Page 114 of Split or Swallow

Caspen pressed a kiss to her collarbone.

“That it is.”

He accompanied her to the head of the trail, as always. When he kissed her goodbye, his hands slid over her body one last time, as if he wanted to memorize it.

Then he was gone.

Tem walked the rest of the way home in a daze. She was so sore that she had to move exceedingly slowly, and by the time she reached her cottage, the sun was directly above her.

“Out again, Tem?” her mother said as soon as she walked in. “I told you that boy is bad news.”

It took Tem a good long moment to realize she was referring to Gabriel.

“I’m sorry, mother.”

There was no point in explaining where she’d really been. If her mother thought she was out drinking with Gabriel, that was indisputably better than the truth.

“You look a mess. Wash up, then I want you in the garden.”

Tem barely had the energy to nod.

She washed up. Then she spent a long, brutal afternoon in the garden. The late autumn sun beat down on her in a relentless haze, and if it weren’t for the pulses Caspen sent her using the claw, she doubted she would’ve made it through the day. All she could think about was having sex with him. If she could’ve run back to the cave to fuck him all over again, she would’ve.

Patience, Tem.

He was amused. She was restless.

Night finally fell, and it was time for the festival.

Tem and her mother made their way toward the village, where everyone was gathered in the square, as expected. But instead of the raucous sounds of the festival, there was only silence, broken by the occasional hushed whisper. Tem frowned, turning to her mother.

“Why is everyone so quiet?”

Her mother shrugged.

Tem spotted Vera’s pink ribbon near the front of the crowd, and pushed her way toward it.

“What’s going on?” Tem asked when she reached her.

But Vera only shook her head. One hand was clamped tightly over her mouth and the other was pointing straight ahead.

Finally, Tem saw what everyone was looking at.

There, in the middle of the square, were two stone statues. They were hunched on the cobblestones, cowering with their hands above their heads, as if in an attempt to protect themselves. Flayed ribbons of dried blood splattered the ground around them. Tem’s stomach turned to ice as she immediately recognized their faces.

Jonathan and Christopher.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The murmurs of the crowd were growing louder now. One question, repeated over and over: How did this happen?

Only Tem knew the truth.

“We were meant to meet up tonight,” Vera whispered. “I think he wanted to get back together.”

It was just like Vera to find a way to make such a horrific moment about her. But Tem had far more pressing things to worry about.

I only wish to protect you, Caspen had said.