The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,83

my heel to face the room. "I think we might all adjourn to the great hall to await Her Royal Highness."

"This is…council business, of course. Perhaps the ladies wouldn't mind waiting in a garden somewhere," Sir Speares offered.

Prudence scoffed and rolled her eyes at my side, and I did my best not to look delighted. "In fact, Magistrate Sanders and Lady Prudence are here at the request of Princess Bryony," I said, adding privately, Instead of showing up without any warning.

"Magistrate…Sanders?" Roderick asked, a white brow arching. "Your late husband, I believe, Mistress Sanders."

"My late husband," Rebecca agreed with a dip of her head. "And recently myself as appointed by—"

"As appointed by me."

My breath caught in my throat as I stared up at the vision on the stairs. Bryony was there, flanked by Owen, Thao, and Cosmo, with two guards at their back. She wore a gown in a tender and gleaming shade of pink that complemented the color in her cheeks and the plush and bitten quality of her lips. Her hair was down—not mussed, but in glossy waves that held the softest halo and slightest suggestion of being bed rumpled. She didn't look debauched, but perfectly sensual. But her Chosen…

My lips twitched as Thao smiled at me. He was still in the thin undershirt he'd been wearing, but he'd managed to change his pants to a looser and informal pair. Cosmo's shirt was half undone, revealing kissed bruises on his throat and chest, and Owen…Owen had very obviously been recently fucked stupid—there was no disguising the dizzy smile on his face or the fresh sweat on his brow.

I forgot to bow, but no one noticed except maybe Prudence. The men in the room were too busy trying to stare up at Bryony while also bending themselves nearly prostrate to the floor. She looked exactly as she ought to, regal and sexual all at once, the ideal woman of the queen's line.

"Councilmen, I'm glad to see you. You've saved me a missive," Bryony said, her eyes smiling even as her lips did not.

Roderick straightened first, and even though the man was a human ice cube, it was obvious that the sight of Bryony in all her sweet glory had caught him off guard.

"Our arrival was overdue, Your Highness," he said, a soft rasp in his voice.

Bryony's head dipped in a nod. "I'll be frank with you Lord Roderick—" I glanced to Cosmo, who nodded once at me. Good, someone had briefed her. "I'm not overly impressed with the council's work here in the north."

The spell of beauty cracked, and the men all straightened, Daniel slower than the others. His attention had been on the palace up until now, but it was wholly Bryony's now, and that made my fists clench at my side for some inexplicable reason.

"Sir Hubert—"

"Sir Hubert is an example, but not the entirety," Bryony said. Her voice echoed around us from her position on the stairs, or perhaps it was her power at work.

"Naturally, we'll be glad to discuss any number of matters with Your Highness. For today, we've come with a new steward for the palace," Lord Roderick said, his next bow stiffer and briefer. "Daniel Farraque would make you an admirable and trustworthy steward. The council has voted and—"

"Her Royal Highness has, I believe, already sought candidates for the position of steward," Cresswell Stark announced, gathering startled stares from around the room, his own face flushing in answer.

"You don't speak for Her Highness," Thao announced in a sharp and quick tone. "Not only has Princess Bryony managed the restoration of the palace without a formal steward, she has those already in her court who are in a better position to see to her needs. Wendell Pope makes an admirable steward already."

My throat squeezed shut, a ringing in my ear sounding over the silence that fell over us all. Bryony's head turned to stare at Thao, who was too suited to haughtiness and dignity to seem remotely embarrassed by the response to his outburst. And Bryony…

It never failed to amaze me all the facets that she possessed. The sweetness, the concern for others, the tender shyness—I understood that woman. The cold and demanding princess who made firm and absolute orders? I knew her too. But the fact they both existed in the same person was incredible.

Bryony was almost unreadable, at least until her hand slid out from the crook of Thao's elbow. She stepped down and I spared Thao the briefest glance, just enough to