Page 298 of Split or Swallow

His eyes finally met hers. They narrowed.

“I was going to tell you that I just eliminated Cassandra, and I was on my way to do the same to Vera. But perhaps I acted too soon.”

“Leo—”

“Perhaps,” he raised his voice, overpowering hers, “—I have been living in a fantasy wherein you possess the same caliber of affection for me that I feel for you.”

“I—”

“Perhaps,” he was nearly yelling now, “—I have been a fool. So I shall ask you only once more, Temperance,” he leaned in, and she flinched. “And I would prefer it if you didn’t lie to me. Where the fuck were you?”

“Leo,” she said, reaching for him. “Please try to understand. There’s so much you don’t know—”

“I know you,” he said coldly, yanking his arm from her grasp. “And I know you are ruled by your heart instead of your mind.”

“I’m not—”

But Leo would not be stopped.

“I know everything we did last night you learned from him.”

“You can’t hold my training against me,” Tem said desperately. “Every girl was taught the same way.”

“The other girls didn’t fall in love with their teachers.”

Tears pricked Tem’s eyes.

“You know better than anyone that you can’t help who you love.”

His face went white.

“How dare you say that to me? You cannot compare your infatuation with a snake to what I had with Evelyn.”

“I’m not comparing. I’m just—”

“You have brought me nothing but pain since the day we met. I never should have let myself fall for you.”

Tem recoiled.

“Are you saying you regret choosing me?” she whispered.

Leo’s face was the picture of fury.

“I’m saying you are not at all what I expected, Tem.”

Tem stood her ground.

“You’re not exactly what I expected either, Leo.”

“Please. You’ve always gotten the better end of this deal. You get to be queen. Isn’t that every little girl’s dream?”

“Not mine.”

“Well, it should be. And what do I get? A wife who loves someone else. Lucky me.”

His voice was bitter.

“I’m not your wife yet,” she said quietly but firmly. “And if we can’t get through this, I never will be.”