Page 39 of The Queen's Line

"I think it's up to his mistress to decide that," I said, lifting my chin.

Owen grinned and sighed, his arms rising to the edges of the tub, water beading and rolling off the muscular limbs. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Then I am at your disposal, Mistress."

I grinned and squirmed, drinking him in, gazing down at the distorted length of him under the water. Perhaps if I focused on Owen's pleasure, I wouldn't lose control to my own. Either way, it would be fun to explore the terrain of a man. I pushed his legs to either side of the tub and knelt in the water between them, reaching for the soap and oil and cloth I'd used to wash myself, my hands and eyes already greedy at the beautiful display of Owen in front of me.

I would take my time, even if the water grew cool before I was done.

* * *

The bed dippedand I opened my eyes to see Cosmo, fully dressed and leaning toward me on the mattress.

"Hello, beautiful," he said, smiling, but his eyes remained tight. "I don't mean to barge in—"

"Don't worry about that," I said, wiggling out from under Owen's heavy arm and sitting up.

I'd had my fun in the tub, then a little more once Owen was dried on the bed, and I learned how to handle his cock until it had suddenly spurt and made me jump and laugh at the suddenness. I'd never seen a man come outside of a woman before, but aside from the mess, it'd been beautiful to watch him fall apart. Owen and I had both dressed before finally resting, and I hadn't let him take his own turn with me, still a little nervous about the Hunger coming back and taking over.

Cosmo sat up and his eyes moved leisurely over me, expression relaxing. "You didn't mind me missing last night?"

"Mmm, no, although…I might need your advice later," I said, picking at the embroidery on my nightgown and wondering what Cosmo would think of the predicament of my powers.

He laughed and shrugged. "That's sure to be an interesting conversation, but I'm happy to help. For now, I came because Guard Stark is detaining Aric at the gate."

"What?!"

Owen grunted as I nearly kicked him in my scramble to get out of bed. Cosmo scooped me up, lifting me off the mattress and setting me on my feet before I raced away, grabbing my robe and tying it around myself.

"You don't want to dress?" Cosmo asked as I hurried for the door.

"No, this will do. Why is he detaining Aric?" I asked.

"Because Aric is a thief," Cosmo answered, following me and taking my hand to help me balance as I tried to jump into my boots. "Stark's probably familiar with his reputation. Aric's not alone. There's a woman with him I didn't recognize from this far. Not Rebecca Sanders through."

"Why—never mind, I should've warned Stark about Aric, I suppose," I huffed.

"Aric probably thought he was clever enough to get in the palace without bothering with the guards. Don't worry, Stark probably won't behead him before we get down there."

"Cosmo!"

Cosmo laughed as I rushed into the hall, trying to comb through my tangles with one hand and braid my hair with the other.

"I was only joking, Bryony," Cosmo called to my back. I made it to the grand staircase, my hand taking the wide railing as I flew down the twisting steps.

"If Aric speaks to the royal guard the way he speaks to me, you might be right though," I answered in a shout.

Cosmo grunted in response, his own steps quick behind mine. I headed straight when I reached the bottom of the stairs, racing for the long entrance hall that led to the front stairs. When I was nearly to the door, I saw the gleam of armor on the drive outside, and the dark, hooded figures behind hauled between guards.

I threw myself at the front doors, groaning with the effort to push them open and then paused on the top step, realizing my hair was half braided and half tangled and that I was in a delicate nightgown and a billowing silk robe. So be it.

"Guard Stark, release them," I shouted down to the drive.

I couldn't pick my head guard out of the group at first, too caught by the lift of Aric's face and his stare finding me at the top of the steps, eyes widening a little. It was a woman with him, and she was beautiful, even in the ragged cloak. She had vivid red hair and she was as tall as Aric, dressed in simple pants and several layers of tops fastened by a belt. Stark was at her back, holding her arms behind her and marching her forward.

"Princess, this man is a rogue and this woman—"

"Guard Stark that man is a member of my Chosen," I said, giving up my shout as they neared. Cosmo finally reached me, and he took my hand as we moved down the uneven steps.

"A—he'swhat?" Stark called, his grip on the woman slipping. She pulled her arms free and stepped out of his reach but didn't move further away.