Page 137 of Sworn to the Shadow Throne

“Sort of.” I narrowed my eyes. “Considering throwing another one in the dungeon?”

He offered me the courtesy of appearing contrite. “They’re oath-sworn to discretion. Anything they hear or see in the family wing is not to be discussed. Ever.”

“Does speaking the truth about what I am truly warrant confinement?”

His answer was immediate. “If you were keeping the truth a secret in service to your king, yes.”

I eyed him.

His focus shifted back to me with a tangible pressure. “Your safety is one thing I will never compromise on, Lunette. Never.” Then he deflected the conversation so abruptly, it made my head spin. “Since you turned him down, can we burn these flowers, please? Who was that again?”

“No,” I declared, planting my fists firmly on my hips. “I like them. No one has ever given me a bouquet before.”

His eyes flashed black before returning to their normal purple. “Your past lovers didn’t put in much effort, did they?”

“No,” I answered before thinking better of it.

“I will.” There wasn’t a single trace of humor on his face.

The only way I was able to maintain some semblance of composure was by sinking further into my chair. “Is all this…this behavior because the court might try to match me with your brother?”

It didn’t matter that I found Berian repulsive. He was the king. If he decided he wanted me because his court decided I was useful… I would be even more powerless than I had been in coming to the Tir under orders.

“Lunette, I don’t want the court’s story to become another thing done to you,” Owain said, knuckles going white on his knees. “ My aunt may have started this, but you decide when it ends.”

“I don’t like the idea of being attached to your brother.” My palms were sweating, heart speeding up from the leap I was about to take. It would completely ruin my reputation, but did that really matter? I didn’t want anyone else, and everyone back in Selmont already thought me much worse. “Since you’ve already been seen coming into my room and the guards will see you leaving it… Maybe if the court believes we’re sleeping together…” I suggested lightly, watching his reaction for any sign that I should immediately retreat. “Pushing that plan just a little more would complicate any plots to tie me to Berian.”

Owain went from brooding to cautious contemplation to a full-on smile in quick succession.

Leading me straight back into temptation.

With a decisive straightening of his posture and a giddiness I’d never seen from him before, Owain announced, “This plan has my complete, royal endorsement.”

I let myself huff out a quiet laugh.

The fire had burned down to embers in the hearth as we spoke, casting a warm, amber light that danced with the deep shadows in the room. The furs on the bed looked obscenely inviting, and the air smelled faintly of flowers and the dessert soap waiting to be used again. It was a very comfortable room to be locked in with someone you were trying not to want too badly.

His eyes flicked to the door. “It gives us an excuse to be seen together more.” He paused, looking around the space before fixing his eyes on me. “Which brings us to the logistics. For the rest of the night...my room or yours?”

“For what exactly?” I gave him a dry, warning look.

“The sleepover.” He said it as if it were a perfectly reasonable, above-board diplomatic arrangement. “I’ll take the floor.”

“Owain!” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I see why you and Camrick are friends. Absolutely ridiculous men.”

He shrugged, his eyes sparkling with something annoyingly close to triumph. “This was your idea.”

“So first you do whatever Reina tells you, and now me?”

His face grew very solemn, but I could still see the repressed laughter beneath. “The ability to heed the wisdom of intelligent women is essential for the survival of any monarch.”

This felt close to flirting—something we’d just started to do back in Selmont before the threat of him leaving drove us into each other’s arms. But maybe that was the right thing to do. Taking a few steps backward, hand in hand, might be the only way to really move past any lingering bitterness.

Or maybe I just wanted to have the stupid sleepover.

I said, “Nothing could compel me to endure the stares of the guards as I walk past them to sneak back into my room in the morning.”

He leaned back against the table, folding his arms. “Particularly with the Assembly contingent due in. You can never be alone, Luna.”