Page 170 of Split or Swallow

“No?”

“If you think the human prince matters to me, then you are sorely mistaken.”

The human prince.

It was clear now.

Tem saw, finally, how Caspen viewed Leo: not as competition, but as nothing but a nuisance. Leo didn’t even rank in the grand scale of Caspen’s worries. What could a human prince do in the face of a basilisk one?

Perhaps the human prince did not sway Caspen. But he swayed Tem.

There was no denying it—no erasing their connection. Leo gave her something that Caspen could never provide: security. Leo wanted her. It was plain and it was simple and it was far easier than anything that might come from courting a basilisk. Why shouldn’t Tem go with the surefire option? Why shouldn’t Tem go where she was wanted?

“He may not matter to you,” she said quietly. “But he matters to me.”

At her words. Caspen stiffened.

“I see.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. For some reason Tem felt a flare of anger. Of course Leo meant something to her. Her relationship with Caspen was so nebulous—so fraught with strife—that he should not begrudge her this slight chance at happiness.

“Tem,” Caspen said quietly. “I do not blame you if you wish to seek solace elsewhere.”

He was clearly hurt. But for some reason, his words only made her angrier.

“I don’t want to seek solace elsewhere,” she snapped. “I want to seek solace with you.”

He shook his head.

“Perhaps I cannot provide it.”

“Bullshit,” Tem stepped forward, grabbing the chain around her neck. “Does this mean nothing to you?” she brandished the claw. “Is this a lie?”

“Tem,” Caspen said quietly. “You do not understand what it will take for us to be together.”

“Because you won’t tell me.”

Caspen looked up at the ceiling.

“Because I would not have you do it.”

Here it was: the mysterious condition that his quiver required of her in order to accept their engagement. Tem couldn’t wait any longer to hear it. She grabbed Caspen by the neck, forcing him to look her in the eye.

“Why not?”

“It is unthinkable. And you would never consent to it. And even if you did consent to it, my quiver’s approval is not guaranteed.”

“What is it?”

“It is not worth discussing, Tem.”

“You mean I am not worth discussing.”

Caspen put his hand over hers, holding her against him.

“That is not what I mean.”

“It shouldn’t matter what other people think.”