Page 42 of Queen to the Sunless Court (Brides of Myth #2)

“Fascinating, right? Let’s try again. When was the last time Lykos mentioned seeing someone? He’s probably open about it.”

Theron rolled his eyes. “He never stops boasting.”

“And has he boasted lately?”

“Calliste, keeping up with his affairs is not exactly my priority.”

“But if he was involved with someone, you’d know… something, correct?”

Theron paused, a thoughtful expression on his face as he seemed lost in thought. “Now that you mention it, he’s been acting strange lately, especially when he noticed us getting closer. He’s been challenging me on that.”

“Why?”

“Because he believes I’ve been courting Eumelia, and now that I’ve met you...” He looked uneasy. “But if you’re right... How can you be sure? It could just be his usual passing fancy.”

“Doubtful. The way he looked at her, you’d think he’d kill for just a crumb of her attention.” She plucked another grape. “You said Eumelia is your friend, but I don’t understand why some people think she means more to you.”

Theron rubbed his chest and swallowed. “You’re right.

I should have explained.” He took a deep breath.

“Not long after I hired Eumelia and started inviting her to functions, my court mistook my admiration for her music as romantic interest. The truth is, the better I got to know her, the more she felt like a very good friend and someone I could trust, at least a little. And she’s always treated me with nothing but respect.

The longer she worked for me, the more I got to know her, and she’s opened up about many things.

She has a good heart that’s been so badly battered that I wanted to make sure no one would hurt her again. ”

Calliste held her breath.

“She also told me that she lives for her music and never intends to marry, while I was growing tired of hearing that I should remarry. So, we devised a plan where I appeared to be courting her. This little farce shielded her from unwanted advances and gave me peace and quiet.”

“Oh, but... How did you manage to maintain that appearance?”

Theron chuckled. “My sweet nymph, when you’re an eligible royal, even the slightest attention you give to a woman sparks wild gossip and speculation.

We made good use of it. We often smiled at each other in public.

I would escort her to the odeon when she performed there, watching from the front row, and I sent flowers and jewelry to the stage.

That was enough. But it was all a pretense, and we took full advantage of the fact that people can’t seem to conceive that a man and a woman can be friends rather than lovers.

” He glanced at her and picked up a grape, slowly placing it on her tongue.

Only then did she realize her mouth had dropped open.

She thought about everything she’d heard about Eumelia as she digested his words. “And Lykos didn’t know that this is all fake?”

His expression turned serious. “I didn’t tell him because the last thing I wanted was for him to play games with her.” He sighed. “Lykos is like a brother to me, Calliste, but if he had a piece of gold for every heart he broke, well… He’d be much richer than he already is.”

“You’re very protective of her.”

“She might seem aloof, Calliste, but if you knew what she’s been through, it wouldn’t surprise you. I had to protect her, even from him.”

“Except...” she said slowly, piecing it all together, “Lykos might genuinely care about her. He stayed out of your way because he’s a good friend and wants you to be happy.”

“Gods,” he muttered. “I’ve been warning her not to fall for his charms.”

“Oh, Theron.” She covered her mouth, amused by his almost comical apprehension. “He’s been acting strange with you—even I noticed. He’s worried, Theron.”

His brow shot up. “Worried?”

She could imagine it: a carefree captain falling for the court musician only to find out that his best friend—and the king—had already chosen her.

Perhaps Eumelia, talented and beautiful, had enchanted him and now that Theron appeared to be discarding her, as if she were merely a plaything…

“He believes you are going to leave Eumelia with a broken heart, and he’s holding you accountable.

If he didn’t care about her or only saw her as a passing fancy, he wouldn’t act like that. ”

They stared at each other.

“Nonsense,” he said slowly. “If this was the case, he would be ecstatic that I’m stepping aside.”

“He probably fears it will be devastating for her and she’ll shut herself off. And he’ll never get his chance. You’ll have to tell him the truth.”

“Calliste, this is all your speculation…” he muttered.

She burst out laughing. “If you say so, Majesty .”

“Don’t,” he groaned, rubbing his forehead. “How am I supposed to tell him?”

“I could talk to him to confirm I’m right?”

“He won’t tell you anything.”

She picked up another grape and brushed it against his mouth. “Are you willing to bet on that?”

He took it with his teeth and ate it meditatively. “You’re very sure of yourself, nymph.” Suddenly, all his attention was on her. “But I’ll take it. I’ll send him over to you in the evening under some pretense, and we’ll see if you can coax him into a confession.”

“And what are we betting on?”

“The winner decides,” he said, his eyes already shimmering with distant wildfires.

“Devious, but I bet we’d both ask for the same thing.”

“You want to bet on a bet?” His lips were close, closer, the thrum of his voice in his chest making her blood rush. He shifted her so she was pressed against the balustrade.

The thought of being caught between him and the drop behind made her dizzy. “You have to address it. He’s loyal to a fault, but thinking you’re hurting Eumelia must be hard for him.”

“Even if I tell him the state of things, it changes nothing. Eumelia doesn’t want anything to do with him or any other man.”

“Still, it would stop the rift between you. Some secrets are destructive if you let them fester like this...”

A shadow passed over his face, his features tightening slightly, reminding her of the secrets she’d kept from him all this time, with the most important one still unspoken.

I don’t even heed my own advice. Her body tensed as she clamped her mouth shut, ready to withdraw.

He must have sensed it. He lifted her chin, his jaw tightening as something unspoken and dark flickered in his eyes.

Shrinking in her skin at the thought of being quizzed again, she braced herself.

He kissed her instead.

It was one of his possessive, deep kisses, with the burning promise of more and the sweet hint of grapes.

His lips sealed hers, his tongue implacable, conquering, his hands tightening in her hair while he pinned her between him and the balustrade with the endless sunlit planes of air spanning behind her.

She savored it, locking herself in the moment—but somewhere at the back of her mind, Hypnos’ sneering chuckle resurfaced, along with his words that hummed like darkness.

He doesn’t trust you as much as you think.