Page 98 of The Princess's Chosen

"Cress," I whispered, sighing with him as his chest deflated under my touch, his cool stare falling to me. "I'm fine."

"What were her instructions?" Aric growled out.

"It isn't his fault," Griffin snapped.

"Of course it isn't," I rushed to say, releasing Cresswell slowly and stepping back. Even Wendell was standing now too, all my Chosen on alert to protect me. It was touching. A bit thrilling too, but it was making Sam tremble.

I returned to the heart of my men, running soothing touches over their arms as I passed them, and then took my seat on the couch again.

"Sam, I don't believe you would hurt me. Not if you didn't need to," I said. "Just as I vow never to harm you."

Wendell sat first, then Cosmo with a huff as he yanked Thao's arm down to follow him.

"She didn't tell me how, only that I should if I could," Sam said. He frowned and admitted vaguely, "I might have if you'd… I thought of killing her sometimes too."

I winced but nodded and then glared at a bristling Aric, who ignored my warning and moved to my side, clamping a hand on my shoulder and angling himself toward me in his seat.

"This is a confession, not an attempt," I said gently.

Aric only shrugged.

"I don't want to kill you. I don't want to…to be your Chosen, but I won't hurt you. Any of you," Sam said, and he looked to Griffin to include her in his statement. "Please don't make me leave here. I like the woods. I can fly again."

"You will not be my Chosen," I said, catching his eye. "And you may remain here in the Winter Palace, Sam."

"Bryony—" Cresswell started.

"Sam, I extend you a promise ofsafety," I said, for the other's sake more than his. "And please, if there is anything else I or my Chosen should know about Camellia, don't be afraid to tell us."

"Now that I'm gone, she'll wear down Igor next. Then probably William," Sam said. "She doesn't go anywhere without one of us. Not even after she started meeting with council members. She won't fuck the older ones, but there's a couple she lets have their turn. She told me it was for diplomacy, but I don't think she really cares."

"Names," Wendell said, gripping tight to my hand. "Sam, can you give us names?"

I let out a slow breath, my mind spinning as Sam hummed and produced a few names. Camellia had wanted me dead, or was at least willing to see if it could be managed. My sister. Mymonsterof a sister.

"Look at me, princess," Aric said, quiet and private.

I turned to him, but I didn't really see him, not until he leaned in close, pressing his lips to my brow.

"We won't let her win, darling girl," Aric said.

I nodded, but it ran around and around in my brain. What would it take to defeat Camellia? Was I prepared for the cost?

* * *

I hesitated at the door,bouncing on the balls of my feet and eyeing the length of the hall. Cresswell was on his break, and Piper did his duty from a longer distance, which made it onlyslightlyless embarrassing that I was hovering outside of Daniel's door.

At the sound of footsteps approaching from inside, I knocked quickly before he could find me standing dumbly outside. The door opened and Daniel blinked at me.

"Are you busy?" I asked.

"I… No? Well, I'm taking letters down. I was going to let you read them first," he said, holding up a small collection of unsealed letters.

"Read them?"

"Yes? I thought you might like to know what I was telling the council and my father."

A sick weight sank in my stomach as Daniel and I stared at one another. He was right, actually. I probably did need to know, but it didn't sit comfortably with me that I was presuming a relationship with a man while treating him like a suspect. Not that the relationship was more than a kiss at the moment.

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