Page 56 of The Princess's Chosen

"So I am King of Thieves now, apparently," I whispered.

Griffin grinned, eyebrows rising. "So I heard."

"And I need you to run the court for me," I said.

Griffin blinked, and I realized as she stared at me that she had a pretty ring of amber in the green of her eyes. "Sorry, what? I thought you said something stupid."

"Griffin!" Aric snapped in warning from inside, but I just snorted out a laugh.

"There's no one else I can ask, if you think about it," I said, a little sheepishly. "Not that you'd be my last choice, of course!"

"Ishouldbe! The thieves' court hates me!"

"They don't really! At least, the women don't. I did test your name out a bit last night as I was meeting everyone. And as far as I can tell, the men who hate you…well, you had good reason to make them do so," I said shrugging.

"Princess—"

"I'll be Bryony, or your king for now," I reminded her, and watched her swallow nervously. "But listen, it can't be Aric—"

"My ass it can't be—"

"And Scrapper's better off as my spy and…"

Griffin stared at me again, hip cocked and arms back over her chest. "And you don't know anyone else," she said flatly, eyes narrowing.

"I don'ttrustanyone else," I corrected, waggling my eyebrows and winning a laugh from her. "I know it's a lot to ask of you, hunting, Sam, now this."

Griffin sighed and leaned forward on her elbows, her head drooping down, braid slipping over her shoulder. "I…I know of some people we could trust to help in the woods. Trying to help Sam is what I want, it's not a favor for you…"

"I need you on this, Griffin," I said quietly.

She was silent and still as I held my breath and waited. Aric was in the room behind us, moving furniture around, flipping through pages of books we'd been sifting through, probably listening in.

"You do," Griffin said at last, straightening and meeting my eyes briefly before glancing to the open doors. She leaned in and lowered her voice. "You need more than thieves too. If you're going to be the people's princess, you'll have to include us all."

There was the faintest emphasis on the word 'us,' and my eyes widened. Did she mean…shifters? I nodded slowly, and she mirrored me.

"It might take time, but you already have a good beginning," she said, smiling slightly. "I will help you, be your representative."

There was double meaning to all of it, and I bit my lip, studying her face with the same interest she studied mine. Aric wasn't watching us, and I pointed to the doorway frowning and mouthing, 'He doesn't know?'

Griffin shook her head. "We're better at keeping secrets than thieves," she whispered. "They're boastful. We're frightened."

I caught my breath and nodded slowly. "Then I want to help," I murmured back.

She relaxed and straightened, looking down over the balcony to the quiet of the woods. "I thought as much. I'll return to Rumsbrooke. The other courts will need to hear of your taking the crown from Emory and Aric."

"EmoryandAric?" I asked.

"Mmm, didn't he tell you?" Griffin asked, raising her voice and turning it to the open doors. "The old man let Emory build his own court, thought it would keep him complacent. You have two unruly packs of rogues to win over. You got a start on one last night. I think the other will be harder to please. You've given me a horrible load of work—"

"And she'll be sure to remind you of it at every turn," Aric said, appearing in the doorway. "Go on and get started, won't you."

"Watch your tone, I'm your superior now," Griffin tossed, arching an eyebrow.

Aric looked to me, frowning, and I smirked. I didn't really know if that was completely true, but I liked the disgruntled expression on his face and decided he could stand to leave it there.

"I take my leave,Your Majesty," Griffin purred to me, delivering a bow Wendell would've been proud of before flashing into a hawk and taking to the air with a bright scream.

---