Page 121 of Sworn to the Shadow Throne

And I’d fucking break them all for trying.

Camrick pushed off the wall, studying my face. “We can increase her guard.”

“That will only confirm she’s worth guarding.”

“Then what?” He threw his hands in the air.

Thunder rumbled, low and foreboding. With it, a faint tremor ran through the bond linking me to her. It felt as though, somewhere in the castle, Lunette had paused, sensing the same shift in the air.

I watched the first streak of lightning fracture the sky beyond the battlements. The storm was moving fast.

She was already extraordinary. Now she was visible. Those two things together, without the protection of a royal name, were the most dangerous combination I knew.

I’d brought her here to save the kingdom from one threat and walked her directly into the reach of something much worse than me losing my mind. They would make her disappear—quietly, legally, with paperwork and precedent.

But I could fight back with the same. I went to Camrick’s desk, pulled a fresh sheet of parchment from the stack, and dipped his quill.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Making it expensive for them to touch her.”

He came to stand behind me as I wrote the first line.

By authority of the Prince Regent, acting in defense of the Crown’s interests—

Camrick let out a low whistle. “That’s a big opening.”

I ignored him and kept writing while he peered over my shoulder.

A review of all foreign magical institutions operating within Larethian territory will be undertaken without delay. No correspondents and diplomatic actors with access to military posts, noble households, royal records, gifted minors, and unregistered mages are exempt. All detainments, examinations, and transfers of Larethian citizens by these foreign institutions will require signed consent from the Crown.

“Owain,” he said carefully. His eyes remained fixed on one line.

Previous Crown-sanctioned transfers of magically significant persons shall be documented and reviewed for irregularity, coercion, injury, or failure of return.

The thing I was pretending I hadn’t put there for him.

His jaw flexed.

“You don’t have to say a word. Publicly or privately.” I set the quill down. “If you want that line removed, I’ll remove it.”

The silence stretched.

“Leave it,” he said at last.

Something in my chest twisted. His past with them was not pretty.

“They definitely don’t want their actions documented.” Camrick’s grin returned by degrees. “The Dread Reaver of Larethia is a terrifying bastard when he wants to be.”

“Please don’t start calling me that,” I begged, though it was probably a losing battle already.

“I’ll have this distributed overnight.” Camrick’s expression sobered again. “And…thank you, Owain.”

When I returned to my room later that night, I stared at my signet ring. I’d always thought ruling meant holding myself back. When I’d handed Camrick with the writ, the look on his face made it clear I’d been wrong.

Perhaps sometimes ruling meant wearing my violence like armor. And, given the speed at which I knew the Assembly would work for someone as valuable as Lunette, it wouldn’t be long until I needed to take up a weapon too.

Chapter 34