The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger Book 3), page 2
"Is he asleep?" Thao whispered in my ear. I nodded, the pair of us staring at the silvery outline of Wendell's profile, his lips parted and hair mussed over his forehead. "Are you as nervous as I am?"
I thought over his question. I wasn't very nervous about meeting Wendell's parents; I was…unexpectedly uncomfortable. I didn't really know how to be easy with Wendell's mother the way he was, and she certainly didn't know how to be easy with me.
"Not sure," I said, pushing back against Thao's chest with my shoulder.
"Wen wants to introduce me to them, to tell them about our tigers."
"You're afraid they'll disapprove?" I asked. Thao was silent in answer. "Is he?"
"No."
"Then trust him, he knows them best."
"Will you join us? If it goes poorly, you might distract from the tension."
I scoffed and smiled, rolling away from Wendell to face Thao. He was murky in the dark room, and I wiggled closer until our noses bumped. "I will not," I said softly, stroking my hands over his bare chest.
The Popes' beds hadn't been made for a princess and her Chosen, so my other men were sleeping in separate rooms. Thao had barely fit in with me and Wendell in Wen's former bed. I hadn't expected the distinctly wrong feeling of us all sleeping apart, but it was there, itching at me as if I wouldn't find comfortable sleep without all the excessive heat and chorus of snores I'd grown used to.
"If it were your family—"
"They didn't approve," Thao whispered. "The continuation of our line was paramount. There was no allowance for same-sex couplings. Not public ones at least."
"I suppose the same might've been true for me," I murmured, and Thao hummed, his lips grazing aimlessly against mine. "You know that even if Wendell's parents have reservations, it won't change anything, right?"
Thao was quiet for several moments before speaking. "It may not change his feelings for me, but I would hate for it to change his feelings for them."
Thinking of the way Miriam had embraced her son on our arrival, I both understood Thao's fears and doubted the need for them.
"I know why I am awake, but why are you?" Thao whispered.
"I'm afraid of everything that comes next when we return to the south. And it feels strange not to have the others in here and…"
Wendell sighed in his sleep, rolling over, and Thao and I both fell quiet.
"You sleep best when Cosmo or Aric holds you," Thao whispered, smiling as my eyes widened. "Don't worry, the rest of us aren't offended. Go on."
I kissed Thao briefly and then withheld my giggle as he rolled me out of the bed and lightly onto the floor. Wendell's room was wonderfully cluttered with books and maps and stray pieces of paper that I thought his mother must've been dusting all this time, and I shuffled carefully for the door, grabbing up my robe from a chair and peeking out in the hall.
Directly across from the bedroom door stood Cresswell, his eyes meeting mine immediately, head cocking. The lamps were turned low in the hall, and there was another guard, the young Stanley Piper, stationed at the top of the stairs.
"What are you doing up?" Cresswell asked, frowning as I shut the door behind me and crossed to his side.
"Do you really have to be on duty tonight?"
Cresswell's frown deepened, but I thought I caught a slight flush in his cheeks as I reached up and pressed a fingertip against the corner of his mouth, trying to push it up into a smile. His eyes flicked in Stanley Piper's direction, and when I followed his gaze I found the young guard now standing with his back to us.
"You know how much I appreciate your dedication to protecting me—"
"Bryony—"
"But I really think we need to negotiate on the terms. I'd rather you were guarding me closely while I was awake and able to enjoy your company," I said, smiling. "If you insist on guarding me in my sleep, it would be much more fun if you were in the bed too."
Cresswell's snarl was soft and velvety, and his lips were curled up of their own accord now. He checked on the other guard once more before I suddenly found myself caught in his arms and trapped against his chest. Cresswell ducked and his lips found mine before I'd gathered a breath, their press firm and trapping, holding me tight. He breathed into the kiss, content with the embrace, and my body melted into him, tension uncoiling and eyes growing heavy.
When he pulled away, I was too subdued to demand more, even with the Hunger simmering.
"I'm willing to consider your terms," Cresswell said, obvious pride in his faint smile and laughter glittering in those cool eyes of his. "But first you will have to sleep."
He lifted me off my toes, and I was only able to make one small huff of protest before he was kissing me again. Cresswell's lips were wonderfully soft and full, his kisses demanding and thorough. I was aware he was using them now not as a seduction but as a distraction, but I couldn't care enough to protest.
A door creaked and the light from the hall vanished, bedsheets rustling.
"I have no objection to this, but I'm not sure there's room on the bed."
Aric.
Cress pulled away from the kiss, and I blinked in the dark.
"Whussgoin' on?" Cosmo grumbled sleepily.
"Not quite sure," Aric answered.
And then Cresswell set me back down on my feet, the backs of my thighs bumping into the edge of a mattress. "Her Highness has come to sleep," Cress said, kissing my lips once more gently.
"Wait, I—"
"And so have I, but here on the floor."
I tried resisting Aric and Cosmo's arms as they bundled me up to tuck me between them, but Cresswell's kiss had acted as a kind of drug, and I was finally feeling the exhaustion of the day.
"Not on the floor," I managed.
"I'll be fine, Bryony," Cresswell said, his voice dropping to a growl. There was a rustle and a faint sparkle, and then Cresswell's shadow was enormous and clumsy, nudging the bed with a creak out of his way as the bear settled down to the floor by the bed.
"Well, I can honestly say this is a first for me," Aric grumbled as he and Cosmo wrestled the blankets up over me.
"Cress, are you really going to be comfortable like that?" I whispered.
"More comfortable than he'd be trying to fit in the bed with us," Cosmo said, cuddling me into his chest and wrapping his arms around me.
My only answer from Cresswell was a chuff of breath and a glittery blink of an eye before his head ducked down below the edge of the bed.
"Didn't expect a bear to smell so decent," Aric mumbled, joining Cosmo in tangling up with me. And damn him, but Thao was right. I fell asleep within a happy, peaceful minute, all worries of the south fading under the chorus of breaths that reminded me of the beat of waves on the shore.
2
Thao
Wendell had always described the home he'd grown up in as like something out of a children's story. In Mennary, children's stories were full of jungles and animals making wicked bargains and children outwitting their kidnappers. Apparently, Kimmerian stories were of tricksters sitting on wood stumps waiting to lead travelers astray and young women going on long adventures and mysterious cottages that never appeared in the same place twice.
The woods of the Pope estate did have a kind of magic to it, especially this time of year. I'd never been anywhere where the trees changed color to mark the seasons, and the effect of the falling leaves sparkling between sunlight and shadow when a wind struck stopped me in my tracks. It was almost worth the sacrifice of good weather.
I shivered and tugged the collar of my coat up, frowning at the way the wind was able to sneak through every weave of fabric I wore. I was not so privately relieved we were returning south as winter was hitting. Bryony and the others appeared delighted by the snow already coating the mountains, but Kimmerian winters struck me as having a very bland color palette and terrible temperatures.
"Suppose you don't get much in the way of cold weather where you're from."
Douglas Pope was a typical Kimmerian gentleman. He was tall and broad like Wen, with thinning hair in shades of rust and gray, and a much rounder stomach. His cheeks and nose had been red when he'd appeared at breakfast to take great pains in complimenting Bryony as she tried to eat her jam and toast, and they remained red now out in the cold of his woods.
"Not like yours, no," I said, nodding.
Douglas Pope nodded too until we both fell into silence again. We were outside under the pretense of hunting with Daniel and Wendell, but I was suddenly wishing I'd stayed back with the other group, regardless of Wendell's imploring look. I could've been napping by a fireplace, listening to Bryony try and coax Miriam into ease, or wandering the other side of the woods with Cosmo and Owen, waiting for the inevitable parade of wildlife to join us.
I hope the two parties don't meet, I thought aimlessly, not sure how Miriam Pope would take a number of rodents joining our dinner party under Owen's invitation.
"Mennary has to deal with monsoon season," I found myself saying, for no clear reason.
Douglas grunted, and Wendell shot me an encouraging smile.
"I suppose rain is as good an inducement to stay indoors as snow," Daniel said in a small attempt at support. He was, apparently, not entirely useless.
"Ah, there!" Douglas hissed, lifting his rifle and pointing into the trees.
I saw it too, a large stag, and I held my own gun in my hand, but I didn't bother raising it. I wasn't a good shot, and I didn't have the heart to hunt for sport.
Daniel raised his own to aim, but either he was very patient or he was only miming. Douglas Pope fired, and I grimaced at the thunderous bang. The stag leapt and took off running, unmarked.
"Good effort," Wendell said, and his father grunted.
"Well, this way your mother won't try and change the menu at the last minute," Douglas said with an easy chuckle. "Come on, we'd better get in before His Highness freezes."
I opened my mouth to object, but Wendell rushed ahead. "You mean it's time for your afternoon pipe."
Douglas grinned, clapping Wendell on the shoulder and flashing me a wink. "Wen's always been too clever. Not certain where he gets it."
"He always spoke very highly of his professors," I said without thinking.
And by some miracle, Douglas Pope only laughed, raucous and delighted. "Glad to know my money went to some use for all that schooling."
I sighed and fell into step behind Wendell and his father, Daniel scuffing a gloved hand over his twitching lips. Wendell's parents were as sweetly humored as their son, but I hadn't yet found the same sharp intensity he kept hidden under his polish in either of them and it left me floundering in how to behave.
"I think I'll go and see if I can track down Owen and Cosmo," Daniel murmured to me, passing me his gun.
"Just remember it gets darker faster in the woods," Wendell warned him.
"And Miriam has a grand affair planned, what with—" Douglas gestured vaguely at me. "You know, royals filling up the house."
Daniel nodded and jogged for the trees.
With the guns passed to the groundskeeper, we entered the manor from the veranda, a servant hurrying to help us out of our coats until they looked buried beneath the layers. Miriam Pope appeared, her cheeks flushing sweetly as her husband and son both moved in to kiss her cheeks.
"Her Highness—"
"Mother, please, call her Bryony."
"—went out with that…oh, I've forgotten his name," Miriam said, frowning. "The old one."
Douglas scoffed. "He was younger than me, I should think."
"Aric," I said.
"Yes! Thank you! Her Highness and Aric went out to find the others," Miriam said. "Oh and the handsome guard."
Which meant it was only me. "Perhaps I should go and join them so the three of you—"
"Wait, Thao," Wendell said, brightening and stepping away from his mother to move to my side. "No, actually, I'd love for the four of us to sit down together."
Miriam bit her lip and smiled tenuously, and I was sure she would've preferred if I left them to their time together without me.
"As long as you don't mind my little routine," Douglas said, heading for the pair of doors leading to the large study.
"Do you think Her High—"
"Bryony."
"—Will dress very finely for our dinner tonight? I did tell Joan I might need her to freshen my hair for the evening," Miriam murmured.
"The princess is very informal and a little bit of a wild beast," I said, making Miriam's eyes widen and Wendell laugh. "If we are very lucky, she will return from the woods without mud on her skirts or twigs in her hair. But you may need to prepare yourself to dine with a very pretty and well-mannered animal."
"Oh, dear. I've been making too much of a fuss, haven't I?" Miriam said, but she was smiling and she seemed to relax.
"Don't mind what he's said. Bryony is every bit as anxious to please you as you are to please her," Wendell said. And then his hand found mine at my side, our fingers tangling together. "Now I promise this won't take long, but I really do want to grab this moment with you and Father."
Miriam hummed and nodded, following after her husband to the study as Wendell's fingers squeezed around mine.
"Quit looking as though you're about to face an army," he whispered, leaning in and resting his forehead against mine.
"Are you sure this needs to be done?" I asked, gaze flicking back and forth between the open study doors and Wendell's face.
"I'm sure that it will mean a great deal to me to tell them," Wendell said. "And I think it might to you as well."
"There is always a letter," I muttered, but I followed as he tugged me toward the door.
Miriam had already found a seat in an armchair by the fireplace, and Douglas was packing a small pipe with dark tobacco, his eyes lifting and pausing on our linked hands. He blinked, stilling in his movements before setting the pipe aside, a slight frown on his lips as he crossed his hands over his stomach. Wendell guided me down to join him on a small couch.
"I've been so eager for you both to meet Thao for such a long time, and I regret that this is such a short visit," Wendell began.
I wanted to compliment the Popes on their son or their home or their hospitality. Wanted to speak on all the warm stories Wendell had told me as we'd fallen in love in Mennary. My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth as his parents stared back at us, a little furrow of confusion between Miriam's eyes and a cool understanding in Douglas's.
"There's always been more I've wanted to tell you about my friendship with Thao, but it didn't feel right to put it in a letter," Wendell said. I glanced at him and found him every bit as bright and hopeful as he had been arriving here at his former home.
"It is so good that you both were Chosen by Her Highness," Miriam said brightly.
Wendell's grin was sheepish. Bryony had chosen us more out of mercy than desire at the time, and solely for the reason we were sitting across from Wendell's parents now.
"We were very lucky," Wendell murmured.
It struck me then that I was giving him this burden of confession. He didn't seem to mind. He was certainly more excited than I was. But Wendell deserved more than my silence at his side, and his parents ought to know how much I valued their son.
"Your son has taught me a great deal since we met. Of friendship and respect, how to support someone in deed rather than only words. He has shown me the best and worst of my pride, and I have taken great pleasure in learning every wonderfully generous, intelligent, and kind facet of him," I said slowly, gazing at Wendell, speaking every word of truth and knowing that whatever came next, it was worth the happy flush in his cheeks. "I love Wendell, far more deeply than I knew was possible before meeting him."
Miriam Pope sniffled, a handkerchief conjured from her sleeve to dab at her eyes, a wavering smile on her lips. Douglas Pope, however, remained frowning. He didn't appear angry, but he certainly wasn't as touched by the sentiments as his wife.
"And I love you," Wendell said, bowing his head to me, stopping just shy of a kiss.
"And the princess?" Douglas asked.
Wendell frowned and turned back to his father, blinking. "Bryony?"
"What will you tell her of all of this?" Douglas's question sparked obvious concern in Miriam's expression, and all four of us sat up straighter.
"Bryony was aware from the very start, and we are every bit her Chosen," Wendell said, shrugging. "But it doesn't change the fact that Thao and I… How important it was to me that you know what Thao means to me."
"Wendell and I love the princess, but for myself, I don't know that I would've been capable of such a depth of feeling without Wen first teaching it to me," I said.
Miriam sighed, her smiling returning. "Oh, that's lovely. Isn't that lovely, Douglas?" she added, a little more sharply.
"And you fulfill your duty to the young woman?" Douglas asked, eyes narrowing.
"Douglas!"
"We do," Wendell said, but the happy flush narrowed into darker twin spots of embarrassment.
Douglas Pope eased back in his chair, returning his attention to his pipe in his hand. "Ah well, that's all right then, isn't it? Long as there's no offense to the crown, you might do as you like."
Wendell stiffened, and Miriam stood up from her chair.
"Prince Thao, I wonder if you wouldn't help me pick out a bottle of wine for our dinner?" she said.
Wendell was simmering at my side, and I hesitated briefly, wondering if I shouldn't stay with him to hear whatever came out next. But I had faced my father alone in Mennary when he discovered my relationship with Wendell. At the time, I'd felt the shame firsthand and carried it on my own shoulders. If I had to sit through the same conversation today, I would've been more ashamed of my father than myself. I glanced at Wendell who nodded firmly and then I stood, offering Miriam my arm, although it was she who led me out of the room, a low murmur of voices rising at our back.
"I am happy, you know," she said as we stepped into the hall. "I always was. It was exciting for Wen to receive the ambassadorship so young, but Mennary is such a long ways away. When his letters began to arrive, they were lonely at first. A mother can tell. And then you appeared in them. And then they were full of you."
