Page 77 of The Princess's Chosen

I gasped, clapping my hands over my mouth, but Owen shook his head.

"I've just always gotten along with animals that way."

Aric tugged me to his side and soothed his hand down the back of my head as I sagged with relief. "You, bath," he said, kissing the top of my head and then shepherding me to the tub. He hummed and touched the water before I even offered to fix the temperature, which was good because I was feeling especially drained at the moment.

I climbed into the tub, groaning as the warmth seeped into my chilled muscles, while Aric pushed back the screen so I could see the bed.

"Have you not told anyone else about your gift?" Aric asked Owen, sitting on the edge of the tub. I wondered what it would take to get one of them to join me, and then decided I would rather move quickly and get into the bed so I could share it with all of them.

"My gift?" Owen asked, shuffling to sit up.

Aric huffed, and Cosmo fought his smile as he dug his fingers through his dark curls. "With animals."

"Mm, my family. Groomsmen in the army, I suppose," Owen said.

I leaned forward and tugged on the hem of Aric's shirt, whispering, "Don't laugh. If he's always had the ability, he might not have ever needed to question why."

Aric glanced down at me and then scooped up warm water and poured it over my head, making me splutter. But it felt good and washed away some of the smoke clinging to me, and Aric grinned as I wiped the water out of my eyes.

"Will you mind much if I ask you a million questions, Owen?" Aric asked, and I resisted the impulse to splash his back.

"'Course not," Owen said.

"I think you have a form of magic, although not one I've ever encountered before," Aric said.

Owen nodded and shrugged. "If you say so."

Aric peppered Owen with simple questions as I washed, and Cosmo stepped out of the room briefly to call for tea. Owen could tell the difference between a shifter and a real animal, but he could also tell the difference between the two-natured and the rest of us.

"That was one of the few things I did learn. Not to say so," Owen said, gravely. "I accidentally got a man registered when I asked what else he was. He was working the fields with my dad and I. It got back to the magistrate, and my dad wouldn't take me back. We found a new town to help in."

"Mm, yes, I suppose the council would've been glad to use you to sniff out others," Aric said, moving slowly to the bed to continue his questions.

Cosmo returned with a tray of tea, taking it to Owen's side and then bringing me a cup. It smelled like mint and lavender, and there was a little ring of lemon floating on top.

"I feel foolish for not noticing it sooner," Cosmo said, and I nodded. "And I think I might be starting to feel a bit plain amidst all these tigers and mages and…Owen. Perhaps that will be something I commiserate with Daniel on."

I sighed and turned in the water to look at Cosmo, sipping on my tea. "I will be careful."

Cosmo smiled sadly and pushed damp strands of hair off my cheeks. "Let us be careful for you. If you're going to let yourself care for him, you should do it fully."

I caught Cosmo's hand and gripped it tightly in mine. "Do you know, I think of you as my compass? Sometimes, everything seems to be spinning madly around me, and then you appear and I know immediately where I am and what direction to point toward."

Cosmo stilled and blinked down at me before leaning in, ignoring the fact that he soaked the cuffs of his sleeves as he took me by my neck, drawing me fiercely forward for a firm kiss. "Thank you," he said roughly.

"I think that's what I needed to say to you," I answered.

He pecked my lips again. "Say it after I finish washing and braiding your hair. It's time to rest."

I sighed and sat up, drinking the rest of the tea as Cosmo dug his strong sculptor's hands into the long locks of my hair, sudsing and rinsing them and the rest of me. Aric brought a towel, and the two of them took their time in drying me, or tormenting me, I wasn't entirely sure of their aim.

"I want Wen and Thao back in bed," I said. "And I need to know what Emory said."

"You will, tomorrow," Aric said.

"Aric."

"Princess."

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