Page 107 of The Kingdom's Crown

I flinched at Camellia's delicate tone, glaring at her out of the corner of my eyes. She had her arms crossed protectively over her stomach, although if she meant to make herself look as though she was protecting a swollen belly, I thought it was fairly obvious how incredibly thin she still was.

"I have been trying, and I do think it's possible—"

"You're lying!" I cried out without thinking, and Camellia's attempt at wide-eyed innocence faltered with a wicked kind of glee.

"Obviously, Your Majesty, continuing the line of the successionmustbe considered of the utmost importance," Thomlinson droned.

"There's never been a member of the queen's line whofailedto produce an heir, Thomlinson," Sir Weston snapped.

"But has there ever been one intentionallypreventingthe act?" Thomlinson tossed back.

"How would you know? You're aman!What business is this of yours?" I shouted.

"Enough!" my mother snapped.

I stumbled back, and Owen's hands cupped my shoulders firmly, drawing me into his steady warmth, right as my knees felt as though they might crumple beneath me.

"Your Majesty, an heir—" Thomlinson started again.

"I saidenough!" my mother yelled. Her head whipped around, and one of her Chosen stepped forward immediately, wrapping an arm around her shoulder for her to lean into him.

Camellia, having certainly performed her duty—feeding what I suspected was a massive pile of shit to my mother—curtsied low and hurried out the door, the council members including Thomlinson backing away and heading for the exit as well.

"Mother, she doesn't even lookwell," I whispered.

"Oh, peace, Bryony!" my mother snarled, a hand raising to rub at her temples. "You put me throughtwotrials today, isn't that enough?"

Michael stepped forward quickly, placing himself between us, shooting me a warning look. It wasn't aggressive, just cautionary. My mother was past the point of agreeing to please anyone. If I pushed one more word into her ear I might risk everything.

One by one, everyone but my Chosen and I left the room. Outside the open doors, I could still hear the city celebrating. And on the table, staring at me, Lord Thomlinson had dropped the bag of herbs he'd taunted me with. Proof of my one failure, a little personal selfishness that might cost me everything.

27

Bryony

“Point," Thao gasped, jogging quickly backward and away from me as if he thought I might chase after him with my sabre after getting my winning point anyway. "I need a break. Farraque, your turn."

Daniel, also suited head to toe, stepped forward, and I considered accepting the match. The pair of them had been taking turns sparring with me, trying to help me burn off the temper that boiled in my veins, but it was only a temporary distraction.

I was gasping for breath too, my muscles burning, and I shook off the urge to push myself into a collapse. I waved my hand at Daniel.

"I can't," I admitted, ignoring the irritating sting that rose in my eyes.

Both Daniel and Thao sighed in relief.

"Finally," Cresswell grumbled from the sidelines, standing from his seat and walking quickly over, digging his fingers into the padding of the jacket to try and soothe my trembling muscles.

"Keep your clothes on! Innocent maid entering!" Morgan hollered at the doors of the training room.

I huffed out a laugh in spite of my foul mood and rolled my eyes. "No, I don't see Nora with you."

"Ha!" Morgan laughed, grinning at me, but she walked quickly.

"News?" I asked.

It had been two days since my mother had dismissed us all from the argument of succession, and she hadn't left her suite. Wendell was relentless against Thomlinson in a council meeting the following day, but he couldn't lie to me and it was obvious that my contraceptive tea had shaken some of the council's faith in me. The shifter march probably hadn't helped.

"Your presentation of Camellia's crimes certainly came at the right time. From what I could dig out of the maids, any attempt made to try and make the queen choose Camellia as her successor has been rebuffed for many of those reasons. At this point, I think she's trying to just…avoid making a decision," Morgan said.

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