Page 100 of Between Two Kings

His next words were steady and low, as if they required great control to say them. “Because you are a Hybreed. If you wish to bring your friend here, you do not require their permission. You do not require anyone’s.”

Tem stared at him in shock. The fact that she could bypass the council was news to her. It was also…terrifying. If Tem could bypass the council, could she bypass Caspen? If so, this entire conversation was a formality. Tem’s choice, not Caspen’s, would be final.

Caspen continued quietly, “It is your decision, Tem. I will not stop you. But if it goes badly, you must live with the consequences.”

Things were already going badly. There were already consequences.

The snakes are next.

Tem had no idea what the villagers would do next, but she knew it would be terrible. And whether it was against the royals or against the basilisks, she had to try to stop it.

Tem spent the rest of the day deep in thought. To bring Gabriel here would be to take a wild chance—one that could end in death and disaster. But the situation with the villagers was deteriorating quickly. She could think of nothing else to do—no other solution to an impossible problem. Without some other way for the royals to make money, the villages would not be fed and the riots would only get worse. And if they got worse, it was only a matter of time before they became deadly. Bringing Gabriel here might not even be enough to stop the tidal wave that was building. But it was worth a try for a world in which the humans and the basilisks lived in peace.

There was so much that the humans could learn from the basilisks, and vice versa. Surely if the two sides could coexist within Tem—ceding and wielding power in tandem—they could coexist in real life.

Too soon, it was Sunday.

A carriage arrived to take them to the castle, as always. Caspen’s hand was on her knee the entire time. He’d been holding her close the past few days: hunting less, listening more. Tem wondered why. Was it because he sensed the distance between them and wished to prevent it? Or was it because of what he’d told her—that she was powerful—and he wanted to keep that power close? Either way, Tem liked it. She felt more connected to him than she had in days.

They entered the castle hand in hand. But for the first time, no one was there to greet them. No butler, no Leo, no Evelyn. Tem didn’t know what to make of it.

“Where is everyone?” she whispered.

Caspen shrugged. “Perhaps they are running late.”

“To their own dinner? In their own home?”

In response, Caspen pulled her against him. His mind beckoned to hers. And how shall we fill the time? His fingers were already on trailing down her waist.

Tem swatted him away. “Are you serious? Someone might see us.”

“Let them watch.”

“Caspen,” she gasped as he wrapped one hand around her thigh, pulling her legs apart and coaxing his knee between them. His other hand dipped into the slit of her dress. “We should go somewhere—the parlor—”

He pressed her against the front door. “We are not going anywhere until you come, Tem.”

She couldn’t have argued if she’d tried. His fingers slid deep into her wetness, his palm cupping her clitoris.

“Caspen—”

Her plea died on her tongue as he covered her mouth with his other hand. Tem arched her back, straining against his grip, but it was no use. He was already working her into a blind heat, distracting her completely. All she could feel was him; all she could smell was smoke. She wanted him to fuck her right here, right now.

I thought you wanted to go to the parlor.

She didn’t anymore. Not even close.

Now she wanted Caspen.

Tem reached for the seam of his trousers. A moment later they were open, and a moment after that, his cock slid inside her.

Caspen’s hand never left her mouth. She moaned against his fingers, their faces an inch apart as he fucked her. They were completely exposed. If anyone walked by—a maid, a stable boy, anyone—they would be seen. Tem didn’t care. Tem liked it. Tem wished she were completely naked and he was taking her in the middle of the ballroom. To do it in the foyer was no longer enough for her. She wanted to be seen.

If we are seen here, we will be thrown out, my love.

Even better. No more Sunday-night dinners.

Caspen’s amusement lasted only a moment. Then he was thrusting even harder, pushing Tem to the very brink of orgasm. She knew he needed her like this—helpless, his. Tem was happy to be that for him. It gave her pleasure to give him pleasure. It had always been that way between them.