Page 36 of Split or Swallow

Again, she spoke the truth:

“No.”

The cruel smile slipped from his face. Definitely not used to being defied.

“Then I won’t burden you with it.”

“How considerate of you.”

A vein in his temple pulsed. It felt as if their entire conversation had been a battle of wits, and Tem wasn’t sure who had won. This was the person she was supposed to give herself to? How could she be expected to compete for his affections when the way he was looking at her made her feel as if she’d been turned inside out?

“Shall we rejoin the party?” Leo said finally, his voice hard. “You’re the guest of honor, after all.”

His timing couldn’t be better. Tem wanted nothing more than to get out of this room.

Leo gestured stiffly with his hand. Without another word, Tem followed him out, and he walked a step ahead of her all the way back to the ballroom. The moment they arrived, he left her. She watched his lanky frame navigate the crowd with understated authority, his whiskey glass still in his hand. People moved for him, and if they didn’t, a casual wave of his long fingers cleared his path.

In the prince’s absence, Tem knew a moment of peace. Then Vera appeared. Her eyes ran greedily down Tem’s body, not unlike the way Leo had looked at her just minutes before. But instead of sexual attraction, there was nothing but pure jealousy in Vera’s eyes.

“That’s your mother’s dress?”

Tem considered lying. But the truth was so much better.

“No,” she said. “Caspen gifted it to me.”

Jealousy turned to utter loathing.

“The basilisk gave you that?”

“The Serpent King gave me that.”

Vera stood silently, gaping like a fish. It had taken twenty years, but finally, Tem understood how it felt to have the upper hand. She savored it.

Just then, Gabriel appeared at her elbow, holding a beer.

“Piss off, Vera,” he said cheerfully.

Vera’s face contorted into a sneer. She and Gabriel had never gotten along—possibly because he was friends with Tem—possibly because he always somehow ended up kissing the boys Vera liked. Either way, they hated each other.

“There’s no need to be rude,” she hissed.

“I know there’s no need. I’m rude because I want to be.”

Vera didn’t bother with a retort before flouncing haughtily away. Gabriel handed Tem his beer. She sipped it gratefully, using it to wash away the taste of the whiskey.

“Can’t stay long,” he said. “The kitchen is chaos tonight.”

“Thanks for sneaking away.”

“Of course,” he tilted an eyebrow at her. “So? Have you met him yet?”

There was no need to ask who he was referring to.

“Just did.”

“And?”

Tem sighed, avoiding his eyes. “I don’t know, Gabriel. It was…strange. I couldn’t really tell what he was thinking.”