Page 75 of The Princess's Chosen

She sighed, and I couldn't resist the impulse to lean into her hand as she rubbed against my skull under my ear. "Daniel, why?"

My blinks were getting lazy as if I were a cat being lulled into a good nap, and it took me a moment to sort my way through the drowsy, lustful feeling that grew to the truth. It was there again, unpleasant and clear.

"You are the only person in my life who has offered me a choice. And it will be you, every time."

Bryony whimpered and leaned forward, pressing her forehead firmly against mine. She smelled of blood and flowers and earth, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to press myself into her or scoop her up into my arms for safekeeping.

I barely noticed the kiss at first, the gentle nudging of her nose against mine, the pass of breath over my lips. There was no Hunger this time, this was entirely the young woman in front of me experimenting with a simple touch. It was easier than I expected to hold still and let her continue the exploration with little presses of her mouth to mine, enfolding my upper lip between both of hers.

My hands were still on her waist and they flexed impulsively. She hummed as I pressed back, catching a brief taste of her on my tongue before she pulled gently away.

"Then you are mine now," she murmured, frowning at me and smoothing my hair back from my forehead. "I hope neither of us comes to regret it."

24

Bryony

“Do you really think this is a wise decision?" Cosmo whispered, crowded close to my side on the bed as I sat against Owen's hip, my knees pressed to my chest and my hand rubbing circles over his back. He was wheezing raggedly in his sleep, and he kept waking himself with bouts of coughing. Aric had helped me use my magic to heal him, but it was thin after the events of the night and had only done about half of the work.

"Bryony, do youtrusthim?"

"No, not really," I said softly.

"Then…why? Do you have feelings for him?"

I lifted my chin and glanced tiredly at Cosmo before glancing toward the door. Daniel might've been in the sitting room. I wasn't sure actually. He might've gone back to his own suite after escorting me to mine.

"Some."

Cosmo's expression twisted, but when I let my legs slide to the side and I leaned toward him, he was ready, wrapping his arms around my shoulder and burying his face in my hair. Thao and Wendell had gone back out to help keep an eye on what was left of the stables. The rain had abated, and now it was just a matter of making sure the wind didn't manage to start the fire back up.

"Bryony, this isn't… You don't have to do this," Cosmo said.

"I know." I'd told my Chosen my plans regarding Daniel before going to speak to the other man, but I understood why Cosmo remained wary.

"What if this is just what he wants?" Cosmo breathed.

I smiled to myself briefly, knowing this was exactly what Daniel wanted, which was somehow less than I'd expected him to ask for. It was almost frightening how little he asked for, really expected, because it left me feeling tender for him.

"It is. And it's what the council wants too. It's just a matter of knowing if the two are related," I said, resisting the impulse to snap at Cosmo. There was some jagged anxiety left in me that I couldn't shake, and it was a steady battle not to lash out at Cosmo or anyone else.

"And you think they're not."

I shrugged and leaned back. "I'm not asking you to trust him, or to relax around him."

"Bryony, you're not asking at all," Cosmo murmured, but he smiled as he said it, softening the chastisement of the words. "And you don't have to. I love you. I just don't want you to…hurt yourself for the sake of political leverage."

I blinked and then sighed and shook my head. "It's more than that. He's…" I pressed my hand over my chest and then up to where I'd already healed from Emory's stab wound. I wished it was me left healing and Owen who was perfectly fine. "He's like a craving. Not as clear as I have for you and the others, or even as persistent as Aric. I want to claim him because I want to be sure no one else can? It's too soon, but also Daniel is…"

"Inevitable," Cosmo said, frowning. "Then it will be up to the rest of us to watch him carefully. If you're going to claim him, you'll have to do so fully and that includes your heart, Bryony."

Owen groaned and then rolled over, shifting to sit up and clearing his throat with a few rattling coughs as I jumped from the bed to bring him warm water and honey, grateful to have a task that allowed me to move again.

"We'll protect you," Owen rasped.

Cosmo shared a small smile with me. Owen was more trusting than I was.

"Just help me give him a reason to be true to his word," I said, leaning in and pressing my lips to Owen's forehead. "Thao will be jealous, Wendell watchful. But my Chosen are more than individuals, I think."

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