Page 94 of The Kingdom's Crown

Still, it wasn't a concession on my part when Griffin's fingers snagged around the hilt of my dagger, yanking hard. I tried to tear her hands away, rolling on my side to try to get back onto my feet, but it was too late. Griffin's tug broke the sheath off my belt and she leapt to her feet, face flushed and bright with victory, my lovely dagger in her grip.

"The king is fallen!" Cassius bellowed over the thunder of cheers. "Long live the king."

"Long live the king!"

Griffin laughed and winked at me, towering over my messy, rumpled form. I growled up at her and then before I could think, I twisted and leapt up, tackling Griffin to the floor. Massive orange and white paws pinned her shoulders down as great gasps and screams went up around us.

"Bryony!" one of my men cried out.

I roared into Griffin's face, watched the blood rush away, her eyes going wide and lips parting in shock. And then I sighed, relaxing back into the woman, sitting heavily down on Griffin's thighs.

"I told you I had so much to tell you," I said, catching my breath as Griffin remained flattened, pale and shocked. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Let me buy you a drink."

I pushed myself up to standing, smiling at the startled quiet of the room, and then I reached down for Griffin's hand.

Behind me, on the stage, Cassius Thatcher released a belly laugh so loud, I thought it shook the rafters.

* * *

The festivities didn't take longto pick up again. Griffin recovered quickly from my surprise, taking my hand and letting me pull her up from the floor. Aric and Scrapper ushered us all over to an abandoned table in the far, dark corner of the room, one large enough for the mass of us—Griffin, Sam, Scrapper, my Chosen, and eventually Cassius Thatcher with a massive tray of unusual looking drinks.

"I thought you were about to eat me," Griffin said, eyeing me over the rim of her drink. She'd taken it immediately off the tray without glancing at Cassius, and I expected he'd brought it specifically for her.

"I might've," I said with a shrug. "I'm still getting used to her. I still may if you don't give—" Griffin slid the dagger quickly across the table to me, and I smiled. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Griffin said with a shrug. "You nearly had me."

"You mean I nearly had this?" I asked, twirling the white feather pinched between my fingertips.

Griffin went even paler than she had when I'd roared at her, and I glanced at Sam in the corner, who only smiled. He looked more centered since I'd last seen him and a great deal more solid and healthy. I handed the feather back to Griffin, who pocketed it quickly away. One look at Cassius and I could see the frown on his face and the calculation in his stare as she hid the feather.

I knew it was Sam's. Cassius obviously didn't, and it was clear he wanted the explanation.

Sam, Cassius, Jack McCallum. I counted them in my head, Griffin's odd collection of men. Not that she seemed aware of the fact. I wondered what a thieves' court would think if their king took Chosen like a Kimmerian queen.

"In truth, I'm glad you came and challenged me. You're right, I've done a terrible job," I said, moving easily away from my teasing.

"That's not really your fault," Thao said, shrugging. "A thieves' court is a small burden against your kingdom."

Both Cassius and Aric scoffed at that.

"Martin, this is certainly not a position I ever imagined you in," Cassius said, grinning at his former colleague.

"It isn't one I pictured for myself," Aric said.

"Understatement," I muttered.

"But my princess makes a compelling argument for the finer things in life," Aric said drolly. I glared at him, and he added, "And in a way, Thao is right. I'm helping her carry a heavy duty, one that I sincerely want her to succeed in."

Cassius only looked amused. "How did I find myself at a table full of do-gooders, eh, Scrapper?"

Scrapper grinned, but there was a tightness in his eyes as he stared across the table at the king. "You don't feel the bite as we do in the north, Thatcher," Scrapper said with a soft shrug.

"Do you feel ready, Griff?" Aric asked.

"More ready than I did when you left," Griffin said with a shrug. "But we underestimated Emory's court. It's not your fault," she said to me, ducking her head to meet my eyes. "Thieves don't like to feel they're working for anyone but themselves. Emory did the damage when he cut down Aric. I'll have to create loyalty on my own now. But Bryony, this isn't even why I've come south."

"The challenge was just a bonus then?" I teased, but my eyes slid to Sam, who hovered behind Griffin, almost glowing in the shadows. "Oh. The two-natured. Because of what happened in the mines?"

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