Page 120 of The Kingdom's Crown

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Bryony

“You look beautiful, regal," Cosmo corrected with a half-smile.

I stood in an adjoining chamber to the throne room, my feet frozen and gaze fixed unseeing out the window. There was a mirror behind me, reflecting the long pale feathered cape I'd been gifted from the two-natured, and my hand smoothed over the gauzy skirt of the dress I'd created to match. Aric's snake was resting around my throat, the gifted dagger at my hip, and the bryony blossoms in my ears.

My feet seemed to be sinking into the floor, weighted there by my own heavy thoughts.

"It hasn't even been a year," I said.

"Hm?"

I turned to Wendell and blinked. "It hasn't even been a year since my choosing ceremony. Almost, but I can't believe…I can't believe how much has happened."

"I can't believe it either," Aric said with a little laugh.

I stared, eyeing him up and down. He was in a red velvet waistcoat, silver hair smoothed back, and boots polished to a deep brown leather. He looked like a king, but certainly not the King of Thieves he'd been the day of my ceremony. In fact, the only one of my Chosen who really still seemed unchanged was Thao, and that was only because he was wearing his beautiful Mennarian military uniform. He was every bit the humorous and generous man I'd grown to love and lean on.

"I remember when you called up my line and I stared at you in your seat, prim and contained with your jaw grinding," Aric murmured, moving in and stroking his thumb over my jaw. "I hated you."

A laugh escaped. I'd known as much probably, but I hadn't expected to hear it at this moment.

"I thought you might've been the worst of your line, simply because you could control your Hunger in a way Camellia didn't bother with," Aric continued, frowning a little. His lips quirked.

"I thought you looked noble and principled, so I guess we were both wrong," I answered, arching an eyebrow.

Aric grinned and kissed my brow. "Mm. I think I was proved wrong first. You were too sweet when you greeted us all. Too nervous and shy. I hated being proved wrong, and you were the prettiest and most tempting puzzle I'd ever met."

I smiled and let my eyes fall shut as he kissed his way down my nose to my lips. I might've argued his point. He'd managed to be pretty disinterested for plenty of time, but I liked the compliment too much to refuse it.

"I thought you'd shuffle me out of your Chosen once you'd found your footing with Owen," Cosmo said.

I drew back from Aric and whipped around to face him. Cosmo shrugged, and I shook my head. "Never. I may not have had the Hunger the day of my choosing, but I had divine luck when I met every one of you."

"We were worried too," Wendell said, glancing at Thao.

"To be honest, I held my breath until you finally had her writhing on your tongue the night of the festival," Thao said, winking at me as I gasped.

"I knew you'd be queen the moment you cut Sir Hubert down to size," Cress said.

"And Lord Roderick," Daniel added.

Owen just grinned at me. "I never had a doubt."

My heart split at its seams in that moment, sharing itself with each of my seven men, and yet still pounding in my chest. They'd given me as much, if not more, in return and there was no one else I trusted with myself.

A knock on the door echoed in the room, and I jumped, suddenly remembering why we were here and what we were waiting for.

Morgan opened the door, her hand over her eyes. "Stop whatever it is you're doing."

"Nothing, you mean?" Aric asked.

Her fingers parted, and she sighed. "Oh good, it's time for you lot to wait by the dais."

I considered briefly running and slamming the door shut on Morgan in order to hole up inside the room with my Chosen, continue to let their faith in me bolster my own, but it was too late. My men were ready for me to be crowned, even if I wasn't quite sure yet.

Aric cupped the back of my neck, pulling me closer and pressing a firm kiss to my temple. "Princess."

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