Page 269 of Split or Swallow

Tem ate her breakfast in silence before retreating to the yard to do her chores. The day passed slowly. Tem spoke to Caspen only once—snapping a single sentence at him before slamming their connection shut again:

Don’t bother sending me a dress.

She knew Leo would send one. And sure enough, when she returned from the chicken coop, a package was on the porch. Tem unwrapped it in the privacy of her bedroom, laying the dress out on her bed so she could see its full length.

It was far more formal than the other dresses Leo had sent her, and Tem knew this was a direct reflection of the type of event she’d be attending tonight. Unlike the tight, revealing dresses she’d worn previously, this one was closer to a gown. It was sky blue and made of soft, expensive silk. There was a matching shawl made of delicate, sheer fabric with golden stars woven into it. It was surely handmade; Tem had never seen something crafted with such meticulous care.

She took a bath, cleaning every inch of her body and washing her hair. She waited until her mother was busy making dinner before slipping into her room and spraying saltwater on her curls. Then she pulled on the dress and the shawl. At the last minute, Tem slipped the claw between her legs. Even though she was angry with Caspen, the thought of leaving it in her bedroom when she might never return was too much for her to handle. The moment she inserted it, a gentle, tentative pulse nudged against her. Despite herself, Tem bit her lip. It felt so good. And she knew Caspen knew it too.

The pulse built slowly, and Tem grasped the edge of her bedside table. She understood the message: Caspen might not have sent her a dress, but he didn’t need to. He had this connection with her: this profound bond that nothing—not even an argument like the one they’d had last night—could break. Tem let out a soft moan as the pulses grew stronger.

Then they stopped.

Her eyes flew open. He was testing the waters—reminding her what he could do—enticing her to return the favor. Tem was sorely tempted to open their mental connection and send him a pulse back.

But she would not give in. Not yet.

From then on, there was nothing left to do but wait. The carriage arrived on time, and when the footman knocked on their door, her mother pulled her into a tight hug.

“I am so proud of you, my dear,” her mother said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you, mother,” Tem said back.

In the safety of her embrace, she remembered everything that was at stake: every reason why she was doing this. It wasn’t about Caspen or Leo. It was about her family—the one person who had sheltered her and raised her and made sure she had a soft place to fall. There was nothing Tem wouldn’t do for her mother.

By the time the carriage arrived at the castle, Tem was resolved to her fate.

She entered the foyer with her chin held high, ready for whatever the evening would bring. The ballroom was breathtakingly decorated. Flowers hung in great bunches from the ceilings; gorgeous crystal glassware was stacked in sparkling towers around the room. To her disappointment, Gabriel was nowhere to be found. Instead, Lilly appeared suddenly at her side, pushing a glass of champagne into her hands.

“Long time no see, Tem. Are you ready for tonight?”

Tem stared down at the champagne, half contemplating drinking it.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“My brother has been talking about you all week. It’s a bit pathetic, actually.”

The information made Tem feel warm. She wanted to see Leo. Badly.

“Is he here?” she asked.

“Should be,” Lilly chirped, taking a sip of her champagne. “Probably discussing important, kingly things with our father.”

At the mention of Maximus, Tem’s stomach twisted into a knot. She wanted to ask Lilly if the king would contest Leo’s choice—if he would stand in the way of a wedding. But she didn’t want to get Gabriel in trouble. And she didn’t want to assume Leo would choose her. So instead she said:

“I’m going to find him.”

“Suit yourself,” Lilly gave her a little wave before flitting away.

Tem traded her champagne for a whiskey before making a lap of the ballroom. The royals were out in full force tonight: everywhere she turned she saw necks, ears, and fingers dripping in gold. The sight made her feel sick. Tem leaned against the closest column, trying to catch her breath. She lowered the barrier in her mind, but didn’t reach for Caspen. Instead she searched for another connection—one she knew was close by. When she found it, she said:

Can you hear me?

The words disappeared into the void. Seconds passed. Tem tried again:

Do you know who I am?

A long pause. Tem stared at her whiskey, her heart pounding against her ribs. Then her father’s voice replied: