Page 5 of The Princess's Chosen

"Hmm. Yes, I suppose that's not something we have to worry about with you, is it? That's convenient. I was never as ruled by my Hunger as your sister and mother are, but I still found myself in a few vulnerable positions when it made demands against my better judgment," Grandmother said softly, sliding free of my offered arm and moving to take a seat at the tea-table under a large exotic palm.

I blinked, watching her slow movements and stiff posture as she sank down into the chair. "Vulnerable positions?" I asked, frowning.

"Mmm? Oh, never mind that. If youdodecide to bed him, you make himyours. It's easy enough to win devotion from men," Grandmother said with a wave of her hand.

"Bryony excels at it," Cosmo murmured, grinning at me.

"Does she? Yes, that's good." My grandmother nodded absently, staring around the greenhouse. She looked tired, and a little frail, and I remembered how the days of traveling had left me aching. It must've been worse for her.

"Would you like me to call for tea, Grandmother?" I asked.

"Call for Lady Prudence. The company of the youth tires me," Grandmother said, adding bite to her tone and a glare in her eyes, but for once, I knew she was teasing. "Bring your tigers in. Are they docile in their forms?"

"Thao is more docile as a tiger than a man," I said, grinning and making Grandmother chuckle. I went to one of the open windows as Cosmo went into the hall to send the maid after Lady Pru.

"Oh, don't whistle, Bryony. How unladylike."

"You taught me to whistle, Grandmother."

"For thedogs, Bryony."

I kept my back turned to her as I smirked and watched Wendell and Thao loping toward us. I thought they were a littlelikedogs in their animal forms, although I knew that might easily change if it needed to. I went to the door and stood with it open, smiling as Thao and Wendell entered, leaning their vast shoulders heavily into me and marking up my skirt with dust and grass.

"I think the dowager queen wants to pet you," I whispered.

Thao huffed, but Wendell padded directly toward my grandmother, drawing out an uncharacteristic giggle as he dropped his massive head on her knee.

* * *

"You look happy,"Wendell said as we walked back toward my rooms together, Thao on his left and Cosmo on my right. Wendell leaned over, kissing my temple and making me pause to lean into the touch. "I'm glad to see that."

"It all went better than expected," I said, nodding.

"And we learned that Bryony can use her magic outside of just her climax," Cosmo added. "You know…Aric might be able to help you learn more control."

I tucked my hands into my skirt, but Cosmo caught one up and raised it to his lips, grazing a kiss over the back of my knuckles.

"You haven't told him."

"He thinks I don't possess the Hunger," I said, nodding. "And he is…glad of it. He trusts me for that reason."

"You can be trustedwiththe Hunger, Bryony," Wendell said softly. "You've used it for weeks, and all for the betterment of the—"

"Of the palace, and the grounds. And yes, some of it I used for the people. We hope. I just…"

"His opinion shouldn't matter to you anyway. It's good to have a sorcerer, of course. But he's also arogue. Couldn't we find someone to perform magic that won't insult you when it pleases them?" Thao rattled off.

A stone of discomfort lodged in my throat, and I looked down to the tile in the hallway to watch my steps, my cheeks flushing. Since when were our tiles edged with roses and doves?

Wendell shifted at my side, and Thao grunted and then hissed. "But if you respect him then…" Thao floundered then. "No, I can't lie. I think he's rude and obstinate, and if he had any sense at all, he'd be here with you."

I laughed, and the tension binding me up loosened as I smiled at Thao. "Thank you. I do respect him, and I respect that his priorities and his principals stand in the way of—"

We'd arrived at my suite, stepping inside past the stationed guard, and then stopping still at the picture before me.

"Mmm that's it, let me taste you."

Owen was sprawled out on the settee, his skin flushed and clothes rumpled, his body pressed hard to the back of the couch. His brow was furrowed, dewed with sweat, and I couldn't tell if he was trying to get away until his hand clenched on one of the cushions, trying to drag himself to the corner.

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