The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,91
of being stolen from as he was willing to steal.
"Aric."
"No, Bryony."
I glanced at the book just an inch from my hand and considered tossing it at his head. It would be so easy. Almost definitely satisfying.
"You're worried about my safety—"
"As usual," he growled.
I rolled my eyes. "That's very rich. Remember the time I saved your head from being separated from the rest of your body?"
Aric snarled and spun in his chair, glaring at me. But the second he set eyes on me, one corner of his mouth curled up, and a moment later he was laughing. "Vividly, princess. Never seen anything so beautiful."
My own smile soon followed, and Aric groaned, sinking into his chair, legs and arms spreading. It wasn't a real invitation, but I took it as such, crossing to him and settling myself into his lap, ignoring his grunt of protest.
"Oh, certainly, help yourself."
"You love it. Aric, listen—"
"Bryony—"
"I know there are risks. I'm listening to you. Now I'm asking you to listen to me. What is, if I decide to do this—"
"You clearly have—"
"—the best chance of my being safe, of the magic cooperating, and all going well?" I finished. Aric's head was resting on the back of the chair, eyes up on the ceiling, so I took advantage of the position, rubbing my fingers along his jaw and throat, over the stubble of his beard in the way I knew soothed him.
"I've been doing research on your queen's line. The mages have interesting texts, you know?"
I wasn't sure if Aric was trying to change the subject, but fighting him at every step wouldn't do me any good in this task. "What have you learned?"
"I suppose I've been confirming a suspicion. You're…you're not like us, Bryony," Aric said, head rolling to the side to catch my eye. "There's something in your magic, in your family line. There's never been a single son, did you know?"
I nodded. "Men aren't talked much about. Male lineage especially."
"And you don't come from Kimmery. Not really. It's funny that Holden wants your magic so much, because the queen's line seems to have come from the other side of the mountain."
"But there aren't women like us there," I said.
"I suspect you, your ancestor that is, traveled through there too and preferred it here. Bryony, I don't think we have a name for what the queen's line really is. You're not invincible, but you create magic."
I traced my finger over the furrow of Aric's brow. "It disturbs you."
He heaved a sigh and reached up to catch my hand, moving it to his mouth to press a kiss to the heel of my palm. "You don't disturb me, please understand. I'm very comfortable with my princess and increasingly…at ease with how your magic works. But the concept does, I suppose."
I nodded, even though the admission stung a little for all Aric's soothing. "You still think the tiger bite won't be safe."
Aric groaned, and his head dropped back again. "I… No. I have concerns, but I suspect your magic will be the more dominant of the two. My guess is that the bite won't work at all. And I'm not sure that warrants you getting bit by a tiger at all."
"Thao," I corrected. "Like he said, he'll be gentle. I've seen Wendell's mark, and it's faint really. More of a nip."
"You've made up your mind, I see."
"I want to put my name down on that registry."
"Bryony, no one is going to put you in a labor camp. You're talking about a symbolic gesture that may not change anything. Some might even consider it a slap in the face."
I frowned at that. "Do you think so?"
"Jack McCallum knows that there are two-natured who resent his privilege in keeping his status secret. And a princess who can be a tiger openly with none of the consequences might look equally unjust." Aric studied me as I thought through his words. "But…"
I glanced at him, and he grimaced.
"But I know you. And I know you will not rest your mind until you use your privilege to the benefit of others. Any resentment this act might stir up will be washed away when you have changed lives for good," Aric said. I grinned almost tearfully at the grumble of irritation in his voice, as if I were wrestling the words out of him.
"I want you to be in the room," I said.
"I'd like to see you try and keep me out," Aric answered, arching an eyebrow.