Page 2 of The Princess's Chosen

"Well, the palace looks decent enough. Last I heard, it was nearly uninhabitable," Grandmother murmured, looking up again with her eyes narrowed. "You manage festivals and repairing the castle, but not the roads?"

I couldn't restrain the laugh in my chest, and I shook my head. "Honestly, I haven't spent a dime outside of my own pocket. I'll explain it all in the morning."

"Oh, will you?"

We stared at one another, the room watching the silent battle of wills. Since when did I stand up to my grandmother, even in this passive challenge?Since you've learned her faults and found your own strengths, I thought, wishing I could go to one of my Chosen and settle myself into their lap.

There was a male moan from the hallway, and I shook myself, glancing at Owen and holding out my hand. His eyebrows rose, but he stood obediently from his seat and moved to mine, taking my place when I stood and gestured for him. His arms wrapped around my waist, and I released a long sigh as I sank into his chest, settling my plate on my own lap and offering him a bite. It wasn't orgasms at the dinner table in full view of my grandmother, but it was whatIwanted in the moment. Owen kissed my temple as I took my own bite, his hands soothing at my back.

"Tomorrow it is. I've had enough of willful young women," Grandmother muttered.

* * *

I wokethe next morning as Cosmo rolled me over his chest to land between him and Wendell, ready to fall asleep straight away again, when I heard the door and looked up with eyes narrowed.

"Where are you off to?" I croaked, watching Owen attempting and failing to tiptoe out of the room.

He gave me a sheepish grin and shrugged. "I wanted to go and check on the new horses. We still don't have a proper groomsman—"

I sighed and relaxed back into the heap of warm flesh surrounding me, waving my fingers at him. "That's fine. Say hello to them for me. Love you."

"Love you, Mistress," Owen called back, and I found myself grinning as I snuggled into Wendell's chest, pulling Cosmo's arm tighter around me.

"How long do we have until the battle axe comes to find you?" Thao asked from Wendell's other side, his arm stretching over to cup my bottom where it was tucked between Wen and Cosmo's hips.

It took me a moment to sort through the words, and then I snorted against Wendell's chest. "Don't call her that…not where she might hear you, anyway. I don't know. Camellia will be asleep late, she always was the last to rise. And then she'll turn up wherever she thinks she's least wanted." I frowned at myself and huffed, turning on my back to glare up at the ceiling. "She's my sister… I wish I liked her better."

"Her performance last night was designed to irritate you," Wendell mumbled.

"She wants the crown?" Cosmo asked.

"I don't know. Maybe. She likes being better at the Hunger than me."

"She's not better. That was a highly unoriginal display. The one in the hall was worse, and I had a direct view," Thao said.

I opened my mouth to ask and then thought better of it. "I think…I think I should be prepared for anything."

"Your grandmother still doubts you have the Hunger, doesn't she?" Wendell asked, and I nodded. "Do we need to prove it to her?"

I blew out a long breath between pursed lips and then wiggled my way up into sitting, digging my fingers through tangled strands, until Cosmo sat up too and started to comb gently through them, making me sigh. "I've been trying to sort through that. I don't object to being open with my affection and interest for you all. And we haven't really tried to hide our activities around the palace. But if my grandmother wants me to be Camellia, I never will manage to satisfy her. I desire you all, I crave you, I plan on satisfying usallbut—"

"But your priorities are to your kingdom and people, just as they should be," Thao growled, rolling his face into the pillow, the sheet on his back slipping down to reveal his perfectly rounded ass. Wendell's hand found mine and Cosmo's chin rested on my shoulder, all three of us taking a moment to admire the perfection. "Stop it," Thao said, laugh muffled.

"The only thing you need to prove to your grandmother is that youdoserve Kimmery, exactly as you are," Cosmo murmured, kissing my earlobe and making me shiver. "I'm not sure that requires a live demonstration, but…"

"But if it does, you consent?" I asked, laughing and craning my neck to make room for him to cover it in nipping kisses.

"If I might be excused, I have some objection to letting the old crone watch me," Thao said, turning again and exhaling, Wendell taking care of brushing his silky hair back. "Wendell is very pretty to watch though."

Wendell laughed and grinned at me with a shrug. "For Kimmery, I suppose I might be pressed upon," he said, leaning in and brushing his mouth against mine.

I accepted the kiss and then started to make my way out of the bed, my nightgown tangling around my knees as I crawled out.

"That's transparent, you know. I don't know why you bother," Thao called.

"Because it makes her feel nice," Cosmo answered for me. "And because it feels good when we lick her through the lace on her breasts."

I tried to glare at him, but all I managed was getting a good look at them piled together, Wendell's washed out beauty nestled between their warmed earth tones.I could always just stay in bed with them and make Grandmother come to find me, my thoughts suggested helpfully. It wasn't a bad idea, but I shrugged it off.

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