Page 212 of Between Two Kings

For the first time, Tem paused her motions, too shocked to continue. Why would Rowe say that? How did he know how she felt about Leo?

Ah. Rowe smiled, and terror rose within her. Perhaps I do know you after all.

Tem couldn’t reply.

Basilisks do not take kindly to affairs of the heart, Temperance. What would Caspenon say if he found out how you feel?

He already knows. He loves me anyway.

Does he truly know? Or will he find out when the final tier is over?

My heart will call to him. I know it will.

Perhaps. Or perhaps your marriage will not survive this. What will happen then?

Tem didn’t dare think what would happen then. Everything would fall apart. Everything. He loves me. No matter what happens, we will survive this.

Rowe shrugged. He was still holding her on his cock. It will not matter.

What’s that supposed to mean?

It means I will have my revenge.

You swore you would honor the outcome. You—

The only outcome I will honor is the one where I am given what I am owed.

Tem was caught in the crossfire of a generation’s worth of wrongs. This was never about her. Rowe wanted to hurt Caspen, and he did not care how he did it. He’d already broken the rules—already bitten Caspen so he could take his power. Now he wanted to take Tem. There would be no end to his insurgence. Tem knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Rowe would not stop until he was Serpent King.

Terror engulfed her. This was no longer pleasurable; she was no longer turned on. Desperately, her eyes sought Apollo’s.

He was on his back just like the others, watching her with Rowe, his brows drawn with concern. His voice entered her mind: Temperance? What do you need?

Tem shook her head. She didn’t want to fuck Rowe anymore; she was about to throw up. There was only one thing she really needed: Help.

Apollo sat up without a second’s hesitation, grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her off Rowe’s cock with undeniable finality. Tem gasped at the sudden emptiness, burrowing herself immediately against Apollo’s chest. A murmur swept through the arena, but she barely heard it.

Apollo’s arms wrapped around her as Rowe said, “I am not finished with you, Temperance.”

Apollo angled his body between her and Rowe. “Do not speak to her.”

“Why?” Rowe sneered. “Your brother could not stop me, and neither can you.”

“You underestimate my brother,” Apollo snapped. “Which is your mistake.”

Rowe’s sneer only deepened. “You are both fools.”

“One more word,” Apollo snarled, “and I will kill you.”

Tem knew Caspen would have said the same thing. Apollo was no different than his brother in that way, and she almost loved him for it.

Tem stared into Rowe’s eyes, which were utterly devoid of humanity. His mind was no longer touching Tem’s, and in his retreat, she could once more think clearly. He would not attempt anything here—not during an event sanctioned by Kora, not in front of the quivers. It was in Rowe’s best interest to let the tournament continue, regardless of the outcome. His play for power depended on Tem’s heart calling to someone else. It could only do that if she finished the third tier.

There was no place to hide, no time to make any decision other than the one she was oath-bound to make. Tem would do the only thing she could do: continue on.

Apollo.

He looked at her. Temperance.