Page 194 of Between Two Kings

“Rowe has nothing to lose,” Tem said. “That makes him dangerous.”

“Tem.” Caspen looked her straight in the eye. “I am dangerous.”

Despite the warmth of the banquet hall, Tem shivered. She turned to Apollo. “And don’t get any ideas.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “And what sort of ideas might I get?”

“Just because that woman chose you, doesn’t mean I ever will.”

Apollo’s mouth twitched in amusement. “Her choice is not binding. It has no influence on yours.” The same thing Adelaide said.

“Still. Don’t—”

“Get any ideas? I would not dare, Temperance.”

“Good, because—”

Just then, Caspen spoke into her mind: Enough, Tem.

Her heart thrummed in her chest at the reprimand. She knew she was lashing out because she was nervous—because she was terrified. The fear was beginning to eat her alive. Tem closed her eyes. Somehow, what she needed to say to them was easier that way.

“You can’t let Rowe take me.”

Silence. Tem opened her eyes to see Apollo’s gaze slide to Caspen’s. Something unspoken passed between brothers, and Tem wished she knew what it was. Then Apollo placed his hand gently on her waist. She froze at the contact, holding perfectly still as he said, “We will both die before we let that happen, Temperance.”

The barest sense of relief flowed through her, followed immediately by horrible guilt. “I can’t lose either of you.”

Another silence.

In it, Tem felt both of them enter her mind the way they had in the grotto. Only this time, they were not trying to seduce her. This time she felt nothing but an unbreakable wave of reassurance pass from their minds to hers. She understood that they were united in this, that they recognized that the situation was greater than themselves—that they were prepared to sacrifice if necessary. Tem was prepared too.

“It is our honor to fight for you, Tem,” Caspen said quietly.

Apollo’s hand was still on her waist. His fingers tightened—just barely—in a gesture of agreement. Then he released her. Caspen had retreated from her mind. But Apollo remained, murmuring just a single sentence before retreating too: You are worth fighting for, Temperance.

The same words Caspen had said to her earlier. Tem knew Apollo wouldn’t say them unless he meant them. Basilisks could not lie, after all. They could only bend the truth, and what he’d said was so straightforward, Tem could do nothing but believe him.

After that, there was nothing to do but eat and drink.

The feast was sumptuous—one of the best Tem had ever had. The food was accompanied by what seemed like endless amounts of elixir. It made sense, she supposed, that the two quivers would need liquid courage in order to coexist. But as a direct result, the banquet hall was rapidly descending into chaos. Adelaide hadn’t been kidding when she told Tem she might be surprised at what she would see. All around them, basilisks were fucking. They did it on the benches, on the tables, on the floor. Tem had thought that, given the nature of why they were here, the two quivers would have animosity between them. Instead, the opposite was true. Tem saw Senecas with Senecas, Senecas with Drakons, and every combination in between. Tem stared out at the chaos, in awe of the sheer scope of it.

Only Rowe did not partake in the festivities. He remained on the edge of the banquet hall, not eating or drinking, his arms crossed over this chest. His golden cock was fully erect, and Tem wondered if it was always like that.

“Rowe is staring at me.”

Both Caspen and Apollo looked over at him.

“So he is,” Apollo said. “Shall we tell him to stop?”

“Please don’t.”

“And why not?” Caspen said. “He is bothering you.”

“You already took his cock, Caspen. I don’t know what else you could even take.”

A dark smile twisted his face. “I would think of something.”

“You could take his head,” Apollo offered.