Page 168 of Sworn to the Shadow Throne

His mouth twitched. “A present from Queen Isca.”

I raised one eyebrow in question. So much had happened since arriving at the keep, it was hard to believe I’d received my first letter from her not so long ago.

“She can imbue elixirs with emotions. That one was to help you feel energized.”

To my surprise, I did. It wasn’t a physical feeling, though. I wasn’t jittery like I had been the one time I’d drunk too much tea. It was as if the magic had overridden the mental effects of fatigue and lifted my spirits. “She’s very good.”

“The best.” He shrugged. “I think you’ll be great friends.”

The way he spoke made it clear that he’d already made up his mind to keep me where her letters would reach me easily.

A small, sand-colored lump, its edges softened by a bushy tail coiled around it, rested between Owain’s knees. One tiny paw twitched above it in sleep.

Muffin had certainly made himself at home.

“That,” I said, pointing at the little veska, “is intolerably cute.”

Owain huffed under his breath. “I brought him to see you, and he refused to leave. When Camrick tried to pull Muffin off your chest, the little terror nearly ripped off his nose!”

I shook my head, imagining exactly how that scenario had gone down with me sleeping away in the background.

When I held the empty cup out to him, Owain leaned forward to take it, slow enough that I could guess his aim: a kiss on my forehead.

Judging by the sun outside, I’d been asleep for an entire day and night, waking only to grab some water and relieve myself. So much had probably happened during that time.

I should’ve asked how his brother and Richart were. I should’ve asked after the Assembly. Should’ve talked to him about the problems on our doorstep. But I tilted my chin up at the last second so our mouths met instead.

It was a small rebellion against the small person I’d taught myself to be. The new Luna could reach for what she wanted and keep it forever—damn the dissenting voice that said it was too risky, that I should hide and never reach for happiness.

It was a light kiss, one that could’ve been called fond rather than passionate. But it lingered long enough for me to feel the way he stilled in surprise. Long enough to notice the shift in his breathing. Long enough that I wanted nothing more than to burrow farther into his warmth.

Somewhere in the space between heartbeats, it became something else entirely. As our bodies moved closer, Muffin grouched with a rumbling growl and scrabbled off the bed with pointed dignity.

Smart boy.

Owain made a low sound against my mouth that was not quite a groan and not quite a laugh. With a burst of magic, the lap desk was lifted. He managed to reposition the whole thing, inkpot included, out of harm’s way without a single drop spilled, all while still leaning over to kiss me.

Show off.

With that out of the way, only the decision itself stood between us.

I beckoned him closer.

Skin. There was nothing in the way of me touching him—no fabric, no fear, no excuses. My fingers slid up his chest, heart racing underneath the muscle and scars.

His kiss was like everything else he did—fully committed. He’d always been this way, I realized. Even in Selmont, even when I was furious with him, he’d never been half anything with me.

As my hands glided up his shoulders, his deep, calming exhalation ghosted across my lips. It was as if I could feel the tension ease from his body at the same time it left mine.

No more second-guessing. I wanted him. I wanted this.

“Owain,” I breathed against his lips. “Get under the furs with me.”

Just like the first night we slept together in the castle, he didn’t have to be asked twice. His muscles flexed as he raced to do just that.

A light laugh bubbled up in my throat, and I made no effort to hold it back. He was aware of how eager he appeared, and he didn’t care at all.

When he was snuggled up next to me, my hands resumed their cautious exploration across his skin. They snagged on the x-shaped scar on his side from where I’d healed him. I loathed that he’d been so grievously injured, but its existence was the only reason we’d found each other in this lifetime.