Page 75 of The Kingdom's Crown

But if you want to be queen, you'll get used to people staring, I decided, and when the musicians were taking their seat and conversation was in one of those strange lulls that took a room, I stood from my seat. Voices hushed further, and for a moment, I wanted to sink right back down into my chair. Thao covered my hand on the table briefly, a reminder to hold onto my courage, and the musicians on their small stage in the corner were quick to pick up their instruments.

I lifted my glass into the air, ignoring Camellia's growl at the end of the table. "Thank you all for your support and trust during this trying winter. The loss of my grandmother is a great wound to Kimmery, but as all wounds must, we will heal and grow stronger, prosper more richly, live more fully. Let our transformation begin tonight. To Kimmery!"

I hid my shuddering gasp of relief as a hundred glasses rose to the air. "To Kimmery!" the room echoed.

I spared a glance at my mother, pretending for a moment that I'd really earned her glittering smile. Ihad, even if she would've given me the same one for less effort.

I drank to my kingdom, drankwithmy kingdom, and then lowered my glass, moving behind the table to Daniel.

"Open with me," I whispered, bending to his ear.

"Me?"

I smiled as he echoed my own surprise, stroking my fingers through his beard and then smoothing it as I bent for his kiss. He leaned into me for a moment, the room watching our simple affection, and his eyes were bright as I pulled away. Daniel stood and offered me his arm, our audience rising from their seats to stand at the edges of the floor and watch.

It was easier to focus on Daniel, who seemed to do the same, the pair of us blocking out the vast crowd that surrounded us as we walked together to the center of the room. I could see our reflections in the dark windows that overlooked the sea, Daniel tall and broad—just a little coarse, but in the way that snagged women's stares. They didn't realize how gentle he really was, although that might've been for me alone.

My gaze caught briefly on my sister at the banquet table as Daniel turned me to stand in the perfect hold of his arms. My hands framed his shoulders, my arms resting above his, and I stared at Camellia. She was so thin, so pale, with dark shadows beneath her eyes. Her hair looked thin, and I wondered if anyone else thought she seemed…ill. Was she so busy satiating the Hunger, she'd lost any ability to care for her actual body? But there was no shadow blocking the fire in her stare, the white-knuckled grip on the table as she glared at me. Camellia hated me. It hadn't always been like that, but once the rift began, whenever it began, closing that wound seemed impossible now.

The music struck, sudden and swooning, and Daniel swept me into a turn, my gaze falling back to him, soaking up the warm humor of his expression, his devoted focus.

He had a hand splayed on my back, and I leaned into the touch, sighing as he took easy control of the dance. "Tonight is already a success," he said, quiet enough for my ears only, the whisper in his voice lending itself to secrecy.

"It must be, because I hardly care," I said, grinning back at him. "It's usually a good sign when I stop worrying."

Daniel's bright smile grew with mine, and he tugged me closer until our hips were fastened to one another, my dancing high on my toes as he carried me easily through the movements. This was a little easier than dancing at the festival. I was relaxed with Daniel and familiar enough with the steps to move without thinking.

"Remember when you mentioned wanting discreet displays?" Daniel asked, a dark little light brewing in his gaze.

I opened my mouth to answer, when I felt the slow glide of my necklace. My eyes widened, and my breath stopped short in my chest.

"Let me lead you," Daniel said, arm around my waist wrapping tighter, hiding the slow slither of the snake down my bodice.

"Who—?"

"Aric, of course."

I turned my head and found Aric standing at the edge of the crowd, his focus sharp, his fingertip moving in a slow trace over his palm as the golden snake curled around my breast, surfacing from my collar briefly before sliding below again, the tail tweaking a nipple. My eyes fluttered shut at the jab of arousal that shot through me.

"That's it," Daniel purred to me.

My breath hitched as the snake teased at my belly button, circling around my waist over and over, gliding back up to tease at the other breast. My eyes opened again, and I glanced around. No one else was dancing yet, although a few brave pairs might join us soon.

"They'll know," I gasped, biting down a groan as the snake nipped at my breast.

"They will," Daniel murmured. "Some already do. And they should know, Bryony. They should see their princess for who she is—sensual, beautiful,powerful."

Daniel's voice was a kind of magic of its own in my ear, slow and private. Not explicit like Thao, but tempting.

"They'll see nothing this way, but they'll know. We'll show them."

My feet were stumbling a little, but Daniel had such a hold on me, I doubt anyone realized. I was arching in his embrace, the golden snake licking cooly over my flesh, spiraling low on my hips, teasing me with its slow path.

"And the magic?"

"Let it go," Daniel said.

Damn my wonderful men, they'dplannedthis. Without me. Perhaps not the opening dance, although who knew if they'd found some way of whispering it into my mother's ear.

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