of our noses. "Bring the Hunger back so I can make love to you properly."
I laughed and shook my head. "No! No magic now, I just want this with you." I kissed his cheeks and forehead and chin and back to his mouth.
We stayed like that for a long time, smiling at one another, kissing when we could, careful not to irritate Owen's burned back or to stir up my Hunger again. It was there, of course, but it let me have the moment as I needed it, purely ourselves.
When I looked up at last, ready to dress and move inside, Daniel Farraque was nowhere in sight.
"Even if you dismantle the land law now, there's no reason why the merchants should sell it back to the farmers, or means for the farmers to purchase it back," Wendell said.
"Can't we make them give it back?" I asked, but I raised my hand and shook my head before anyone could answer me. "No, I know. That isn't fair either."
My Chosen and I were tucked away in my suite, our new ritual of the evening. I spent my days with Cosmo or Owen, enjoying the pleasures of the Hunger and making a minor spectacle of myself. And then my nights now went like this, working over matters of legislation and politics in secret and away from the watchful eyes of Daniel Farraque.
Wendell and Thao shared a bench, Wendell's lap full of texts on the laws of Kimmery as Thao studied our maps.
"Some of the land lies fallow," Cosmo said. "Merchants don't make good farmers, but they dictate the crops that are planted. The ones that don't listen to the men who work the fields lose ground by not rotating their crops. If you dismantled the law and the crown was willing to buy the land, I bet the merchants would sell it cheap."
"And then it could be returned to the farmers, but fallow?" I asked, frowning.
"It can be made rich again," Owen said with a shrug.
I blushed. "Are we back to the method where I go about the country using the Hunger to make the crops grow?"
Owen laughed and I enjoyed the sight of him, propped up against my pillows, snacking on candied nuts with his thighs spread—almost in invitation. "No, although I'm sure they wouldn't mind the help. The right rotation of crops will help restore nutrients. It would take time and a great deal of work, but if the land was their own again, the farmers would probably be glad for it."
"You could import olive trees," Thao said, drawing the room's attention and smiling. He shined under our focus, and I was discovering a new itch of interest. Thao had always been beautiful, it was undeniable, but ever since I'd lost my patience with him, he'd been changing. He was elegant, princely, confident, but the burn of pride had softened in him.
"Olive trees?"
"They grow on the mountains in Mennary," Wendell said, nodding. "There's land on the mountains here in the North that could be allocated, and an olive…orchard might remain private."
"Mother would send us trees," Thao said, sitting up as if he were ready to write the letter now.
"Won't it be too cold this far north?" I asked.
"Ah," Wendell said, face falling.
Thao frowned and glanced between us. "Are the winters very harsh?"
Cosmo laughed softly at my back. "You'll find out soon enough. But the idea is right. What about apples, or pears? Those grow here in the mountains."
Wendell brightened again. "That's true! They're not fashionable, but Kimmery imports so much of its fruit. Apples and pears could be made more popular, and an orchard is not farmland so…"
"So it falls outside of the realm of the law!" I cried, brightening. "I should think a crown princess could make an apple more popular, but even if I can't—"
"Your people won't complain of good fresh food to eat," Owen finished for me, and I grinned at him.
"There is an old orchard on the palace grounds," Cosmo said, scooting forward to press against my back, resting his chin on my shoulder.
I didn't know why it should feel like such a temptation—shivers running through me and goosebumps appearing on my skin—just to have his breath on my neck, but I blushed at his closeness with Wendell and Thao staring at the pair of us.
"It's overgrown, and I don't know what the trees are producing now but…"
"But you think I should see if I can bring it to life again?" I asked, my breath catching.
"Is that—"