The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,16

over to a force of magic, and I wondered if she even realized how little control she really had.

"It is so good to have you home again, Bryony," my mother said, but her lips were against her Chosen before I could answer.

5

Bryony

“Well, that bed will certainly fit us all," Wendell said, head tipped as he stared at the expansive platform curtained with gauze that would serve as my bed.

Really, it was far too large. It could've accommodated two Owens sleeping foot to head with its depth alone, let alone the amount of room it would afford my Chosen to spread out. A man at one end might as well be sleeping in another room as one on the other end.

"You have spent too much time with Aric if you look that troubled by luxury," Thao said, brushing a lock of hair over my cheek.

We'd afforded the palace staff enough time to settle our trunks into the rooms, and my Chosen were exploring the suite as I was meant to be relaxing. I was failing at my task. The room was certainly designed for comfort, even without the enormous bed. There was a circular, pillowed bench where we might all gather together, a rich collection of couches and low tables. Most beautiful of all, facing the bed, was one wall almost entirely overtaken by dark bookshelves with glass doors, my favorite romances thoughtfully arranged inside, alongside old framed landscapes I'd painted and decorative trinkets. The colors of the room were rich and heavy, with the occasional hint of floral. Someone had obviously taken a great deal of care with the space, but there was a tidy organization to it that didn't sit right.

It wasn't the lush chaos my magic had created at the Winter Palace, organic and whimsical and strange.

"I just…the bed at the Winter Palace was just the right fit to have you all close," I said, frowning at our new bed. "It was cozy."

"Just because we have a larger bed doesn't mean we won't all be crowded around you," Wendell said, kissing the top of my head. "Come, let's get comfortable."

I leaned into him as he helped me out of the heavy layers I'd been wearing for traveling. The room was more than warm enough, even with all the doors hanging open to the rest of the suite. Owen appeared from one, his expression bright and dazzled.

"Never seen a place so big. How much of the palace have they given us?"

"More than we need," Daniel answered, entering from a door on the opposite side of my new bedroom. "There are more bedrooms than there are Chosen."

"Bryony will be expected to add to us over time," Wendell said softly, and he pressed a kiss to the corner of my frown.

"For now, we will make use of the rooms as we see fit," I said quickly, strangely troubled by the idea of adding more men to my Chosen. I certainly wasn't about to go through another choosing ceremony. I'd gotten lucky the one time, but it was obviously a system not built for someone like me. "I wonder if anyone will stop me from seeing my grandmother tonight."

"As much as I understand your impatience, it is late for a sickbed visit," Wendell said. "It will be better to let her rest and speak to her tomorrow."

"I haven't had a single note from her since we heard from my mother," I said softly.

My men all wore matching sympathetic expressions, and I felt a little guilty at the sight. I was concerned for my grandmother's health, but I was more concerned about the implications. Who was running Kimmery now without my grandmother's influence? Certainly not my mother.

The others returned at the same moment, Aric and Cress together from one direction, and Cosmo from another.

"I've already heard from Head Guard Amos," Cress said with a wry smile. "I've been demoted to your personal guard. I've made the request to keep Piper and Brummer, but appointments are up to Amos."

"How does he seem?" I asked.

Cresswell shrugged. "Fair, I think."

"If he were aligned with your sister, he likely would've sent Cresswell packing back to the north," Aric said.

Cresswell's gaze held mine, our thoughts probably in the same place. If anyone tried to remove Cresswell from my service, he would only immediately join my Chosen.

"I'm going to join the others now, we should go through the suite and the palace," Cresswell said.

"Oh, Cress. Please stay."

His boots echoed on the polished wood floor as he crossed the open