The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger, #1)

by Kathryn Moon

Owen kept me close, leaving kisses on my shoulders and running his fingers over my curls.

Owen hummed and his arms stretched, hands circling my wrists. "What happened? That part is foggy. I just remember having you on my tongue and listening to you shout my name," he said, grinning.

Owen hummed and settled us deeper in the water, pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “It's a bit fuzzy, but I remember just feeling a…like I was about to burst with wanting to be inside you. Which, I mean, I am generally," he said, laughing. "I definitely was while I was tasting you. I only said no because I'm…I'm kind of big, and I'm a little bit worried about hurting you. Not sure I'm the best choice for your first…you know."

tracing said smile with my own touch, giggling as Owen nipped at my fingers.

"Don't argue with her, Griff, you won't win," Aric said. I whipped to glare at him. "I hope this is a lesson you plan on learning for yourself."

"And Kimmery's shifters?" "Northern blood," Aric said, shrugging. "I've always assumed it might be a mineral that gets into the water and affects babes pre-birth. It's more common away from the wealthier homes so…"

"Not of being admired, but maybe of being put on display," she said softly. My heart thumped, and I nodded. I could relate to that, I preferred being the observer rather than the other way around.

If Owen had been a model in my studio, I definitely would've attempted a seduction. He seemed wholly Bryony's now, but if she was willing to share… "Owen, how would you feel about posing for me?" I called. "Just sketches to start." "Happy to," he said. "Naked," Bryony called, and I laughed at her wicked grin. Owen opened one eye and tilted his head to stare at us, cheeks swelling with a smile. "Fine," he said with a shrug.

"See? You control it." I kissed her jaw again and then stood straight, smiling down at her. "Owen is right. We just need to practice." Bryony's smile was tenuous, but Owen and I looked at one another, equally smug. Our princess hungered for us. That was an enviable position to be in.

"No. No, I…I love sculpting because it's as if I'm getting to know someone with my hands. Almost like creating them, except it feels as though they already existed in the clay before I ever arrived.

"Please," I begged, my body trying to work itself against Cosmo. "It's all right. I have you."

Cosmo Pianetta was handsome, although it was in an earthier way than the others. His lips were full and strong, and his nose had a distinctive line down the tip. His curls were black and thick,

I liked Cosmo's smile; there was something secretive about it, as if the expression was entirely for my own eyes whether we were alone or not.

Cosmo was broad shouldered and lean.

"Yes!" I gasped, my eyes flying wide to stare between us. "Am I—are you—" "I'm here, I have you," Cosmo said, brow furrowed and grin tense, his focus on his own movements.

Cosmo was deadly with flattery. He'd have made a good courtier if it suited him.

"Whatever happened with Owen, that's not all the Hunger does," Cosmo said, waiting patiently for me to stare my fill through the meadow and back up to the oak on my left, the previously dead and undressed one that was now rich with new growth. "It works," I whispered. "It works. My family has just been using it wrong?" Cosmo hummed and kissed my lips. "You can bring the north back to life, Bryony."

"All I want is your pleasure," Owen murmured. "However you arrive at it, and with anyone you like.” "What about yours?" I wrinkled my nose. "Aren't I allowed to want the same for you?"

I was loud and eager, fascinated by the overwhelming sensation of being stuffed by him. It was at the threshold of pain, but Owen was gentle and patient.

"You can only take so much of me like this," Owen said, and I groaned at the thought that there might be more, both wary and craving to learn it. "Do you like it?"

You could leave it all behind and take up in the palace as a useless Chosen. I scoffed at the stray thought, brushing away the brief glimmer in my head of green eyes and pink cheeks

"It's easy pickings in the royal woods," Griffin mused, her brow furrowing and turning back to me. "And I've never seen anything like the late-season mating of yesterday. All at once, the whole woods seemed to go mad with it."

portrait of Charlotte in the corner. Black hair, ice blue eyes, skin a little too dark for this far North. The most beautiful and dangerous woman I'd known in all my life. My wife. "I think Charlotte would have a good laugh to see you set up in a palace."

She won't be tremulous and terrified of sex forever, and if her passion for her kingdom is any indication of her fire…

My blood was iron in my veins. Bryony was Kimmery's one hope at a decent monarch, at a queen willing to listen to her people, willing to see them. And the council, or at the very least, Sir Hubert, wanted her out of the picture.

She may save us, if we can rescue her crown for her. She'll stay good.

Owen and Cosmo were exquisite, similar and contrasting all at once. They both had spectacular asses,

"I haven't come to distract or tempt you. I just wanted to say that the Hunger and its magic isn't the most important part of what happens between us," Owen said softly. His hand on the back of my neck worked gently into muscle, melting me further into the warm water, my eyelids drooping.

I was even more jealous not to be in my tiger form with Bryony curled up against me. I had softer fur than Thao. Fluffier too.

"I want to tell her the truth soon," I moaned, bucking into his hand. "I hate not being able to shift with you. I miss my tiger."

The bannister of the staircase was carved with vines and blossoms, the crown molding now contained cherubic faces peering down from the corners, gazes gilded and glittering. The space was almost eerie in its beauty.

Ah, so that was who he was. I'd heard of Daniel, the bastard and only son of Duke Farraque.

Daniel was as tall as I was, with a stronger jaw and brown hair. He had sharp blue eyes that ignored me in favor of studying the palace, and a mouth that belonged on a woman, swollen and bow shaped, made for kissing. He was handsome—not more so than Owen or I—but he had an animal quality about him that invited sexual thoughts.

Thao. He was the youngest male heir in his family,

"But…can you stand to be equal to Cosmo and Owen…to me?" Thao stiffened for a moment before leaning back in our embrace, frowning up at me. "Wen, I am more than aware of the ways in which you are superior to me. It's been a long time that I've considered you my equal, and I'll do better to demonstrate it."

"You were both out of turn. I manage my own opinions very well," I said,

Daniel bowed with the words, cutting off Lord Roderick and speaking at last. He had a rasp in his voice, an almost gentle whistle in the low notes. It was a pleasant sound with a bland delivery, and I wondered who the man in front of me really was.

I frowned and then looked on Owen's other side to discover a raccoon had joined us, sitting on its hind legs and shaking its hands at Owen. "Sorry," Owen murmured to me. "Shoo. No, not now." I pinched my lips between my teeth but it was no use, a giggle rising. The raccoon was urgent, although respectfully silent as it glanced over at the rest of us.

"I don't see how it should be easier for me to make a decision than for you to finally accept it, Lord Roderick. I'm not in the habit of finding independent thought taxing," I said.

"The hair was my touch," Thao said proudly. "She looks just a little debauched with it down, doesn't she?" "She looked a little debauched because she had been," Owen said, his ankle nudging against mine. Thao only laughed and shook his head. "Yes, I heard you. I was waiting to come in."

Owen echoed. He was big and handsome, and he reminded me of a stud in a horse stable. It was obvious by a glance at his trousers why the princess favored him. It was the same reason the council hoped she might favor me.

Looking at the princess's small collection of Chosen, I wondered if I needed to shave my beard to catch her eye,

She'd made it clear that she didn't trust the council, and the best remedy might be to go about the actual work of being a steward. Besides, it was the only part of this arrangement with the council I actually liked.

keeping my face impassive. It was an expression I'd learned to wear at a young age when a scowl could earn me a belt and laughter was too spirited and tears were weak. Better to remain blank.

the defined planes of muscle, the taper of his hips, the long nose. Owen was some odd and perfect creation, aristocratically beautiful and undeniably rustic. He was steady as a rock and as open with his heart and mind as anyone I'd ever met.

"I didn't know he had opinions," Thao murmured, and the others coughed in quiet laughter.

"She trusts you," he said. I frowned down at my boots at the swelling sensation in my chest, waiting for it to settle or pass, but it lingered in the quiet.

I'd find a way of helping Owen's family. It wasn't really enough, not when there were other families like his, but I didn't care if it was partiality or favoritism. Owen deserved to know that his mother and siblings were as comfortable and safe as he was, and he'd never ask me for it himself.

I fingered gently down the ornate sheath covered in gilded enameled white flowers. Bryony flowers, just like my name. The blade was my own stiletto dagger but the sheath was new.

Once, and only once, someone threw a tomato toward the stage, but they missed me by quite a bit and it was Owen who caught it in his palm, giving thanks and then eating it like an apple.