Page 260 of Split or Swallow

She shook her head.

“Really? You know the ball is tomorrow night, right?”

“I know.”

“Well then you’d better hop on it if you want a chance at the crown. And by it⁠—” he smacked her knee, “—I mean him.”

Tem closed her eyes in exasperation.

“Anyway, rumor has it that the king might interfere.”

Tem’s eyes flew back open.

“Interfere with what?”

“The competition.”

Gabriel was standing, ready to order more beer.

“Wait—” Tem grabbed him, pulling him back down, “Interfere how?”

Gabriel sighed, as if this line of questioning was a great burden standing in the way of his acquisition of alcohol.

“If he doesn’t like who Leo picks, he won’t allow the wedding.”

Dread pierced Tem’s stomach. She remembered how Maximus had told Vera she was his favorite.

“But how do you know that?”

“Henry said he heard the king and the Lord Chamberlain talking.”

“Well what did they say specifically?”

“Patience, Temperance,” Gabriel tutted. “I’m a little bit drunk, you know.”

“I know,” Tem sighed. She waited for Gabriel to continue:

“The king said, ‘if he chooses her, I will choose another’.”

Tem didn’t need to ask him who the king was referring to. If Leo chose her, Maximus wouldn’t allow them to get married. But Gabriel had no idea what was at stake here—that Tem needed to marry Leo in order to prevent open war. Tem had to win the competition. There was no other option.

Tem no longer had an appetite for beer.

“I have to go,” she said. “Caspen is expecting me.”

“On his cock.”

Tem gave Gabriel a good shove for that.

She slipped from the booth and walked quickly through the village streets. She’d planned on staying at the Horseman for far longer, perhaps having a drink or two. But after this news, she only wanted to see Caspen—only wanted to find solace in his arms.

He was waiting for her in the cave.

Tem felt immediately drawn to him, as if the basilisk side of her awoke the moment he was near. She wondered if Caspen felt the same, because he drew her into a kiss so urgent she could barely catch her breath.

Are you ready to transition again?

Tem kissed him back. Transitioning again meant sex, and she was always ready for that.