Page 91 of The Princess's Chosen

Wendell nodded. "As long as she has the crown's support, she does technically wield more power than the council. It should be the queen making these decrees, or the dowager queen on her behalf."

"I can guarantee you that Roderick isn't the only councilman looking to unseat her," Daniel said, leaning against the arm of the couch I was sitting on. "I'm sure he's working with Lord Thomlinson in the south."

He was close enough for me to feel the warmth of his hip against my shoulder, but I could sense his hesitancy still. He was the only one of us not sitting, and while everyone was behaving themselves—even Thao—it was clear Daniel was nervous about being part of our number. I was a little nervous about him being part of it too, regardless of how determined I was to include him in our discussions. He needed to feel a part of my Chosen, a part ofme, if this was going to work. That meant I needed to make the choice to trust him with my plans.

"I know more of the Southern Council than the Northern," Wendell said slowly. "I can make some inquiries with old acquaintances."

I turned to look up at Daniel. "The man you knew, Camellia's Chosen she…mistreated," I said for want of a better word. "Was he nobility?"

Daniel's eyebrows jumped and he nodded. "Southern family too, the Binghams. That's a thread that might be easily picked at."

Wendell's eyes were wide, lips parted. "I'd heard the son had troubles, but it makes sense it was hushed if it were related to the crown. Yes, I think I know of some families who might be reached out to in that case."

"You want to build up ill-feeling toward Camellia?" Aric asked.

"I want the council to think seriously about her as a potential queen," I said carefully. And maybe I needed to know if there was anyone willing to speak out against her if it came down to it.

"The council may not want the queen to be popular. It distracts from public opinion of the council if the queen's line can still be blamed for failures to the people," Daniel said.

The others all looked at my new not-quite Chosen, and I tried to gauge their responses to him. Aric was obviously willing to get along with Daniel, and I wasn't sure if that was because he was accustomed to a spy being useful, or because it made him feel a little less guilty about our fight and everything it led to if Daniel was accepted by me. Owen was, of course, welcoming. Even Wendell seemed to value Daniel's opinion in the political discussion, which meant Thao remained docile.

Which just left Cosmo.

I reached for him at my side, sliding my fingers over his where his hand rested on his lap, leaning into his shoulder. He hadn't looked thrilled when Daniel walked into our morning meal to join our discussion. He didn't look thrilled now either, but his expression was smooth and he turned his head to kiss my forehead. It felt automatic, somehow, and I studied his face and the way his eyes slid away from mine.

"Tell me what you're thinking," I said.

Cosmo's eyebrows rose. "Me? Bryony, I'm not sure I'm of much value in a political discussion."

"I didn't ask what you were thinking of politically," I said.

Our private conversation drew the others' attention, and Cosmo shifted uncomfortably. "I'm just…struggling to keep up, I think." He chewed on the inside of his own mouth as we all waited quietly, and then huffed out a breath, his hand rising to rub over his forehead. "An awful lot has happened in less than two weeks. You ran off to save Aric, became the King of Thieves. And then we were attacked and you bring him, Daniel, into the fold. And you- you—"

"Killed a man right in front of you," I said, staring at Cosmo. Had he been thinking of this all as I'd tackled him to the floor and made him fuck me? Had I ignored that tension in favor of relieving my own?

His mouth squeezed shut, and his eyes widened as he gazed back at me.

"I haven't reconciled myself to it yet, either," I said.

"You seem to be managing," Cosmo bit out.

"Now, wait—" Aric started, but he stopped as I raised my hand.

"I'm sorry," Cosmo breathed, eyes falling shut. "I'm trying, I really—"

"Shh. Stop." I pulled my hand from his and rose up to my knees on the couch, taking Cosmo by the shoulders and pressing my lips to his forehead. "I can't change what happened with Emory, no matter how much I hated the act. And I won't change my decision regarding Daniel. He is mine. It's what I want. Outside of any strategy," I said, looking over my shoulder to Daniel, who gripped tightly to the back of the couch as he listened. "Regardless of anything that's taken place previously. I don't need you to agree with me every step of the way and I know that outside of us,allof us, you are my Chosen. But Cosmo, I promise, when we are alone that I want to be yours. And if that means knowing that you are unhappy with me—"

"Bryony, no."

"Or with something I have done. Or you have lost your muse to the woman who wants to be queen," I said, seeing the flinch that said more than his refusal could. "Then I will gladly bear those burdens."

Cosmo's scratched and calloused artist's hands smoothed up the side of my cheek, and I leaned into the touch. "Bryony. Little muse. I think you have more than enough burdens as it is."

"But I have so many hands to help carry them. You are all my Chosen and my council. The only ones I really trust right now. I think this has to be an exchange of support if I'm going to love you properly," I said.

Cosmo sighed and drew me in for one of his deep and endless kisses until I was falling into his chest. He bundled me closer, sipping on my lips, a quiet kind of apology for his indifferent mood this morning.

"I don't doubt your decisions; I just worry about the toll they take," Cosmo murmured. "But you're right. We bear them with you. Farraque, quit standing around like you're about to be told off and just come sit down like the rest of us."

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