same influence over these men as she could.
"It isn't a victory for Thomlinson and his ilk, not really," Jack McCallum reassured me as we walked through the castle halls toward Bryony's suite. "The vote Bryony roused is proof of that alone. The princess must have chosen you to be her mouthpiece."
"She did, but Thomlinson's move is just proof of how much influence the council still has over our queen," I said.
"Most of the men choose to side with whichever party of us is most likely to win the argument," Jack said wryly. "I find it surprising how many of them really have no opinion of their own."
"I find it disheartening," I answered, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. The viscount was probably only a few years older than I, and there was a constantly shifting quality about him that I thought must've bared some resemblance to his second nature.
"You know you are the first openly two-natured member of the council?" Jack asked.
"It's not quite the same. My tiger is a gift from the prince," I said, shrugging.
"It doesn't make a difference to them," Jack said with a wave of his hand. "They're not likely to forget the size of your teeth the next time a vote comes up."
My laugh was nervous. I didn't want to intimidate the council into cooperation, but perhaps Jack was right. I needed to use every available weapon in my arsenal for Bryony.
"I don't think you'll be the last, either," Jack said, more quietly, wearing a half-smile on his lips.
I wanted to ask him more, but we'd just arrived at the suite doors, and there was an unfamiliar guard posted there—one of Cresswell's picks that we were hoping would prove loyal but hadn't really been tested yet. The doors opened, and I gestured for the viscount to enter ahead of me.
"Jack!" Nora McCallum leapt up from her seat by the window and ran for her brother, a beaming smile on her lips.
I spared them a brief glance, but my eyes were immediately caught by Bryony. She stood by the fire, eyes glinting with irritation, spine perfectly straight.
"How was your meeting, my love?" she asked tartly.
Thao was slouching in an armchair, fighting laughter and avoiding my gaze, and the others aside from Aric were all gathered in the room, their eyes flicking between us.
"I didn't want you to worry," I said lamely, crossing to Bryony.
She arched an eyebrow. "Why should I worry?"
I gave the rest of the room my back, shielding Bryony from their view and bowing my head so I could lower my voice. "I only heard this morning, and I didn't want to disrupt the peace you were enjoying. You've had so little of it lately."
Bryony's expression softened, humor bleeding through her annoyance. "Well, thank you, I suppose, although it didn't help when I did find out where you were."
I ducked a little lower, and Bryony sighed, lifting her face so I could kiss her. "Apologies."
Bryony leaned into the kiss for another moment, voices moving on with their conversations behind me as Nora caught her brother up on her entire week. Bryony's lids were heavy as she pulled away, and she softened into the circle of my arms around her, but her eyes widened expectantly.
"Well? You'd better tell me how it went."
I took a deep breath and drew back, tugging Bryony along by the hands and setting her down on the couch between Cosmo and Owen. I sat on the stool across from her, and she sat up straighter, bracing herself.
"Most of the meeting was spent discussing formalities for your grandmother's funeral," I said.
"The council isn't arranging it, are they?" Bryony's nose wrinkled, and she glanced between me and Jack.
I laughed and shook my head. "No, but we're expected to do our best to represent interest to visiting dignitaries on your mother's behalf."
Bryony's lips pursed, and her gaze drifted up with thought. "I'd like to know what interests they're representing and with whom."
I nodded and stroked my thumb over the back of her hand. "I'll go over it all with you. You'll make a stronger impression on other royals than any council member. There's to be a dinner too."
"It's almost certainly better handled in your hands than whomever Thomlinson would've passed the task to," Jack added.
Bryony nodded slowly. "I think a little planning might be a good distraction for me," she said softly.
"Morgan and I can manage the planning if you'd rather not," Nora said brightly, glancing at the other young