Ah, the Hunger was on her way back now.
"Cresswell," I breathed in invitation as his mouth slid away to kiss a path to my jaw.
"Not a chance, Bryony."
"But—"
"It's freezing out. And none of those fools ever bed you properly."
I blinked at that, grinning and pulling away to catch his eye. "What on earth do you mean? I'm properly bedded plenty."
"How many of your Chosen took you to bed behind closed doors to make love to you the first time?" Cresswell asked, eyes narrowed.
I opened my mouth to correct him and then stopped. The pond, the library, the carriage… Oh! Aric at the—no, it was his desk first, wasn't it?
"Thao and Wen—"
"That was a curtain and you had a whole handful of men listening in. I remember. Vividly."
I blushed and let out a nervous giggle. "To be fair, those locations weren't really anyone's fault but my own."
"There's a lack of restraint."
"Ohhhh, you have entirely too much restraint, Guard Stark," I grumbled, but I snuggled into his chest again to hide my smile. "Fine, take me in to bed."
"Not tonight, Bryony," Cresswell said softly, pressing a kiss to the shell of my ear. I started to object, but he cut me off. "When we get to the capital, I will choose a few more guards who I think can be trusted along with Piper and Brummer. When I know you're safe, then I will be yours."
"You are mine," I corrected, glaring at him. "You should've been at dinner tonight. I hate that there's still some distinction that leaves you on the outside."
"I don't mind the outside, really. It gives me a better view," Cresswell said, loosening his hold on me, pushing us back on a loose path through the woods.
I huffed and followed his lead. "I find it very galling to know that I can't make a man as passionate for me as I am for him."
Cresswell's laugh was rough, his head ducking quickly to nip at my throat before pulling away again. "I promise you, Bryony, my passion will exceed yours. But not tonight," he said before I could press.
I was briefly glad that Cresswell was a shifter and couldn't be as influenced by my Hunger's magic because it was suddenly very tempting to test that iron restraint of his. I leaned my head against his chest and let him guide me through the woods, a slow loop around the property and back to the kitchen door until my steps dragged and my eyelids were heavy. When my nose and fingertips were cold from the night, Cresswell lifted me into his arms and carried me inside.
4
Bryony
“You're glaring."
I shook myself, drawing up a smile as we neared the village of Lambden. There was a glitter on the horizon, Kimmery's shining capital, but we had a full day's ride before we reached the edge of the city, and I had the part of the princess delighted to return home to the south to play.
I glanced at Aric where he rode his chestnut stallion next to me. Crescent, my own ride, was trotting impatiently down the road, annoyed at having to behave for so long on the journey south.
"You're glaring again," Aric said, chuckling.
I huffed, and my smile was a grimace. "I can't help it. I keep thinking of all the towns we've just left."
"It isn't really these people's fault," Aric said, and he laughed again, raising a hand in surrender as I glared at him. "I know, princess. Can't believe I'm saying it either."
"I know it's not their fault, I'm just…" I sighed and closed my eyes, lifting my face to the sun. It still felt like fall here in the south, and as much as I missed winter on the mountain, the warmth was welcome for the ride.
"It reminds you of everything that's wrong," Aric said nodding. "If it's any consolation, all I've seen on our ride so far was how much good you've already done for the north. Lots of work yet to be done, of course."
At last, my smile was sincere, and I reached a hand across the gap for Aric to take in his. "Thank you."
Aric turned to Cresswell riding ahead of us. "Stark, what do you say to allowing the princess to walk about in the village?"
"I say no."
I laughed, but Aric's lips pursed in a stubborn frown. "She had her freedom at the festival."
"And let's all remember how that turned out."
"She's at her best when she lets them know her," Aric answered.
I bit my lip to fight my grin, watching Cresswell's shoulders rise and fall with a heavy sigh. When his head turned, eyes searching for mine, I sat up straighter. "Aric has the magic to protect me, and I have you," I said.
I didn't beg as I had for the festival. Walking through the town did sound nice, but it also sounded like another delay. I was reluctant to arrive back at the castle and all the trouble waiting for me there, but also knowing it was the inevitable destination just made me want to get the whole journey over with.
"Three shops," Cresswell said.
We hadn't announced our journey south or informed any of the villages we'd passed through of our coming, but the word seemed to travel and there was usually a small crowd watching us as we passed through.
"We could take lunch in one of the—"
"No! Three shops, that's it."
Aric smirked and winked at me.
The villagers were trickling out of their doors as we reached the edge of the main road, where houses grew closer and shops with bright windows crowded together. I smiled and waved as I would've done from a carriage with my mother when she was in the mood for an excursion. The gazes staring back at me were cheerful and curious, none of that slow judgment I'd received in the north. These people were already happy, satisfied with my role above them, tickled by my passing by their homes and businesses.
I slowed Crescent as we neared one business, a bookshop with bryony vines climbing over the brick, framing the foggy dusty windows with white flowers.
"Here please," I called to Cresswell, ignoring the delicate gasps of the crowd as I jumped down from my saddle, straightening my skirts as my Chosen trickled out of the carriage and off their horses to surround me.
"A bookshop, princess?" Aric asked.
"I've never been in one," I said, shrugging.
Aric frowned briefly and then jumped ahead to push the door open for me, smiling as my eyes brightened at the scent of ink, parchment, leather, and glue spilling out to the street. I could stall returning to the capital for another hour.
One hour became two as I lost time browsing the spines of new and familiar books, forgetting about the faces still peering through the glass. Owen talked Cress into sending one of the other guards to a bakery for hand pies, and by the time we left the village, I was too deep in a new story to remember any anger or anxiety.
The din of cheering faded as the trellis gates to the castle were pushed shut, my own eyes closing against the vision in front of me. The pale peach brick glowed brightly, hundreds of windows glittering with candlelight, carefully manicured flowering vines twining up the corners of the castle.
"It will be all right, Mistress," Owen murmured, drawing me back from the window to lean against his chest.