Page 120 of Split or Swallow

His response bewildered her. She’d expected him to ask some clarifying questions—or any questions at all. His lack of surprise could only mean one thing:

“Can you hear it too?”

He pursed his lips, but didn’t reply. Now Tem was the one to step closer.

“If you can hear it, then you know it’s asking for help.”

“I said I will not discuss this here.”

It was all too much. She was so tired of Caspen withholding information from her.

“Excuse me? There has to be something we can—”

But Caspen cut her off:

“I will not discuss this here.”

Tem stepped back, her eyes stinging with tears. Despite his harsh command, Caspen didn’t look angry. On the contrary, he seemed almost sad. When he spoke again, his voice was soft:

“Tell me, Tem. What is your opinion of the prince?”

Tem could feel her palms start to sweat. Why was Caspen asking her this? Was he jealous? Or was he simply checking in on his student?

“He’s…” she paused, her eyes searching the crowd for Leo. He was slipping through a doorway at the far end of the ballroom, flanked by a girl on one side and a basilisk on the other. One of the seven private meetings he would be conducting tonight.

Tem shook her head, attempting to focus.

“He’s a royal. They’re all the same.”

Caspen leaned in.

“Does he favor you?”

A direct question. One she couldn’t avoid. She answered it honestly:

“Yes. I think so.”

Caspen’s eyes narrowed.

A sharp throb shot through the claw. It was so intense that Tem gasped, her hand shooting between her legs in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Unlike the gentle, aching pulses Caspen usually sent her, this one was so jarring she knew it was not meant for pleasure.

Tem looked up at him in shock. “That hurt.”

Regret flashed over Caspen’s face. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Tem was already turning away. Caspen grabbed her arm.

“Where are you going?”

“To take it out,” Tem snapped.

“No,” he cried. She had never heard him so desperate. “Tem, I—”

“How dare you?” she hissed. “How dare you use it to cause me pain? I put it in because I trust you.”

Caspen’s face was a dark mask of remorse.

“I did not mean to hurt you.”

“You never do.”