Page 324 of Split or Swallow

Tem was frozen in place, shocked by what she’d just seen. She barely noticed as Leo steered her back into his room, only snapping back to the present when he crossed to his nightstand, pulled out a small velvet box, and returned to her.

Leo knelt.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

“Tem,” he whispered.

The entire world went silent. Tem could hear nothing but her own heartbeat, which pounded like thunder in her chest.

“I know my time with you is somewhat borrowed,” Leo said quietly. “And I know that I will never have all of you. But Tem,” he paused, looking her right in the eye. “It is without ego that I say your presence in my life has changed me immeasurably. You are headstrong. And stubborn. And infuriatingly difficult to please.”

She smiled at that one. Leo continued:

“You are also courageous. And irresistible. And you invariably make me a better person, even when I struggle to return the favor. In short, you are too good for me. But I’m asking for you anyway.”

Tears were coming. She didn’t bother holding them back.

“I am greedy when it comes to you, Tem. I want every moment you’re willing to give me. Even if our marriage offers me nothing but the opportunity to humble myself before you, it would be worth it to spend what’s left of my life in your presence.”

He opened the box.

“Would you do me the honor of being my queen?”

They were beautiful words. And they were all for her.

Tem had only one word for him in return:

“Yes.”

A wide smile split Leo’s face, and he stood, drawing her into a deep kiss. Tem was floored by his vulnerability, and deeply touched by his proposal. He was signing up for a compromise—agreeing to a lifetime of sharing her. The sacrifice was not lost on her. It was the highest compliment she could be given. She only hoped she was worthy of it.

Leo took her hand and slid on the ring.

“It was my mother’s,” Leo offered. “We will get you a proper jewel, if you wish. But I didn’t want to propose with gold.”

Tem looked at her finger. The ring was polished silver, not unlike the ring she used to wear for special occasions. It was not flashy or excessive or boisterous. And it was not made from the blood of her people.

It was perfect.

Leo kissed her again, and for a moment, Tem allowed herself to be happy.

But soon, fear set in. The only thing she could think about was how scared she was for Leo—how deeply she wanted to protect him—how even though she knew his proposal was exactly what was needed to keep him safe, she was slowly crumbling beneath the pressure to do so.

“When will the wedding be?” she asked when they drew apart.

“My family has already arrived,” Leo answered. “And the ceremony has been planned for months. So whenever you wish.”

Tem nodded. Adelaide had said she had less than a week before the consequences of Caspen’s crest would take their toll. That meant they needed to get married in a matter of days. Tem wasn’t sure how to suggest this without sounding insane.

Before she could truly spiral, Leo spoke:

“The harvest moon is tomorrow.”

The harvest moon was the official marker of autumn, and would afford them ample moonlight in the early evening.

“You want to get married tomorrow?”

Leo only shrugged.