Damien pushed off the mirror with lazy grace. He crossed the room slowly, eyes on hers and stripping her bare, as if he could read her very thoughts.
That wouldn’t do.
She lifted her chin, proud like any lady in court.Stay calm,she told herself.Don’t give yourself away.
But each step he took chipped away at her resolve. The more the gap between them closed, the smaller and shakier she felt. Her knees trembled; her lungs forgot how to breathe.
How could one man unmake her like this?
When he reached her, his hand slid to her waist and drew her in. A shiver chased down her spine. For a moment—just a moment—she leaned in, aching for the warmth of him, the safety of him, the lie of it all. A groan built in her throat, and she almost begged him to go lower.
He grinned, like he could taste the thought forming on her tongue. His fingers brushed the edge of the broad-leaf pouch tucked into her skirt, dragging her focus from the heat gathering low in her belly.
She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Instincts screamed at her to run, to break this spell, but her hooves wouldn’t move.
He didn’t take the pouch. Just let his fingers trail along the little swell it made at her hip—slow, deliberate.
“A girl who runs with diamonds in her skirt,” he murmured. “You do know how to keep things interesting.”
Skies save her.
Digging deep, she managed a shrug. “Figured she wouldn’t notice a few missing trinkets.”
His gaze searched hers, seeking a truth she wouldn’t let him see. He cocked his head and let his voice drop into a purr. “Stealing from Winta? Brave.” A faint smile tugged at his lips—not cruel, but amused. “Deadly, but brave.”
She couldn’t answer. Her throat was tight, her chest burning. How much was he piecing together?
He continued, voice softer now, low and unhurried. “This is all quite unnecessary.”
His hand rose to her shoulder, and she flinched reflexively but didn’t pull away, allowing him to trace slow, deliberate circles against her skin. The contact was soft and familiar. She melted into it—into him. She wanted him to drag her back to that bed, drown her in warmth and touch and the dangerous illusion that she was safe here.
Thathewas safe.
“If you wish to leave,” he said softly, “I’ll give you whatever you need. I won’t stop you.”
A flicker of sadness crossed his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. “I only ask that you tell me why.”
Doubt clawed at her insides. “Promise me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Promise you won’t stop me.”
His dark eyes searched hers. Silence stretched, thickening the air between them, until finally, he nodded.
“By blood that binds and breath that breaks, I swear—you are free. If I were to break this vow, let the earth deny me and the sky erase me.”
The words settled between them, and Luna couldn’t help the shudder that ran through her.
She wanted to tell him now. Had to say it out loud. “I heard you.” Her voice shook as she spoke. “That night. You and Gregory . . . talking about taking me to the Darkened One.”
Any lightness in Damien faded entirely. For a brief moment, she wondered if he would deny everything, brushing off her accusations like a trivial misunderstanding. But instead, his following words cut like a blade. “Yes, I have made a deal with the Darkened One.” His voice was unnervingly calm. “But it’s not you I have agreed to trade.”
The floor tilted beneath Luna. She staggered backwards, her hand flying to grasp the table behind her for balance. “But I—What? No.” This wasn’t making sense. “Who?”
“I just . . .” His fingers squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I couldn’t stand by while Arleen was forced to marry the Darkened One.”
Luna blinked, his words crashing over her like cold water. Forced? The very idea made her insides twist. “Why would she have to?”
“For peace,” Damien answered with a shrug. “My father believes marrying Arleen to the Darkened One is the first step towards building a political relationship between our territories. We’ve been at war with Solar for centuries, and things have only gotten worse with the Darkened One in power.”
“She’s terrified,” he continued, lips pressing into a thin line. “So I went behind my father’s back and begged the Darkened One to release her. He will, but only if I complete an . . . errand . . . for him.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and for a second, he looked younger—tired, ashamed. Like saying it aloud might make it worse. “In exchange for my sister, he wants Nina.”
