn’t sanction the attack, Caspen. You believe that, don’t you?”