Page 49 of Between Two Kings

Evelyn glanced at Leo, who took a dangerously large gulp of his wine. “Haven’t you heard?”

Obviously Tem hadn’t heard. She was no longer a resident of the village; she wasn’t privy to the daily happenings in town. If there really was a food shortage, she would have at least expected Gabriel to mention it. But he’d said nothing, and neither had her parents.

“No. I haven’t.”

“Oh.” Evelyn tilted her head innocently. “I see. Well, as I’m sure you can imagine, things have become…difficult for our kingdom lately.”

More silence.

“How so?”

Tem expected an immediate reply. When the pause went on, it was Caspen, ultimately, who answered: She is referring to the bloodletting.

Understanding shot through Tem. Of course.

“The shortage has been difficult,” Evelyn said.

Beside her, Caspen stiffened.

Tem wondered briefly whether she meant the food shortage or the shortage of blood. One glance at the loaded golden plates before her told Tem it was probably the latter.

“There have been protests,” Leo said quietly. “The villagers are angry.”

That was no surprise. The villagers were already angry before her marriage to Leo. Jonathan’s and Christopher’s deaths had violated the truce, and they wanted justice. Abolishing the bloodletting—a move that appeared favorable to the basilisks—was the last thing the villagers wanted. Leo was in a dangerous position. And Tem had put him there.

“That’s…unfortunate,” Tem said stiffly. She didn’t trust herself to say anything else.

“What’s unfortunate is that our people will be affected by this,” Evelyn said over her glass. “Don’t you think?”

The comment seemed innocent at first glance. But it was anything but.

“Our people,” Tem said with pointed emphasis, “have already been affected by this.”

Beside her, Caspen’s energy was changing. Tem was not the only one who had to be careful controlling her temper. If Evelyn was implying that the bloodletting should continue, Caspen was sure to lose his good attitude. That was the absolute last thing that Tem needed to happen at this dinner.

Caspen’s voice cut into her mind: How dare she?

Now Tem was the one to place her hand on Caspen’s knee. This was all wrong—Leo had agreed to end the bloodletting. They shouldn’t even be talking about this.

She should watch her tongue. Or I shall remove it.

Caspen. You can’t hurt her. She’s the queen.

Caspen turned to her, looking straight into her eyes. You are the only queen I answer to.

Everything else fell away as he looked at her. Tem saw his fierce pride, his unwavering commitment. Her basilisk side unfurled beneath his gaze, immediately drawn to him.

She turned back to Evelyn, shrugging with an ease she did not feel. “Sounds like you need to find a way to make money.”

“We had a way,” Evelyn said. “But Leo stopped it.”

Tem’s mouth fell open.

Leo’s gaze remained on his wine, but a muscle in his jaw twitched.

“You could always ask for a loan,” Tem snapped.

“And who would we ask?”