Page 81 of The Princess's Chosen

Aric cleared his throat, and I looked at him next. He sat by the hemlock in the greenhouse, where we'd gathered for a lunch no one was interested in after I'd made my announcement. His head shook slowly back and forth, skin pale and eyes wide on his own lap.

"Because I'm afraid she's right," Aric said.

"Aric!" Cosmo's pacing turned fevered again, up and down the aisle of the greenhouse, always stopping just short of reaching me.

"Emory's in poor shape now, and we have him secure here, but either one of his allies will act next or seek to retrieve him," Aric said.

"The law would see him hanged regardless," Wendell said.

"The law would. But it would be as if Bryony took what was due to her as Princess of Kimmery, not King of Thieves," Aric whispered. He frowned, brow tangling, and finally looked up at me. "I wish I'd never gotten you caught up in my mess."

I stood cautiously up from my chair, crossing to Aric's, waiting to know if I was still blazing with anger or if I was calm enough to soothe him. Aric didn't wait, an arm snagging around my hips and drawing me to his side.

"Our troubles were entangled from the start," I said, turning his chin up to stare down at him. "Emory's plans against you were always part of the council's against me. I wouldn't trade this decision for your life, even if I'd known on the night of the challenge what would happen."

Aric nodded, but there was still sorrow in his gaze until I bent and kissed him, his eyes closing and his hands coming up to turn my head just so. My chest burned and ached, and I pulled away before he was satisfied.

"Couldn't one of us kill him for her?" Owen asked gently, shocking the rest of us. But he looked serious, hard and angry even, which I couldn't remember ever seeing on him before.

"Not without Bryony appearing like a weak and coddled leader," Aric said.

"You really feel prepared to do this?" Thao asked, sagging back in his chair with the sense of the inevitable.

I opened my mouth to tell them of the fire in my heart, the fact that the Hunger for their touch had been replaced with one for tearing Emory open. An execution seemed too easy for this bloodthirsty feeling, but it was the necessary step. And I hoped when it was done, I would be myself again. Otherwise, I was afraid of what I'd become and what kind of queen it might make me.

"I do," I said instead.

* * *

There wasan old warehouse in Rumsbrooke once used for making beautiful handmade wood furniture. The owner had died and the son, who'd made friends in the dubious circles of the city, had let his father's business dwindle away as he made his own profits in the underbelly.

"He ended up as king, very briefly, and the warehouse was left for court business," Aric said, his voice in my ear as we rode together through the streets of Rumsbrooke toward the western fringe of the city. "By all accounts, he was as lousy at managing thieves as he was at business."

I hummed, my eyes on the shadowy alleyways we passed, on the figures who moved in the same direction as us, eyeing me with understanding. We were like a subtle and solemn parade toward the vast black building pressed up against the city wall.

"You have me worried, princess," Aric whispered in my ear.

"You don't need to be. I'm determined to see this through," I said.

Horse hooves clapped quietly at our back. I would've preferred to ride alone, rather than with Aric tucked around me, but I'd lost my horse in the fire, and I didn't want to ride in the carriage we'd stuffed Emory into with Cresswell and Thao. Daniel remained at the palace after some discussion, concerned that one of Emory's men might be in our audience and recognize him.

Aric sighed, one hand leaving the reins to draw my hair aside so he could kiss my shoulder. "That's what worries me."

I swallowed hard and turned my head to the side to catch Aric's eye. "Did you prefer the sweet, ignorant girl?"

He frowned at me and shook his head. "It's always been your strength that made it impossible for me to stop thinking of you. It's your warmth I'm searching for now. But I think we'd better wait until this is done to find it again." He pressed his lips to my temple, and I grabbed his free hand and gave it a desperate squeeze.

If anyone was going to put me to rights again, it would be my Chosen. Just not until this was over with.

We reached the warehouse and Aric swung down first, hesitating in front of me before stepping back and letting me manage my way down on my own, a little tick of irritation in his cheek. Aric liked to play the rogue, but I knew he was as much a gentleman as Wendell in some ways, and it satisfied him and Cosmo both to nurture me.

"I'll keep to the fringes," he said. "By now, everyone knows what I am to you, but—"

"But in this court, you are only my mage and my lover," I said.

Aric's eyes heated and he pulled me to him suddenly, slanting his mouth over mine, taking rough, biting kisses from my lips as I held myself still, the wild anger in my chest buzzing and clawing behind my ribs. He pulled away with a slightly pained expression and headed directly for the door as Griffin appeared and approached.

"Cosmo," I called, before he could follow Aric in.

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