The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,31

down a side hall, looking for a faster route back to the suite, watching Bryony bite her lip and shake her head slowly. "No. I want you close. I want to speak with her myself too. But later."

"Later," I agreed, my voice lowering.

Bryony's cheeks turned pink, and she leaned her head in, resting it against my temple, her lips just barely grazing my skin. "I'm still angry with you for jumping between us."

"Doesn't change that I'd do it again."

"I'd better learn to hold more magic," she said, more to herself. "You know, I could be walking. You're the one who was injured."

I grunted and clutched her closer.

"Cresswell," Bryony murmured, voice low and lips brushing back and forth over my skin with little turns of her head. "Where are you taking me?"

"To bed, Your Highness." There was no use keeping the growl out of my voice—the bear in me wasn't satisfied with being denied the right to attack. The sound made Bryony shiver in my arms, and her teeth nipped softly at my cheek.

"Why now?"

She was pressing kisses on my temple, my cheek, even my earlobe, damp light touches to tease me. I suspected her questions were teasing too, but my focus was narrowed on the turn of the hall that would lead to a back door into her suite.

"We'll have to get you a new personal head guard," I said, ignoring her question.

"I don't want anyone but you."

There was another meaning to her words that sent blood rushing to my cock. "You'll have me, Bryony. Closer than ever."

Humphries, obviously aware of what was brewing between Bryony and me, hurried ahead of us to open the narrow door. We entered the study Aric had claimed for his own and found the man scribbling at a desk, five books open around him. His head shot up at our entrance, eyes narrowing immediately.

"What's happened?"

"Put me down now," Bryony said, patting my shoulder.

"Assassination attempt. She healed me." My voice rose over the screech of Aric's chair as he leapt up. "I want you and Farraque to go down and find Piper and the others in the dungeons. Make sure the interrogation isn't muddled."

Aric's expression tangled, mouth opening, perhaps to argue with me, and he took one long step forward. I squeezed around Bryony as he reached out for her, my hackles rising, and then Aric paused and took a slow breath. His palms turned out, and he stepped forward again, face smoothing.

"All right," he said slowly, watching me as he approached.

He wanted the same reassurance that I did, to know Bryony was safe and whole, and I had to restrain myself from snatching her out of his reach. His hand stroked her shoulder, and she leaned away from me to accept his soft kiss on her lips.

"There's a bedroom with only one entrance around the corner," Aric said, catching my eye.

I nodded. "I know the one."

"Better not tell the others yet, or you'll have—"

"I know," I snapped, losing my patience.

Bryony's lips twitched, and she sank back into my chest, soothing the snag of frustration in my chest. Aric nodded and eyed the guard over my shoulder.

"Want me to ward the door?"

I wanted him to leave, but he was right. We had Piper's word that Humphries was trustworthy, but the entire castle staff were unknowns. I nodded and let Aric lead the way through a hidden door in a bookcase, down a side hall and to a small private room. He flicked his hand, and the fireplace flashed into life.

There were no windows in the room and only the one door we'd entered through. I turned, and Aric remained on the other side of the threshold, a knife out and scratching marks into the frame.

"Bryony will be the only one who can open the door while she's inside," Aric said, brow furrowing with concentration.

"Is that something you could make for the queen?" Humphries asked.

Aric and I exchanged a look, and he frowned. "Not without using the queen's magic," he said without looking back at the other guard. I thought it might've been a lie, but at the moment, I didn't care one way or another. Aric was making Bryony a safe room, one that would be powerfully useful in the future if we needed it. If we could convince Bryony to hide. That would be the real battle.

"Don't stay trapped in here all day. The others will hear about the attack and go into a panic," Aric said, finishing his work and stepping back, a