Page 213 of Split or Swallow

“I’m fine, Caspen.”

He placed his hand over hers.

“A healed wound still bears a scar.”

Tem understood what he was saying—that although he had healed her body, the memory of the ritual would surely haunt both of them for a long time. But it was over; they had done it. There was no going back—there was only the future, and Tem needed to know how they would spend it.

“Are we never to be together?”

Caspen’s grip tightened.

“There are circumstances surrounding our union that you cannot comprehend.”

“So explain them.”

“Tem,” he sighed. “I do not—”

“Wish to discuss this?” she cut him off, pushing him away. “I never want to hear that from you again. You will discuss anything I request of you, and you will do it right now.”

Caspen sighed.

He knew just as well as Tem that the time for shielding her had passed. She was in this now, and she deserved to know everything. There would be no more secrets between them. Tem needed the truth, and she wouldn’t settle for anything less ever again.

“I have earned the right to honesty, Caspen.”

His eyes met hers.

“That you have.”

It was still a long moment before he spoke. But finally, he said:

“Things are…difficult at the moment between the quivers.”

“Difficult how?”

“There are whispers of a coup.”

“Against your quiver?”

Caspen nodded. “Yes. And by extension, myself.”

“You?”

“I am the one who crested Rowe’s father. I paved the way for my own father to be king.”

“If you know there’s going to be a coup, why don’t you do something about it?”

“We are doing something about it. There is a council meeting tonight. My father will try to make peace.”

“How?”

“The coup is not the only circumstance at play. The quivers have always had their troubles, but we are nonetheless united against a common enemy.”

He didn’t have to specify who that enemy was. Tem already knew.

Caspen continued:

“My father has a plan to overthrow the royals. He hopes by doing so, it will quell the rebellion within our own ranks. If the Drakons are the ones to defeat the humans, the Senecas will fall in line.”