Page 180 of Split or Swallow

“So?”

“So,” he sighed again. “You will be expected at the ceremony.”

There were five girls left in the competition. The next elimination would occur at the ball, after which the final three would stay in the castle until the prince chose his wife. Tem had never imagined she would make it this far.

Tem tried to kiss him. It seemed better than talking.

To her surprise, Caspen didn’t take the bait. He held her back, looking straight into her eyes as he said:

“Tem. I know the human prince loves you.”

Now it was Tem’s turn to sigh.

“He doesn’t know what he wants.”

That was also true. Leo was still in love with Evelyn. As a result, he was unpredictable—ruled by emotions, and prone to dangerous spontaneity. He was entirely human, and always would be.

“He wants you.”

Tem sighed again.

“What would you have me do?” she asked.

Caspen pulled her even closer.

“I would have you remember who you belong to.”

“I could never forget,” Tem whispered.

She wanted to have sex again. But there were still questions to be answered—things that gnawed at her soul with incomparable insistence.

“You never told me who you crested.”

Caspen went suddenly still. His dark eyes locked onto hers.

“That was deliberate.”

“I know. But you need to tell me.”

“Why?”

“Because you are done keeping secrets from me. And your past matters.”

Caspen observed her with the same deep intelligence she’d come to expect from him. It was so easy to get lost in his eyes—to forget what she was asking in the first place.

“It should not matter,” he said.

“But it does.”

Tem placed her hand gently on his chest.

“Caspen,” she whispered. “Tell me.”

Their bodies were draped together. There was no space between them—no room to hide.

Eventually, Caspen spoke:

“The Drakons have had difficulties with the Senecas for centuries, long before the war with the humans.”