The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,117

mother—curtsied low and hurried out the door, the council members including Thomlinson backing away and heading for the exit as well.

"Mother, she doesn't even look well," I whispered.

"Oh, peace, Bryony!" my mother snarled, a hand raising to rub at her temples. "You put me through two trials today, isn't that enough?"

Michael stepped forward quickly, placing himself between us, shooting me a warning look. It wasn't aggressive, just cautionary. My mother was past the point of agreeing to please anyone. If I pushed one more word into her ear I might risk everything.

One by one, everyone but my Chosen and I left the room. Outside the open doors, I could still hear the city celebrating. And on the table, staring at me, Lord Thomlinson had dropped the bag of herbs he'd taunted me with. Proof of my one failure, a little personal selfishness that might cost me everything.

27

Bryony

“Point," Thao gasped, jogging quickly backward and away from me as if he thought I might chase after him with my sabre after getting my winning point anyway. "I need a break. Farraque, your turn."

Daniel, also suited head to toe, stepped forward, and I considered accepting the match. The pair of them had been taking turns sparring with me, trying to help me burn off the temper that boiled in my veins, but it was only a temporary distraction.

I was gasping for breath too, my muscles burning, and I shook off the urge to push myself into a collapse. I waved my hand at Daniel.

"I can't," I admitted, ignoring the irritating sting that rose in my eyes.

Both Daniel and Thao sighed in relief.

"Finally," Cresswell grumbled from the sidelines, standing from his seat and walking quickly over, digging his fingers into the padding of the jacket to try and soothe my trembling muscles.

"Keep your clothes on! Innocent maid entering!" Morgan hollered at the doors of the training room.

I huffed out a laugh in spite of my foul mood and rolled my eyes. "No, I don't see Nora with you."

"Ha!" Morgan laughed, grinning at me, but she walked quickly.

"News?" I asked.

It had been two days since my mother had dismissed us all from the argument of succession, and she hadn't left her suite. Wendell was relentless against Thomlinson in a council meeting the following day, but he couldn't lie to me and it was obvious that my contraceptive tea had shaken some of the council's faith in me. The shifter march probably hadn't helped.

"Your presentation of Camellia's crimes certainly came at the right time. From what I could dig out of the maids, any attempt made to try and make the queen choose Camellia as her successor has been rebuffed for many of those reasons. At this point, I think she's trying to just…avoid making a decision," Morgan said.

"Typical," I muttered, scowling. "And Camellia?"

Morgan took a brief deep breath, eyes widening. "They just sent a midwife and doctor in."

"Oh!" I nearly dropped the sabre in my hand, but Thao was quick to catch it, moving it over to the attendant for safekeeping.

I was halfway to the door when I heard the running footsteps. Wendell entered the training room, hair rumpled and out of breath, but he was wearing a smile.

"You did it," I gasped running and jumping into his arms.

"I think it's a good sign Thomlinson fought so hard," Wendell murmured. "But Sir Weston secured a trustworthy woman. Thomlinson likely knows the news won't favor him."

"It shouldn't matter even if it does favor him," I hissed. If Camellia were pregnant, it still wouldn't make her a good queen, and it was absolutely horrifying to think of her as any kind of mother.

"I know," Wendell said, kissing my temple and setting me back on my feet. "One thing at a time, love. Jack gave me news for you too."

I stiffened, and Wendell nodded. That meant news from Griffin or at least news regarding Atticus Darby. "And?" I asked, pushing gently on his chest.

"Everyone is on their way safely to Rumsbrooke," Wendell said.

I sighed. We'd been honest with Amos regarding Darby's sudden vanishing, and while he'd certainly noticed, the council and my mother hadn't really taken notice of the man.

"He's free," Wendell whispered. "Jack also said Griffin's eye really is healed, and that Scrapper's been telling her it will raise her in the court's estimation for having a scar like that."

I snorted and sagged into Wendell's chest, the others moving in closer. "Then all we need to deal with now is Holden and the conduit. Aric's with the