The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,79

realized Bryony had caught some sourness in my expression. "Not at all. He likes having you there. I was only thinking how nice it would be to be in his place."

Bryony blushed, and I stared avidly at her soft smile as she sank slowly back into Thao's side, watching me all the while. Thao blinked at me, eyes slitting drowsily as Bryony went back to petting him. He understood, I knew he did. It was up to me when I wanted to reveal to Bryony that I was also a shifter. I would, someday soon. When I knew our place with her was secure.

We were picnicking by the lake, Cosmo with a sketchpad on his lap, drawing Bryony and Thao in their langor, Owen asleep across the blanket, a plate of half-eaten cakes on his chest and some hideous straw hat over his eyes. Who knew where he'd found it. I planned on throwing it to the lake for the geese—who wouldn't come anywhere near us with Thao in his tiger form.

"I had a dog when I was a girl. Or there was a dog when I was a girl, at least. He used to sleep in my bed with me, and I'd fall asleep while running my fingers through his fur," Bryony murmured, resting her cheek on the back of Thao's enormous head.

"I'm sure Thao would be happy to lie next to you at night," I said, grinning as Thao rumbled and Bryony laughed.

She was growing used to our flirting, accepting even. It was slow progress, slower than Cosmo and Owen's certainly, and it made my craving for the young woman that much more keen.

"The bed is plenty big enough," Cosmo said under his breath, eyes sliding to mine with a soft tip of his head.

Was I being flirted with too now? I glanced at Thao, who turned over his paw and flexed his claws out, licking them and staring meaningfully at Cosmo. I just wasn't sure if the meaning was threat or invitation.

I didn't know our place with this group. Cosmo, Bryony, and Owen had become a threesome, and I wasn't sure what kind of boundary there was between them and Thao and I. For myself, I would've gladly broken all the walls down. Thao wanted Bryony, I knew that. But his form of flirtation usually involved sparking up her frustration with him like some schoolyard boy, and I hadn't been brave enough to correct him again.

"Perhaps in winter you would come in handy during the cold nights," Bryony said, patting Thao's massive paw.

My cock twitched, and I raised my knee to hide any arousal that might pop up as I tried to battle down the thoughts of the four of us warming Bryony at night. Thao's tail swung wildly through the air before thumping down hard over Bryony's lap, an almost possessive drape, twitching and flicking at her skirts provocatively. Cosmo grinned down at his notepad.

"I'm just saying, you've already taken on a great deal of the organization in the palace," Thao said, tying his hair back and wiping the sweat from his brow after his sparring match with Bryony.

She'd escaped the room as quickly as I'd arrived, eyes bright and cheeks flushed, no doubt running off to Cosmo or Owen to satisfy a craving I was beginning to wonder if Thao had been the one to create.

"I don't see how being her steward gets me any closer to being her lover," I muttered, frowning at myself. It was up to Bryony entirely whom she took to bed, and if it weren't for the hints of interest I caught from her, I would've dropped the matter. Anyway, I didn't want to be a steward. I had been an ambassador for six years. I understood the diplomacy Bryony was striving to navigate now, and where she was willing, I was happy to shepherd her through. Planning where a meal would be taken was less exciting to me.

"It secures your place in the court at least," Thao answered, equally snappish and quiet.

I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning in the doorway and watching him strip out of the tight fencing jacket. "What secures your place?"

I bit my tongue after the words came out, watching the clouds darken Thao's expression as he looked back at me. Sunlight was streaming through the open windows, the air crisp today—fall threatening the end of summer.

"You," Thao said softly. He sighed and rolled his shoulders, head falling back. "Hopefully. I'm sorry. I know