Page 121 of Split or Swallow

“I reacted, and—”

“You’re the one who trained me for him.”

Caspen stared down at her. His eyes went hard.

“I am well aware of that, Tem.”

“Then what do you want from me?”

His hand slid slowly down her arm until his fingers were just brushing hers. Tem was distinctly aware of the way they were standing together, sequestered alone at the edge of the ballroom. The claw pulsed softly.

“Everything.”

Tem shook her head.

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you don’t mean it.”

“Of course I—”

“If you wanted me, you would let me in. But you don’t. You never have. You keep secrets from me—you never give me a straight answer—you silence me.”

“You cannot be silenced, Tem. That much is very clear.”

“Did you kill Jonathan and Christopher?”

Caspen lifted his chin, looking down at her.

“Of course I did.”

“I told you I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“And I told you some things do not concern you.”

“Loss of human life concerns me.”

“Their lives were hardly a loss.”

The pulse quickened. They were arguing, but he was turning her on.

“Stop that,” she demanded.

“Why?”

“It isn’t fair,” she insisted. “I have no way to retaliate.”

“You speak as if we are at war.”

“It feels as if we are.”

The pulses stopped. She hated how much she missed them.

Caspen leaned in, his eyes holding hers.

“It is not my wish to wound you, Tem.”