Page 99 of The Princess's Chosen

"It can wait," I said. "Would you like to go riding with me? Owen thinks the horses are getting cabin fever. I can't tell if he thinks that's an actual illness or not."

Daniel's lips quirked, and I wanted to poke my fingers into those secret dimples in the corners that he hid so carefully with his beard.

"A ride sounds good. Will you be warm enough?"

I glanced down at my heavy wool gown and the tight velvet jacket, and then raised my hand, conjuring a little magical warmth on my fingertips. "I'll be fine."

Daniel caught my hand in his, his eyebrows lifting at the heat of my touch and then he paused, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. I watched, swallowing hard, as he raised my hand to his lips, the full swell of his kiss pressing softly over my knuckles. His eyes fell shut and then before I could think of anything to say, he twisted my wrist and repeated the kiss against the heel of my palm. It was a seduction, but it seemed like a selfish one, his nose nuzzling just over the spot where I dabbed perfume that morning like he was recalling the scent.

"Sorry," he said, lowering my hand as his eyes opened, warmth rising to his cheeks. "Let me…grab my coat."

I stood in a stunned silence as he retreated back into his rooms, my Hunger purring in my chest. She knew as well as I did the promise of pleasure Daniel presented, but the soft fluttering in my belly from his kiss was new. And welcome.

"Do you want the letters now?" he called from inside.

I bit my lip and weighed between trust and common sense. "Let's give them to Wendell and Aric," I said.I don't want to read your mail, I just want to believe in you, I thought.

Daniel didn't look the least bit bothered, returning to where I waited in the hall, dressed in a handsome navy jacket with silver buttons. "All right. Ready."

Piper was at the corner of the hall, his eyes directed down as we passed, Daniel's hand resting against my waist.

"The stables should be complete soon," Daniel said. "The workers are ahead of schedule."

I hummed, chewing on the inside of my lip, antsy at the mild conversation. I'd claimed Daniel, and yet things still felt so undecided between us. Stilted even.

"I hope they aren't putting themselves at risk in this cold weather. I don't mind the horses being in the palace, and I think it's put Owen at ease since the fire."

Daniel huffed a little and I frowned, turning to stare at him, but it wasn't a mean kind of laughter I found on his face.

"I like your unconventional court," he explained, and then his gaze softened. "I like the way you take so much care with your Chosen. And your staff. Lady Pru has been relying on the charity of old family friends for years, and I…"

He fell into silence and swallowed hard as we descended the stairs.

"I never saw very much of the Chosen who lived in the castle, but I don't know that any were given offices or studios, that's true," I said, and Daniel nodded eagerly, picking up the dropped strand of conversation.

Owen waited for us in the ballroom-turned-stable, two horses saddled with heavy blankets for warmth over their sides.

"One of the laborers brought Crescent up from the country for you to try," Owen said, presenting me a young black horse with a shocking white face and blue eyes, a black mane braided down the horses neck and a white crescent moon on its chest. "He's young, a little spirited, and his face spooked some potential buyers, I think."

"Hello, Crescent," I greeted, taking the apple from where Owen hid it for me and offering it up to the nervously shifting horse. The white markings on his face did look almost like a ghostly skull, and I imagined meeting this horse on a dark road with a dark rider on its back. The vision made me smile, as did the soft chuffing breath against my palm as Crescent took the bribe and let me stroke his neck.

I looked up at Owen who smiled at me. "He likes you. I think he'll test you on your ride. If you give him freedom, you might win his loyalty but you'll have to keep up with his energy. If you rein him in—"

"No, I don't think so," I said immediately, meeting Crescent's eerily beautiful gaze. "We will cooperate with one another. I don't mind a race now and then."

Owen nodded and leaned in, kissing my temple. "I thought you'd get along."

My heart panged. For the horse I'd lost, but mainly for Owen who'd understood it better than I, who had loved the creature for its own sake and for mine.

Daniel's horse was huge in comparison to Crescent, one with an elegant copper-brown coat and who looked closer to a draft horse than a riding horse. But Daniel had a build that suited the animal's size, and I tried not to feel too much like a dwarf as I took my seat on Crescent's saddle, while Owen went to open the garden doors for our exit. Daniel had to hunch through the doorway, and I grinned as I followed him out, Crescent already eager to move into a trot. When we cleared the doorway, I gave him leave, and he was quick to take the lead over Daniel's steadier ride.

"Mm, we are similar then," I whispered to the horse, allowing him to choose a route toward the woods.

"Do you prefer the north or the south?" Daniel asked, moving just behind and to the right of me.

"I miss the south, the view of the sea, but I think I prefer the freedom I have here in the north. Have you been to the south?"

"I went to school with the noble sons at Gilding's just along the coast from the capital, but I didn't get out much. I…also prefer the freedom I have here," he said quietly.

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