Page 41 of Between Two Kings

“Because it’s a chance at peace.”

Caspen snorted. Of course he didn’t agree. But it was true whether he liked it or not. Cooperation and compromise were the only way forward.

“And what will happen if I do not attend?”

Tem really wasn’t sure how to answer that. If Caspen refused to come to these dinners, Tem would be forced to attend them alone. She couldn’t think of anything worse. “Please, Caspen,” she whispered. “I can’t do this alone.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “I will go,” he said quietly. “For you.” Then he pulled the letter from her grasp and tossed it into the fire, just as he’d done for the annulment summons. His warm hand covered hers. “Come,” he said. “We have duties to attend to.”

His wording was not an accident. Tem knew he was placing emphasis on the fact that her place was here—that her duties were to the basilisks, not the villagers; that the we in question was her and Caspen, not her and Leo. Tem didn’t need the reminder. She knew what she had chosen; she knew what her life entailed now. But that didn’t make it easier to live it.

Tem laced her fingers through Caspen’s, allowing him to lead her through the passageway and toward the courtyard. They passed many basilisks along the way, all of them parting to make way for the couple. If Caspen was powerful before, he was nearly a god now. Basilisks bowed to him as they passed, bending for him in a silent, worshipful wave. Tem saw firsthand how they respected his status and how they respected hers in turn. A week ago, it would have been disconcerting to have so many eyes on her. Now Tem savored it. It was an honor to be with someone like Caspen, to be chosen by the Serpent King.

They spent the day overseeing the setup of the courtyard in preparation for the second event of mating season. It was not unlike curating a wedding, choosing decorations and sampling food. Always, Caspen deferred to Tem, although whether it was because he didn’t have an opinion or because he valued hers more, she had no idea. Either way, whenever someone asked them their preference, Caspen would wait until Tem answered first before saying, “As she wishes.”

And thus the day passed quickly.

By the time it was evening, anxiety had taken over Tem. When they walked out of the cave together, she was nearly on the edge of panic. The night was cold, and although Caspen had procured Tem a proper dress this time, she shivered in the thin fabric, her hands clenched into fists. Caspen took her hand, relaxing her fingers and intertwining them gently with his. He seemed to be resolved to the situation, displaying far more composure than her.

“You must relax, Tem.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can. Focus on something else.”

But there was nothing else to focus on. The impending events of the evening were pressing in on her in a horrible wave, threatening to drown her.

“How are you not more nervous?”

Caspen raised his shoulders in an easy shrug. “There is nothing to be nervous about.”

Tem rolled her eyes. It was such a typical Caspen answer, she didn’t know why she’d bothered asking. Of course Caspen wasn’t nervous. Caspen was ancient. He’d seen and done things Tem could only imagine, and at this point, nothing swayed him—not even this. But Tem was extremely swayed. She was nervous and frantic and all she could think about was what it was going to be like to meet Evelyn for the first time, to see her with Leo, to see them interact. Tem had no idea what to expect. Would Evelyn hate her? Tem could understand if that was the case.

But would Tem hate Evelyn? Perhaps that was the more relevant question. It was impossible for her to truly hate anyone who made Leo happy. That was the point of her sending him away, after all. But Tem couldn’t ignore the dull jealousy that tightened her chest at the thought of the two of them together. Even though it had been her choice—and it had been the right one—she couldn’t help but feel some form of latent regret. What if it had been a mistake? What if Evelyn wasn’t right for him? But that couldn’t be. From the way Leo had talked about their love, Tem knew she was. And Leo deserved someone who would love him the way Caspen loved her: wholly, purely, and without competition.

“Tem,” Caspen said as they climbed inside the carriage and sat side by side on the velvet bench. “Relax.”

“I can’t.”

“Let us try to enjoy dinner.”

Nothing could be more impossible. Tem was not about to enjoy what came next. She wouldn’t enjoy meeting Evelyn and watching her with Leo. She wouldn’t enjoy seeing the woman who was now living the life Tem thought she would have. She wouldn’t—

Caspen’s hand slipped into the slit of her dress. His fingers dipped between her legs.

“What are you doing?” she gasped.

“Ensuring you enjoy dinner.”

When he touched her clitoris, she moaned, arching her head back.

“No, Tem,” Caspen whispered. “Do not make a sound.”

Tem bit her lip. The driver was right there—just beyond the partition—close enough to hear them. Normally Tem wouldn’t care who heard. But the last thing she wanted was for word to get back to the castle—back to Leo—that she’d been intimate with her husband on the way to the dinner. It wasn’t the type of rumor that would encourage friendly relations between their kingdoms. Instead Tem burrowed her face in Caspen’s shoulder as his fingers went deeper, biting the fabric of his shirt to keep from crying out. A steady stream of praise trickled into her ear:

“So good, Tem.”

Soft words to accompany soft touches.