Page 343 of Split or Swallow

“A new future begins today,” Leo was saying. “Effective immediately, I will—”

His words were cut off by a scream.

CHAPTER FORTY

Every head in the crowd turned at the same time.

Tem turned right along with them, her mouth falling open as the cause of the scream became apparent.

One of the basilisks was transitioning.

Tem watched in horror as scales dappled his skin, his body elongating into a shape she’d seen many times before. Smoke plumed into the air, concealing the nearest row of chairs as people scrambled over one another in an attempt to get away. The basilisk opened its mouth, reared its great head, and sank its fangs into the neck of a stout man with a red beard. The man was so shocked he didn’t even cry out. His mouth formed a surprised ‘O’ right before his head was ripped from his shoulders.

Leo threw himself in front of Tem, pulling her back as more basilisks streamed into the clearing. Someone knocked into her, and she realized it was Maximus. He leaped from the stage, barreling down the steps without a backward glance.

“Coward!” Leo cried.

His voice was lost in the wind as the rest of the basilisks began to transition.

There was nowhere to go. Some people ran screaming into the maze, but without Leo’s sense of direction, they were merely delaying the inevitable. Basilisks ran after them with all the glee of hunters stalking their prey. A woman ran hand in hand with her husband only to be yanked to a halt when he suddenly turned to stone. She shrieked in pain as his granite fingers crushed hers. Tem watched as another woman pulled her dress from her shoulders, trying to mount a basilisk that had crested her. He pushed her aside, already grabbing the throat of another.

Tem turned to Leo.

“Go.”

Despite all the chaos, his eyes were only focused on her.

“Only if you come with me.”

“I can’t. I have to find—”

But she cut off as someone appeared beside them.

They both looked over to see Caspen.

“Tem,” he said. “Did you perform the crest?”

“No.”

Relief, then immediate worry flashed across his face. He jerked his head at Leo.

“He is vulnerable. If someone tries to—”

“I already claimed him.”

There was the briefest of pauses. Then Caspen said:

“Good.”

He meant it: Tem could feel his approval, and she realized he liked the way she had thought like a basilisk. He turned to Leo.

“You must go.”

Leo shook his head. “I’m not leaving her.”

Caspen shook his head too.

“No harm shall come to her, Leo. You have my word.”