The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,108

chair screeched against tile and we all flinched. Prince Holden, more or less forgotten in the chaos, seemed to have found his moment.

"I joined your daughter's Chosen only recently, Your Majesty. And while it pains me to say it, that woman is the most unnatural creature I have ever come across in my life," Prince Holden announced. "I was not witness to anything previously mentioned, but I heard whisper of it and much worse. And I was subjected to the same…physical treatment. Perverse games, cruelty, pain. The night of the fencing tournament ball, Princess Camellia dragged me into the hall, used her magic to rouse me, and then proceeded to choke me nearly to death."

Silence followed, and I glanced at the council's side of the table. Even they understood the gravity of Holden's story, and it seemed to sink them lower in their seats.

"I had every intention of returning home and urging my father to declare war on Kimmery in retaliation for the crimes your daughter committed against me, but it was Princess Bryony who pulled me to safety, and it was she who convinced me that you would hear reason and take measures against Camellia."

Bryony pursed her lips together, a slight pinch of annoyance on her brow, but I thought Holden was playing his part admirably. He spoke without the same shame Atticus and Sam had, and his threat was clear. Handle Camellia, or Noren would demand reparations for his experience.

"This is…this is…" But Thomlinson didn't seem to be able to decide what it was, and his stuttering melted back into silence.

And in the silence, the sound of voices filtered from outside, through the closed windows of the room. One of the queen's Chosen turned, staring outside for a long moment as Queen Peony remained staring at each of Camellia's former Chosen in turn.

"Peony…there's something happening outside."

Bryony's gaze met mine as Head Guard Amos moved away from Atticus to go and look out the window. I nodded at her, ready for our moment. Against the wall, Aric was moving slowly in my direction as the rest of the room turned toward the window.

"I think you should stay back, Your Majesty," Head Guard Amos said.

"No, open the balcony, I want to hear them," Bryony said, wiggling through the crowd, Thao and Wendell close to her side.

"Your Highness," Head Guard Amos snapped, but Bryony was already turning the handle of the thin doors, and the roar of voices rushed into the room with the cold air.

Aric traded places with Cresswell, taking a baffled Darby's arm in his hand.

"Wait until—"

"I know," Aric said, arching an eyebrow at Cress.

It didn't matter. The rest of the room was too distracted by the scene outside of the gates, and even Bryony's mother was wiggling her way through the men to join her daughter on the balcony.

Aric's hand covered Darby's locked wrists, and Sam stirred anxiously at my side.

"Your Majesty, it appears to be some civil unrest, surely you should—"

I watched, a little jealous to be waiting inside, as Bryony reached the banister of the balcony and the volume reached a fever pitch outside the gates, drowning out the question Queen Peony asked Bryony, or her answer.

My heart hammered in my chest, and Bryony looked back over her shoulder briefly, through the open doors and right at me. She nodded, smiling faintly, and then turned away again. The woman vanished, replaced by the massive orange and white tiger, soon joined by Thao and Wendell's beasts as well.

"Now," Cress said.

Bryony's head tipped back, and a thunderous roar echoed out, chorused by Wendell and Thao on either side of her. The crowd answered, and then the unified shout of human voices broke apart into hundreds of animal cries. Beneath it all, lost in the chaos, the lock clicked, and Atticus Darby's chains dropped to the floor with a muted rattle.

Aric yanked on Darby's arm, and Sam nudged my back.

"Time to run," Aric hissed.

25

Bryony

Time to run, I thought to Wendell and Thao, jumping deftly up onto the edge of the balcony and then down to the roof below with a thump of my paws.

"Bryony!" my mother cried.

"Your Highness!" Head Guard Amos bellowed.

I felt a little bad for not warning the man of what was coming, but it was in the two-natured's best interest for the castle guards not to be prepared.

From one roof to the next, I jumped my way gracefully down into the front gardens. Rabbits and cats and foxes and mice were swirling around the castle gates,