Page 126 of The Kingdom's Crown

"Mm. Fine then," Cosmo said with a nod, closing his eyes to think. "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess, born in a castle by the sea, to the most wise and powerful and fair queen in the world, and seven very loving and lucky fathers."

"Bryony doesn't approve of this one either," Thao said, nudging my cheek as tears coursed down.

"If she has a story, it means she'll face trials," I sniffled.

Cosmo chuckled and tilted his head at me. "Muse, we all face trials."

"She's so little!" I cried.

"I think it's time for our wife to be taken to bed," Aric said, stifling his own laugh as I scowled at him.

"She'll have us," Owen said to me. "We'll face her trials with her until she can slay them herself."

"It was always going to have a happy ending, little muse," Cosmo promised me. "One every bit as beautiful as our own."

I sighed and closed my eyes. I was alittlehormonal lately, and it was only a story after all. "Very well. Continue."

"Start from the beginning again," Daniel said.

"Once upon a time, there was a princess…"

The End.