The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,55

looked sallow in black, but at least appropriate, and it was unlikely anyone would dare wear any other color at the council meeting.

"Are you nervous?" Cosmo asked, and I knew by his smile that the question was only meant as an invitation.

"I am."

"Why should you be? You have a better sense of justice than any of those fools and more right to be there," Thao said.

I blushed, flattered by his pride, although Thao was unlikely to think anything else. He loved me, and therefore I must be the best. His taste would allow for no less.

"Whatever Thomlinson or any of the others think, your presence on the council is Bryony's best coup yet," Cosmo said.

"Not more than her quashing the vote against the shifters," I said.

"You don't think so? She was lucky to even know to arrive for that meeting. Now, with you on the council, she'll always be on top of their schemes."

"You'll make a much better spy than Farraque ever did," Thao whispered, leaning in to kiss below my ear. "Much more handsome too."

"Thank you, my love," I said, trying not to laugh. "I'll be a late spy if I don't leave now though."

"Are you working today or playing games with the others?" Thao asked Cosmo.

"Games, I think. I haven't seen nearly enough of Bryony's smiles since we left the north."

"Save some for me. Hopefully, I'll bring her good news," I said.

We left the room together, and I paused to watch Cosmo and Thao join Bryony. She was seated on a carpet, Owen and Nora on the floor with her, a pile of patterned paper between them. Cresswell sat at Bryony's back, leaning over her like a great wall against anything that might harm her, and Morgan Weston sat on a couch opposite them, her legs folded carelessly under her. She looked up, finding me, and nodded briefly, awareness in her eyes. She must've known from her uncle that there was a council meeting today.

Bryony was lucky to have the two girls as companions, luckier even that they suited her as well as friends as they did allies.

"Wen, aren't you joining us?" Bryony called.

I shook my head, debating on my answer. "I'll be back after lunch though, for whatever entertainment you have then."

She frowned at me, lips parting to no doubt ask where I was going, when Thao picked up one of the folded messes from the floor and waved in front of her nose. "What on earth is this meant to be?" he asked, distracting her as I snuck out of the suite.

I would bring her back good news one way or another, I decided. I wanted to be as good an ally to her as I was a lover, her Chosen.

"There will have to be some kind of entertainment after the funeral. Something appropriate of course," Thomlinson said with a wave of his hand. "A feast, no doubt, to sate the nobles and our illustrious guests."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Thomlinson, from what I could tell from the droning and ambling conversation of the meeting thus far, was the kind of man who only took entertainment from gambling, bedding women—specifically ones who had little to say by his own preference—and feasts. Of the three, certainly the latter was the only appropriate offering.

"Speaking of the queen's line," Thomlinson continued, "I have spoken with Her Majesty. Seeing as how she is now taking it upon herself to appoint members to our numbers—"

Eyes glared in my direction, and I stared back at Thomlinson, my hands clenching against my thighs at his slow-growing smile.

"—she felt it would be appropriate to offer us more agency in managing new legislation."

"Meaning?" Sir Weston asked, sitting up sharply.

"Only meaning we need not seek her approval before presenting a bill. We have her trust to do the work we see fit. Obviously, if a Chosen may have a seat, we are here to serve our queen and princesses."

Well, fuck.

Two weeks, that was all it had taken. Bryony had taken dinner with her mother just five days ago, and I suspected Thomlinson had wrestled this permission sometime after that, otherwise Bryony probably would've heard about it. I'd wanted to bring my princess good news, and now I was going to have to tell her that her mother had given the council more freedom to do as they pleased. My single vote was not going to turn the tables. I would have to argue in Bryony's stead, and I wasn't sure I'd hold the