Page 79 of Split or Swallow

We will see each other tomorrow.

Tem nearly jumped out of her skin as she remembered that their minds were connected now. She’d spent so long trying to destroy the barrier between them that she wasn’t used to it being down.

How long have you been there?

Not long.

Tem frowned. She didn’t like that he’d listened to her thoughts without her consent.

I meant no harm, Tem. You are…hard to ignore.

Somehow, she knew it was a compliment. Before she could reply, he spoke again:

From now on, I will only come when you call.

His presence faded.

Tem wanted to call him back, but didn’t. It was hard enough that she had to see Leo tonight. It would be harder still if Caspen was listening to every word.

The package arrived at seven.

It was larger than the one Leo had sent her last time, and when Tem opened it, she realized why. Three dresses fell onto her bed. One was silver, which Tem immediately rejected. She didn’t want anything clashing with the gold of her necklace. The next dress was a deep purple, and so low cut that Tem actually blushed. Typical Leo. The last one, inexplicably, was modest. It was black and form-fitting, with a high neck and long sleeves. Tem arranged the dresses on the bed so she could see all three at once.

Tem recognized that Leo was letting her choose for herself—that he’d heard her when she told him she liked making her own choices. Could it be possible that he wasn’t the pig he portrayed himself to be? A glance at the neckline of the purple dress refuted that possibility. And yet, his gesture wasn’t lost on Tem.

She considered the dresses. Then she considered Leo’s request.

Torture me.

It was one thing to show Leo everything he wanted. It was another thing entirely to show him nothing at all. Besides—who was she to deny the prince?

Tem smiled, and reached for the black dress.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Vera was the last girl to arrive at the castle.

Tem watched as she flounced into the foyer with her nose turned up, snatching a glass of wine from the butler and downing half of it in one go. Her mouth was a bright circle of cherry red lipstick, and she reeked of flowery perfume. The combination was an assault on the senses.

“Are you feeling better?” Tem asked as politely as she could manage.

Vera squinted at her suspiciously.

“Why do you care?”

“Your father said you were sick. I’m just making conversation.”

Vera sighed.

“If you must know, Jonathan ended things with me.”

Tem almost laughed. It was just like Vera to be sad about Jonathan ending things while simultaneously competing for the prince’s hand in marriage. Nothing was ever enough for Vera; she always had to have it all.

“Well…I’m…sorry to hear that.”

“You should be.”

“Excuse me?”