Between Two Kings (Split or Swallow, #2)

by Lindsay Straube

Tem had chosen Caspen. But it wasn’t because she didn’t love Leo. It was because she wanted more for Leo. And in doing so, she had accepted less for herself.

You never have to go without sex, Tem. He was still inside her. What do you mean? I mean you are free to sleep with other basilisks if that is what you wish. She looked up at him. He pulled out slowly, trailing kisses down her throat as he did it. Won’t that bother you? It will not.

He literally watched her fuck his father. What did she think he would say?

“The mountain can stifle even the strongest basilisk, Temperance. It has a mind of its own. I would never subject your mother to it.”

Her dad is a good man

“Would you have made her do the ritual?” she asked. To her surprise, her father laughed. “What’s so funny?” “I could not have made your mother do anything,” he said. “Back then or now. You are just like her in that way.” Tem allowed herself to laugh too. It was a blessing to see herself in her mother and an honor for her father to equate them that way. “You know what I mean,” she insisted. “Did you want her to do it?” Kronos sighed. “I wanted her. And if that meant she had to do the ritual, then yes. I would have requested it of her.” “Would she have done it?” His mouth twitched. “I doubt it.”

This is such an interesting convo

Tem didn’t want to hear how it was wrong to love two people.

Tem you dumb bitch you know its wrong just stop running

They’d agreed to share her.

Her body, not her heart, and she knows that

Caspen was her first love.

No dear, you're dickmatized

Gabriel’s grin widened. “No. Although I’m a little jealous you got to fuck Caspen’s father.”

We all need a friend lime Gabriel

“Tem, dearest.” He pulled her closer, pressing his lips to her cheek. “I was beginning to think that you were entirely boring. That would disgust me far more than what you just told me.”

Tem blushed, remembering the banquet hall that very morning. “They’re constantly having sex.” Gabriel’s face lit up with glee. “Are they, now? Do tell me more.”

On the way back to the caves, Tem thought about what her father had told her: how basilisks were free with their bodies but not with their hearts.

Caspen literally told her the same thing though.

Tem frowned. While her human side didn’t like the idea of Caspen sleeping with anyone else, the last thing she wanted was to prevent him from participating in his own culture. If she stood in the way of such customs, she ran the risk of him resenting her.

Tem. You're literally IN LOVE with someone else.

He looked even more like Bastian than Caspen did. He had his father’s cock: impossibly thick at the base. Tem flushed at the sight.

Not something i ever thought i would read but here we are

She knew that Caspen liked it when she adhered to basilisk traditions. But she was having a very difficult time wrapping her head around how it could possibly make no difference to Caspen were she to sleep with his brother.

Girl, YOU FUCKED HIS FATHER IN FRONT OF HIM

Something occurred to Tem, and she asked it before she lost her nerve: “Have there ever been two queens?” “Yes.” “And two kings?” “Yes, although not as often.” “Why not?” Adelaide gave her a small smile. “Men do not share.” Tem almost smiled too. That was certainly true. Women were raised to share their time, their attention, their love. Men kept everything for themselves.

“Why is that a secret? I thought everything was allowed here.” Adelaide shrugged, straightening. “Men are curious creatures, Temperance. They are petty, and they are stupid.” Tem snorted. “It is true, is it not?”

Despite Tem’s anxiety, she was enjoying this moment here with Adelaide. It was feminine and fun and light. Almost as if she were talking with Gabriel—as

“Are you well? You look a bit flushed.” Of course she looked flushed. She’d just had an orgasm.

To say she was complex was like saying the sun was bright. It was hardly a groundbreaking analysis,

Desire clawed at her.

Speaking of claw, what happened to hers?

Tem didn’t believe him no matter how adamantly he claimed it wouldn’t bother him if she slept with his brother,

Girl, you fucked his dad in front of him

Tem stepped closer. “You can’t keep this from me forever. It isn’t right.” “Enough, Tem. We will discuss this another time.”

Sounds like it might be time to ask Apollo

She wanted him to have seen her that way: naked and sweaty and riding his father before riding his brother.

Girl wtf

Tem couldn’t believe Apollo had watched her fuck his father—that it had turned him on—and now he wanted to do the same to her.

So Tem kept going.

This bitch

“I cannot fathom why my brother would not teach you such a fundamental skill. It is unwise. You should know the full breadth of your power.”

Uhm maybe because hes a manipulative ass who doesnt want her to know her full power?

There was no doubt in her mind that accepting petrification lessons from his brother would anger him, even if it felt like the right thing to do for her—even if she wanted it.

Sounds like a him problem

But what had been taken?

Maybe ask?

Tem herself had promised him she would never give him another order.

But even then she admitted she would to save her people

Tem stared at him. What she felt for Leo was far from an infatuation. It was as real and irrefutable as her love for Caspen.

Wait. She is hybreed. What if the blood curse doesnt apply because leo is human

“I can’t believe you’ve been hiding all of this from me.” “I haven’t hidden anything. You’re here, aren’t you?” “You could’ve told me you were drinking from a cum fountain, Tem.”

Cackling

Tem shook her head. “We can’t consummate it. He’s engaged to Evelyn.”

Never mind the curse and that Caspen will kill you

Caspen had threatened to solve it himself.

Let him. That is the solution

There was no room for exceptions, no possibility of a loophole.

Unless she has Caspen crest him

Tem didn’t have the answers to those questions.

Yes she did. Dumbass. The crest.

You’re sleeping with someone right now? Sleeping sounds romantic. I would call this fucking. Don’t be crude. Crude is my specialty. Why talk to me if you’re otherwise indisposed? I am extraordinary at multitasking.

Honestly Apollo is hilarious

And why not? You fucked our father, did you not?

I love him for saying it

Truth be told, she hadn’t thought this part through.

Surprise surprise

“Let me help, Temperance.” “No.” “It will only get worse if you resist.” “I don’t care.” “You will soon.” “I hate you.” “Now, now. We both know that is not true.”

The banter

“Will you just shut up and help me?” Apollo crossed his arms. “If I’m going to help you, I would prefer your enthusiastic consent.” “You have it.” “It does not sound like it.” “What else do you want me to say?” “Something romantic would be nice.”

The claw pulsed.

Wait now she has the claw again?!

“I will choose Caspen.” “You may. Or you may choose someone else.”

Choose Apollo. He seems fun

Tem’s heart belonged to Caspen.

Did it though

First my brother, then my father. Should I be offended you draw the line at fucking me? He had a point there. But for some reason, this felt different.

Right?!

Then place the burden on me. I vow we will not have sex until you initiate it. Tem considered this. Do you promise? His hands tightened on her waist. I promise. He pressed once more against the claw. Now take this out and come on my cock. The time for hesitation was gone. Tem was ready.

What in the world? Im so confused

“You may belong to my brother, but I will protect you as if you are mine.”

How could he be bound to her by blood and not worry about the outcome of this tournament?

So if they are bound by blood and she sleeps with someone else she loves then he has to kill her but in the tournament her heart will choose so doesnt that basically mean death if she doesnt choose caspen

Unless Caspen won the tournament, unless her heart called to him—she would never touch him again.

Dont theyvsleep with whoever they want anyways?

Now she was a woman, and she was fucking eleven men in a row.

fucking hilarious

And the heart was not so easily swayed.

Quoting Frozen now?