Page 318 of Split or Swallow

She shook her head.

“No. He doesn’t. Not anymore.”

“Of course he does, Tem. He is no different than his father. He will never show us mercy. He would have us all killed.”

“Leo is not his father.”

Caspen stepped closer. Tem resisted stepping back.

“You are a fool if you believe that.”

Anger coiled within her.

“You don’t know him, Caspen.”

Caspen shook his head, leaning in. The shadows under his eyes hadn’t been her imagination. He was gaunt—his features drawn as if he hadn’t eaten in a long while. Tem hated seeing him like this. She had to fix it.

“You do not know him either, Tem. You cannot trust anything he says.”

“I trusted you, didn’t I?”

Caspen’s eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“I had no reason to trust you, but I did. Now look at us.”

Caspen bristled.

“Are you comparing me to him? Because I consider that an insult.”

“I’m not comparing you—I’m just saying that—”

“You are saying that because you trusted me, I should trust him. But one has nothing to do with the other.”

“That’s not fair. You can’t judge him without knowing him.”

“I can do whatever I wish, Tem.”

She knew he was angry. But she was angry too.

Critical analysis came second nature to Caspen. But for Leo, questioning his circumstances was a learned behavior—one he couldn’t possibly master in the short time since Tem had told him who she was. She was willing to give him allowances that Caspen wasn’t. She understood that he was still growing into the person she knew he could be—the person she knew he wanted to be. There was nothing black and white about Leo—he was not good or bad, cowardly or brave. He was many things at once. And Tem loved him for it.

She crossed her arms, standing her ground.

“You’re better than that, Caspen.”

He laughed bitterly.

“Am I? Why should I hold myself to a higher standard when you consider me equal to the human prince?”

“I never said you were equal.”

“You may as well have.”

Caspen stepped closer, and Tem flinched.

“Imagine what he would do if he knew what you really are.”