Page 153 of Sworn to the Shadow Throne

The same thought was clearly sitting between us: that Fate, or something wearing its face, had been arranging pieces on this board far longer than either of us had been watching.

With visible effort, she set it aside. Some problems were too large to solve tonight. Or ever, for mortals like us.

“Owain.” She leaned forward slightly. “You must know that I had Thibault’s rooms searched.”

There were a million reasons she might do this, but I only needed one to act. “Why?”

“Lunette saw him using a magical device on Berian. The exact method I’ve suspected the Assembly used on your mother for years.”

Discovering the truth about Reina’s suspicions about my mother reignited the long-smoldering anger within me. But this made that anger grow far colder and more lethal.

“He wasn’t hiding it?” I heard my own voice from a slight distance.

A sudden restless urge to move sliced through me.

Thibault had been sloppy because he already believed she was under his power. I pressed my knuckles briefly to my mouth. “Why did she tell you this but not me?”

I wanted to hear what Reina had to say, but a faint unease tugged at me, joining the unpleasant urge to move. A moment later, unease settled in, a subtle yet persistent pressure at the fringes of my magic. It was as if my body and magic were rebelling against remaining in my room.

“Because I asked her not to. I needed to tell you about your mother first.” Reina’s eyes held mine without apology. “While we’re on the topic of confessions… I plan on stepping back from my duties to the Tir. Retiring to the family estate. I’ve found someone I want to spend more time with.”

Found someone. The words settled between us with the weight of two lives about to change forever.

I looked at the woman who’d been right beside me for every significant moment of my life before meeting Luna. Something heavy landed on my chest. I hadn’t known until this moment that I’d been counting on Reina always being there.

Then, from somewhere down the corridor, a piercing, broken scream tore through the air. “Owain—!”

My body reacted instinctively. Magic rose like a blade unsheathed. I was moving before my mind could even process the situation.

The door slammed open hard enough to crack against the stone.

Years of discipline fell away with each step. Each one shed another layer—restraint, propriety, everything—until there was nothing left but the need to reach my mate.

Chapter 41

Lunette

The door had barely closed behind Owain when I noticed the tray beside the hearth.

Silver gleamed in the firelight, piled high with candies in impossible colors. At the heart of the heap, a second elevated silver tray cradled a letter.

My pulse skipped.

There wasn’t time for this. The Assembly demonstration was moments away, and I still needed to compose myself.

I’d thought my curt response to Lord Coryanthus saying I was too busy for dinner would be enough, but Reina had warned me he was persistent. Just to make certain it was from him, I cracked the seal and allowed my eyes to skate down the page.

He was asking to take me on a tour of the Tir.

Little does he know I’ve gone on the most delightful tour of the keep already.

I threw that letter into the blazing hearth, just like the first one. I looked at the candy and decided the best place for it was the privy.

I refreshed myself and spent a few precious minutes playing with Muffin before heading back out. It was still early for our meeting time, but I wanted this display over with as quickly as possible.

When I walked into the corridor, the only people waiting were the usual guards. And ever-present Richart.

“My lady.” He straightened when he saw me, expression brightening in that earnest, slightly awkward way of his. “Were you hoping to be escorted to the king’s chambers?”