Page 78 of The Princess's Chosen

I opened my mouth to argue my case but instead ended up in a massive yawn that left my jaw aching.

"Mm. That's what I thought," Aric muttered as the door to the bedroom opened and Thao and Wendell appeared.

"Where are the horses?" Owen asked.

"They're being looked after in the western ballroom," Wendell said. His cheeks were sooty, and he peeled quickly out of his own clothes, moving for the tub.

"It's the oddest looking stable I've ever seen, and I'm not sure the room will recover from the smell. But we only lost two horses," Thao said, following Wendell.

I wanted to go to them, but the subject of the horses was sure to be difficult for Owen. He wasn't just good with animals or a lover of them, he'dfelttheir pain. I slid under the sheets to his side, soothed by the warmth of his skin as I pressed my cheek to his chest.

"Emory can hang for all I care," Owen muttered, wrapping his arms around me.

I looked to Aric, and the grave expression in his gaze hardened as it met mine. Emory likely would hang. What frightened me was that he probably wouldn't be the last.

25

Bryony

Iwoke early, my eyelids protesting how little rest they'd been given as I peeled them open. The bed was warm, full of bodies nestled comfortably together, even Aric who had sprawled in his slumber, slapping a leg over Owen's.

I shifted in the bed, and Wendell's arm slid from my waist as he rolled with a huff, sharing Cosmo with Thao on the far end of the bed.

"Mistress," Owen whispered.

"It's all right," I answered, bending my head to kiss his forehead. "I'll be back. There's just something I need to do."

"It's barely dawn," Owen said. It was rare for him to not be purely agreeable with me, and he frowned as he reached up, tracing a curve underneath one of my eyes. "It's not just rest you need, is it?"

I forced my smile, trying to keep it gentle. "I'll be fine, really."

Owen's gaze flicked back and forth over mine. He didn't believe the lie, I was sure. Was only weighing it against his trust in me. He nodded somberly, and his own hand slid away from my hip, letting me sneak carefully out of the end of the bed.

He was right. I needed a handful more hours of sleep, to be sure, but it wasn't the real symptom plaguing me. The Hunger was never really sated for long, but ever since the woods the night before, it had begun to change. Last night, I'd been restless and irritable, but this morning was so much worse. I didn't want to be touched, I wanted to raze my nails through someone's skin, rip them apart. I was ravenous, but it was anger fueling me, not desire. My body panged with the craving, bones grinding and aching inside of me.

I dressed quickly in a skirt and one of Wendell's sweaters, rolling the cuffs up several times. Owen watched me from the bed as the others slept, nodding goodbye as I left the room.

Cresswell was there in the sitting room, sitting up in a chair with his eyes shut and legs stretched and crossed at the ankle.

That was just yesterday, I thought, remembering the feel of him so close, even as he was pulling away from me, refusing our connection.

He stirred as I stepped closer, an accidental smile on his lips that quickly faded as he sat up. "Bryony."

"I want to speak with him."

Cresswell's mouth hung open for a moment before understanding finally sobered him. "Aric and I learned everything—"

"I don't have any questions for him, Cress. I want to speak with him. I can find my own way down there," I said, heading for the door.

He scrambled behind me, hurrying to open the door for me and to follow me into the hall. "I suppose I'm meant to be grateful you're even telling me," he grumbled, and then he cleared his throat. He straightened out of the corner of my eye, obviously remembering that he was trying to play the part of the obedient and duty-minded guard, rather than my friend.

"I'll leave that up to you, but I appreciate the chaperone," I said. I opened my mouth to say more, to ask the favor that I was ashamed to even need.Can you make sure I don't tear his cell open and finish what I started last night?"Can you brief me?"

"He admitted to collaborating with the council, that he had orders to arrange your assassination at the festival. Apparently, his coming here was a personal grudge."

Good. That meant the council probably didn't know he was here.

"Is there anyone who can corroborate the story about the festival?" I asked.

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