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August 2 - August 31, 2025
“No girl is hopeless.”
“You already know you’re beautiful, don’t you?” Tem had only been called beautiful once, by Caspen. And yet his word had made her believe it, so she answered honestly, “Yes.” “In that case, would you even care to hear it from me?” Again, she spoke the truth: “No.” The cruel smile slipped from his face—definitely not used to being defied. “Then I won’t burden you with it.” “How considerate of you.”
“There’s no need to be rude,” she hissed. “I know there’s no need. I’m rude because I want to be.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. His next words were barely a whisper. “You are not meant to be tamed, Tem.”
Squeeze, little viper.
She clung to him. It felt like her soul had been cracked open. “I hate that you have this much power over me.” To her surprise, he laughed. “What’s so funny?” His grin only widened. “Of the two of us, I am not the one with the power, Tem.”
“How do you always know?” she whispered. “Know what, Tem?” “How to make me feel better.” He chuckled softly. “I never know. I just try something and hope for the best.”
“Apparently I’m partial to torture.”
“Tem.” He cupped her chin in his palm, pulling her gaze up to his. “You can do anything. Of that I am certain.”
I could eat you alive. “I could let you.”
CASPEN! Silence. And then: There is no need to yell, Tem.
Tem gripped the bench, as if by doing so she could grip him. Will you think of me? His reply was barely a whisper, lost in the wind. Constantly.
“You know,” he said, his voice barely a murmur. “You can imagine whatever you want too.”
“You are not an imposition.”
“Protecting you is only the beginning of what I want to do.”
“Such is the basilisk way.”
“This is not just a necklace,” he said softly. “Then what is it?” Caspen paused, his fingers stroking the charm. “It is…a gesture of intent.” Tem frowned. “Intent to what?” His eyes found hers. “To marry you.”
“My compass points to you. I could not change direction even if I wanted to.”
Tem let that revelation sink in for a moment. It was absurd. She was involved with not one but two princes. At the same time. It was nothing she could have ever predicted for herself.
“We kissed for too long,” she whispered. “Impossible,” he breathed. “I’d kiss you forever if I could.”
“I understand you don’t need me to take care of you,” he said quietly. “But it is my pleasure to do so.”
Leo. And Caspen. She loved them both.
Then, with a horrible crack, Tem felt her pelvis break.
“If I am perfect, it’s because you made me that way.”
“Tem.” He arched his head back in exasperation. “Knowing you has been the single most torturous experience of my life.”
“I will not survive you,” he said, his voice a guttural whisper. “Do you even want to?”
“You look…” He seemed to be at a loss for words, finishing quietly with “Celestial.” “You’re getting better at compliments,” Tem said.
A moment later, he was on his knees, and for the second time, Tem knew what it was to have a prince kneel before her.
“I want all of you,” he said deliberately. “Or I don’t want you at all.”
“A king does not beg.” “He does for his queen.”
“You’re depraved.” “I’m taking that as a compliment.” “That’s your prerogative.”
“I know my time with you is somewhat borrowed,” Leo said quietly. “And I know that I will never have all of you. But, Tem.” He paused, looking her right in the eye. “It is without ego that I say your presence in my life has changed me immeasurably. You are headstrong. And stubborn. And infuriatingly difficult to please.”
“You are also courageous. And irresistible. And you invariably make me a better person, even when I struggle to return the favor. In short, you are too good for me. But I’m asking for you anyway.”
Her power was cosmic—as vast as the stars.
