Page 90 of The Kingdom's Crown

"If I'm taking you to Thatcher's thieves court, I'm taking you there full to the brim with magic," Aric growled.

"You read the letter? Of course you did. Scoundrel," I moaned, rocking into Aric briefly before my eyes widened. "There are thieves here in the capital?!"

Aric laughed and lifted his head finally. "Princess, there are thieveseverywhere."

"And Thatcher? That's the king here?"

"Cassius Thatcher is a rogue, a scoundrel, a thief, a king, and a man so dangerous, I am tempted to tell Griffin she can come to the castle if she wants to speak to you," Aric snarled, tugging my dress down my shoulders and roughly over my hips.

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at Aric. "That sounds like praise coming from you. It is, isn't it? You like him?"

Aric paused, his arms wrapping around my now bare shoulders, pressing my breasts to the soft linen of his shirt. He kissed the tip of my nose and smiled at me. "I do. He's an old friend. That doesn't mean I trust him with your safety. King's agreement or not."

The king's agreement was a thief code where no king would act against another or encroach on each other's territory.

"I should've introduced myself to him already," I murmured, frowning. "It's what I would've done if I visited another country."

"You're here as the princess, not the king," Aric answered quickly. Which only meant he'd known all along I should've already made my addresses to this Cassius Thatcher. "You'll pay your respects tomorrow evening. Until then…" Aric pushed the fabric of the dress down to the floor and then lifted me up, my legs wrapping around his hips automatically.

"I should close the door," I said as Aric carried me to the circular bench, sitting me at the center platform and kneeling on the cushions in front of me. It was the perfect height for him to slide inside of me. The furniture in our bedroom was well-considered.

"You should call the others," Aric whispered, brushing his mouth over mine as he opened his trousers. "After I'm done with you."

* * *

I'd spent verylittle time on the streets of the capital, at least outside of a carriage. Wendell and Aric knew their way around much better than I did, not that it mattered much. I had to keep my head down, even with the glamour I wore from Aric.

We'd informed Head Guard Amos that we had an errand in the capital but refused any extra guards. I had seven men who would give their life for me, but more importantly, I had my magic and my tiger. I was my own best defense if it came to any danger, but we traveled through the city on horseback, each of us disguised.

The city was beautiful, especially near the castle and on the main road, but Aric's directions soon veered us in a new direction, away from the main center and toward the western edge where the shipping docks were busy, even so late at night. Buildings bore the brunt of the sea air here, their paint chipped and stripped from the wooden structures. It was loud, many of the buildings appearing to be either warehouses or inns and taverns.

But the loudest, largest, and most weathered building—set away from the docks and surrounded by dark warehouses—was our destination. Aric stopped his horse short, keeping us in the shadow of two silent buildings. I pulled Crescent to a reluctant stop, Cosmo pressed to my back, his arm around my waist.

"We'll tether the horses here. They look a little fine to be waiting outside Thatcher's," Aric said. "I'll charm them safe."

Cosmo and I jumped down together, a quick echo of boots hitting damp cobblestone close behind. It was cold, and I pulled my cloak tighter around me as a sharp lick of sea air snuck its way through the narrow alleyways to butt against us.

"Will you tell Griffin about your tiger?" Thao asked me as Aric tied our horses to the post.

"Of course," I said grinning. "I can't wait to see her, really."

"Her letter was a little ominous," Wendell said, a faint frown on his face as he stared at the bright windows of the massive building we were heading for. It was the only brick building in the area that I'd seen, and even that didn't drown the sound of music and chaotic conversation inside.

I nodded, sliding my hands into the pockets of my simple skirt. It'd been such a long time since I'd been able to dress as I had in the north, and it was nice to be out in the world as Bryony rather than the princess, even if my role tonight was still political.

"Let's go," Aric said, striding to the front to lead our party. I followed without thinking, and a moment later, his steps slowed. "I just remembered I'm not king," he said, turning back to me with a sheepish smile. "You'd better take the lead. It'll be crowded, loud. Cassius will be behind the bar, he always is. He keeps his spies on the floor. Griffin will find us after we've made our introductions."

I nodded and moved into the lead, Cresswell and Aric framing me at my back and the others moving into their own positions. My feet seemed to bounce on the beaten stones as I walked to the noisy doorway. I was excited to see Griffin, but I was even more excited to be thinking about something other than Kimmery's crown for the night.

No one seemed to take notice of us as we entered, or if they did, they were too good at hiding it. The volume was deafening, and the room was dense with activity. There were narrow pathways around small tables packed with too many people, and even more faces overhead on a balcony surrounding the great open room. There was a stage ahead of us with a lively band of players, more shadowy seating beneath the balcony to our left, and a vast and heavily populated bar to our right. Aric said the other king would be behind it, but I couldn't see any sign of a bartender through the crush of bodies.

"Griffin?" I asked Aric, somewhat intimidated by the crowd.

"Just get to the bar," Aric said, leaning in to speak directly into my ear.

I sucked in a breath, stepping bravely forward, and was nearly barreled over by a massive man. Cresswell pulled me back into his chest and then propelled us forward together, his arm firmly around my waist.

"I hate this," Cress shouted to Aric.

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