Page 113 of The Princess's Chosen

"I hope you let us watch next time," Thao continued.

Daniel's hand on mine squeezed and then he shrugged. "As long as the privilege is returned," he said softly.

Thao grinned in triumph, and Wendell huffed and rolled his eyes. I looked between them all and then at Cresswell as he hurried away from us to the guard's dormitory. I was still soft and shivery, still weak limbed from so much satisfaction, my heart still full of the hours alone with Daniel.

Suddenly, my guilt vanished. I had a right to my feelings. For Daniel and for Cresswell. He would have to come to terms with his own reservations and where that left him in my life. I deserved the happiness I was finding. So did Daniel for that matter. Cresswell was his own obstacle, not Daniel or I.

The doors to the palace banged open, and Griffin rushed ahead of Aric and Cosmo.

"Well? Were you successful? Oh, for fuck's sake, you smell like sex," Griffin huffed as she neared, rearing away from me and waving her hand in front of her nose.

My laugh burst out of me as Griffin backed away, nose wrinkling.

"We were successful. Not only did Bryony smash the new proposal amongst the council, she demonstrated that she is a force to be reckoned with and must be taken with the utmost seriousness as future queen," Wendell said, lifting my hand in the air like a victor in a match.

"Thank the stars for that," Griffin said with a sigh.

"I have made friends with a viscount," I said, eyeing Griffin carefully.

She froze and then blinked with exaggerated slowness. "Who?"

It was probably too dark, but I thought I detected a blush on her cheeks. Instead of furthering the tease—Griffin would probably take to the air if I tried my luck—I caught her and the others up on what the council had been planning, the moment of celebration chilling beneath the reality of what had almost been made into law.

"That's especially brazen of them," Aric said, frowning.

"Even better then, that you were able to put a stop to it," Cosmo said, stepping closer. I slid into his arms, smiling as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Mm. You do smell like sex."

I pinched Cosmo's chest as he laughed. "Yes, all right, I don't know why you all insist on acting surprised."

"Because you were in acarriage," Griffin huffed.

Aric leaned in to where Cosmo held me against his chest. "And are you sated now, princess?"

Griffin gagged. "If I never hear you use that word again, it'll still be too soon. I'm flying back to Rumsbrooke. Good work, Your Majesty. You have the arms of the two-natured now."

"Wait. Thearms?" I asked, pulling away from my Chosen. But it was too late, Griffin leapt into the sky, vanishing into the bird and taking off with a screech that I thought must've been the hawk version of laughter. "Does anyone know what she meant?"

"The shifter community has played it close to the chest the worse things have gone for them. You can try asking Sam," Aric said, resting a finger on my parting lips. "Tomorrow, princess. Tonight, you should come up to bed with your Chosen and get a very well-earned night's rest."

"She really was magnificent. By sheer display of strength, she was sure to demand support from some of the smarter nobles," Thao said cheerfully, heading for the doors.

"Demand supportandwin hearts," Owen murmured, smiling at me, following Thao.

I wasn't sure if that was true, but I bounced to my toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek as he passed, Wendell squeezing my shoulder on the way to catch up with Thao.

"There's a bath waiting for you, already," Cosmo said.

"And Cook Umber insisted on reserving your favorite treats," Aric said.

"In spite of Aric's best attempts to steal them," Cosmo added with a bark of laughter from Aric.

I paused in my steps and turned, my chest pounding at the sight of Daniel behind me, his expression shuttered and cool. "Chosen," I murmured, smiling as his eyes burst to sudden life. "What are you waiting for?"

Daniel's grin was slow and shy, Aric leaving my side with a brush of his fingers over my waist, making room for my new Chosen. Daniel approached slowly, and I held out my hand to him, Cosmo squeezing my fingers at the same time as Daniel did.

"I don't have to join you," he said softly, watching me carefully.

"Why shouldn't you?" I asked. "You are mine now."

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