The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,95

and kissing between my eyebrows. "I'm all right. Definitely sunburnt and a little…over sensitive. I remember everything, I just remember not being able to stop."

"I tried not to—"

"Shh, Bryony, it's fine. I didn't want to stop. That was me. But perhaps there are reasons why cocks should go soft," he said, still smiling. He started to shift on the blanket and then immediately stilled, eyes narrowing. His closer hand lifted and brushed against my cheeks, revealing a soft stinging sensation. "I know a cure for our sunburns too we can use later. For now, come here."

I scooted closer, pressing against Owen's bare side and resting my cheek against his shoulder.

"It's late in the year for poppies," Owen said, and I could feel his chuckle against me.

"I worry about the magic sometimes—"

"Sometimes?" he asked, teasing.

I pinched his chest and Owen laughed. "We don't know what it will mean for the poppies next spring. Have I forced them to grow too soon and now they won't come back?"

"These poppies will leave seeds for the spring, too. I don't think you're taking life from the earth, I think you're just giving it a boost. The birds don't seem to mind," he added, passing a hand through the air above us.

The birds were especially noisy, but it was just a kind of music, and a few came down to the blanket and grass to root around in Owen's pockets. "Perhaps they're offended by our performance," I said.

Owen made a sweet pft of dismissal. "This? This is applause. They would've flown away if they disapproved."

I laughed and rolled to lean over Owen for a kiss when I discovered that the birds weren't our only audience. On the balcony overlooking the meadow behind the palace, stood Daniel Farraque. He was sitting on the ledge, leaning against the wall, one leg hanging down and the other bent and perched, his eyes turned to Owen and I.

"We're being watched. Not by birds," I said, fairly certain that Farraque and I had locked gazes, although it was hard to tell from this distance.

"Are you sure it wouldn't be better to get rid of him? Send him back to the council?" Owen asked, craning his neck to see.

Owen was the only one I'd told about what had happened in the training room between me and Farraque. Owen had caught me in my bluster directly afterward, before I'd decided that it would be a secret. What would Daniel Farraque do next under such a direct rebuffing? Apparently…nothing but observe.

"They'll just send someone else," I said to Owen.

"Do you want your dress?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Not until we get ready to go back in. I don't want him thinking he affects me."

"Does he?"

I hummed at Owen's question. "Not in the way the council was hoping. I do find him curious though. He's a bit like one of Cosmo's statues. Beautiful, intriguing clues, but ultimately unknowable."

"No one is unknowable," Owen said, toying with a strand of my hair that had fallen loose.

"Perhaps not. But it was a strange attempt at seduction, and yet somehow, the most personality I've seen out of him yet. I suppose if I were Camellia, it might've worked. Not that she would've bothered with the fencing in the first place."

"Mmm, but you are my princess. My Mistress," Owen purred, arching up to kiss my chin.

I gave up my staring contest with Farraque and let him watch as I bent to kiss Owen, gently and slowly to make up for the slight frenzy we'd just woken from.

"My Chosen," I murmured, pecking and sipping at Owen's kisses. "My pure-hearted man. My…" I blinked and pulled away briefly, staring down at Owen, resting a finger against the dimple on his chin to hold him still.

I sat up slowly on my knees so I could take him in, the defined planes of muscle, the taper of his hips, the long nose. Owen was some odd and perfect creation, aristocratically beautiful and undeniably rustic. He was steady as a rock and as open with his heart and mind as anyone I'd ever met.

"My love," I said, a bright smile blooming.

Owen's eyes brightened and he sat up, arms looping around my waist and pulling me into his chest. I was on my knees, cupping his cheeks as I pulled long kisses from him, Owen humming happily with every press.

"Never been in love before, but I think this must be it," Owen murmured, his grin making our kiss more of a bump and nudge