Page 102 of The Princess's Chosen

Suddenly, I understood where Griffin's information was coming from and why it hadn't beenmorehelpful.

"I've been researching the council members with Wendell. There are men whose loyalty is to the crown, and others whose loyalty is to their merchant vessels that trade with Mennary," I said. "If it goes to a vote, it won't be unanimous and I will ensure it doesn't pass."

Griffin's shoulders gradually eased. "We've had enough, Your Highness. If this passes, whatever it is—"

"It won't," I said.

"If itdoes, the shifters of Kimmery won't accept it. And we won't remain peaceful."

Griffin meant the words as a warning. I took them as a promise.

"I will stand with you," I said, my chin lifting.

Finally, Griffin squeezed back, a hard glint in her eyes and the faintest smile on her lips.

* * *

"The queen'snote of support for you will be enough for Gareth Cleaves," Wendell said, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace of my sitting room. "His family has always been crown loyalists. I imagine Lord Thomlinson is only bringing his allies with him, but we can make an argument that any vote can't be counted without the others."

"Here are the names of the men who rely on my family's permission to trade," Thao said, adding four more names to our list of potential allies that we had spread across the low table.

My Chosen were gathered together, Daniel included, and Cresswell stationed himself by the door, so potently present in my mind even as he remained silent.

"Why am I coming again?" Owen asked. "Not that I mind going with you, of course."

I bit my lip and shuffled on my knees to face Owen, who sat on the couch in my sitting room. I had a feeling he wouldn't like what I was about to say, and I hoped he'd forgive me for the plan.

"I think there might be an unregistered shifter on the council. At least, that was the impression Griffin gave me. If you can spot them—"

"Oh, Bryony," Owen said softly, the heartache in his eyes.

"Owen, I know, and believe me, I don't want to point to them across a room and shout it. I won't. But if there were an opportunity to speak to them alone, it may make an enormous difference to an entire mass of shifters who have no voice of their own," I said.

Owen sighed and studied me. It was rare for Owen to express anything but agreement with me, and I didn't want to disrespect his opinion when he gave it.

"You won't expose them?" he asked.

No. But I might threaten to. "I may not even need to know who they are. If there are votes against the measure, theirs might join the number," I said.

"All right. I'll come," Owen said, and he leaned forward to meet me in a soft kiss. I held his face to mine when he started to pull away, taking one soft kiss after another until his lips twitched with his smile.

"I'll be there if you need any additional magic," Aric said.

"No," Thao, Wendell, and I all said at once.

Aric stiffened in the tall armchair he'd been reclining in and narrowed his eyes at us.

"You are my Chosen," I said.

"But you're still a rogue, aren't you?" Thao finished for me, and I was surprised that he managed not to sound antagonistic with the question.

"Well, of course, but—" Aric started.

"Bryony must present herself as an authority and as…well, morally superior," Wendell said with a wince and shrug.

Aric glared at him and then at me, and my jaw clenched, waiting for his argument. Instead, he grinned. "Princess, do I sully your reputation?"

I arched an eyebrow. "You sully something, I'm sure."

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