Page 95 of Blood Curse

I braced for the command.

Bryony waited too.

The Crown gave us silence.

17

BRYONY

The Crown gave my mouth back as soon as it finished claiming Stellan.

I forced air into my lungs.

He kept one hand at my waist. “Bryony?”

“I’m here.”

“Did it give an order?”

“It called you its Blood King. That’s all.”

“It used your mouth to make a claim.”

“And wanted us waiting for the rest.”

His pale eyes stayed on mine. “Is it still holding you?”

I moved both hands, then stepped away from him and back again. “Everything’s mine.”

“Did it leave anything in your head?”

“Only the title.” I touched the metal in my hair. “It wanted me to hear the word mine as clearly as you did.”

“I belong to myself.”

“I know.”

“And I choose you.”

The answer eased some of the cold in my chest. “I won’t forget.”

“Say it if the Crown makes you doubt it.”

“I will. You do the same.”

“About being yours?”

“About being mine by choice.”

His thumb moved over my knuckles. “Gladly.”

I listened to the voices above us. “If it speaks again in the hall, don’t empty the room.”

“That depends on what it says.”

“Don’t send everyone away just because it used my mouth.”

“I won’t hide you.” His voice stayed quiet. “I may still move people out of biting distance.”