Page 110 of Twin Crowns

Wren laughed. “It took me ten years before I could climb those cliffs on my own.”

“I climbed back up them all by myself,” said Rose proudly.

Wren couldn’t help but be impressed by Rose. She had made the journey home to Anadawn all alone, through the howling forest and the restless desert, galloping ceaselessly across the rolling plains of Eana on a horse that didn’t answer to her, all to save the country that didn’t yet belong to her. A country that never would.

But Wren pushed that truth away. Why ruin a perfectly lovely morning with talk of what lay beyond tomorrow? For now, she would save all thought of betrayal for Rathborne.

They came to the end of the passageway, both girls craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the sky through the ancient storm drain.

“I can’t believe this tunnel has been right under my nose all these years,” said Rose, rising to her tiptoes. “And worse. Thatyoudiscovered it within days of coming here.”

“It pays to be nosy,” said Wren with a shrug. “And don’t forget, I’ve always known how to sniff out magic. I’m probably the only one in Anadawn who does.” She thought briefly of Celeste’s uncanny instincts but decided not to mention her suspicions. That girl had enough against Wren as it was. She curled her fingers around the grate, jiggling it loose and then sliding it to one side. “I wanted to show you this place before tonight just in case anything goes wrong. Now that there are two of us here, we’re in real danger. If Rathborne’s seer even gets a whiff of—”

“Wren.” Rose laid a gentle hand on her arm. “It’s going to be fine.”

“You don’t know that.”

“We have a plan.”

Wren huffed a frustrated sigh. “Plans can change in an instant, Rose.” She had learned that well enough since coming to Anadawn. She couldn’t afford to make one more miscalculation. “I’m not going to be at the feast tonight. So, please, just promise me if something goes wrong—if Rathborne starts to suspect something or I get trapped in the tower—that you’ll run. That you’ll save yourself.”

“Very well,” said Rose calmly. “As long as you can say the same.”

Wren nodded. “This place is our secret, Rose. Just you and me.”

“Just you and me,” promised Rose. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

Wren released the storm drain, her shoulders sagging in relief. The thought of something bad happening to her sister was deeply unsettling. No matter what happened after tonight, she wanted her to be safe. Always.

This time, when they turned from the drain, it was Rose who led the way, tugging Wren back through the winding passageway and into the belly of Anadawn Palace once more. The everlights flickered brighter as they passed, the purple flames high enough now to lick the stone. Wren felt the nearness of her magic buzzing in her bloodstream and wondered if Rose felt it, too.

When they reached the wall, and with the witch markings glowing before them, Rose turned to Wren. “I’m so glad we got to meet each other. It’s wonderful that after all these years of yearning for family, my wish has come true. I’ve found a sister. I’ve foundyou.” Her smile was as radiant as the sun. “No matter what happens tonight or tomorrow orin the weeks and years after that, you’ll always be my sister. My blood. I want you to know that from now on I’ll fight for the witches. I’ll bring them home again.” Her smile faltered, then, and her voice hardened. “But I also need you to know that the day after the canceled wedding, when we turn eighteen, it will be me who is crowned Queen of Eana, not you. There can’t be any confusion about that.”

Wren stared at her sister, taken aback not just by her boldness but by the sureness in her voice. Before she could think of a response, Rose pressed her palm against the witch markings and opened the wall. She flounced through it, and though Wren couldn’t see her sister’s face, she heard the satisfaction in her voice. “I’msoglad we had this talk, Wren. I feel much better about everything now.”

That afternoon, when both girls were safely back in Rose’s bedroom sorting through potential dresses for the Gevran Feast, a knock at the door startled them both.

“Hide!” whispered Rose, but Wren was already scrabbling under the bed.

Agnes bustled into the room, tea tray in hand. “Afternoon, Princess. The kitchens have sent up some soup and sandwiches ahead of the feast. We gather you’ll be needing your energy for dancing!”

“Oh, you’re a treasure, Agnes. I really can’t wait for tonight,” crowed Rose, and lying in the dust under her sister’s bed, Wren smirked to herself.

“Aye, the Gevrans have certainly added a lot of excitement around here. But I could do without those awful snow tigers snapping at myheels! One of them went right for your tray in the hallway just now.” She set it down with a thud. “And speaking of the Gevrans, this arrived just this afternoon for you. Courtesy of King Alarik himself.”

“What isthat?” Wren heard her sister say.

Agnes cleared her throat. “Well, I expect this kind of dress is all the fashion in Grinstad.”

“But it’s barely more than a piece of fur! In fact... itisa piece of fur!”

“There are these, too, Princess,” said Agnes nervously. “What an... interesting pair of hairpins. And look at this. Oooh! Now that’s a lovely silver brooch.”

“With a snarling ice bear on it!” cried Rose. “I don’t want to wear that horrid Gevran crest.”

“Well, I fear you’ll needsomethingto hold this... dress together.”

Wren thought she might perish from curiosity as she hid underneath her sister’s bed. She had never in her life been so interested in a dress. She scooted across the carpet, trying to get a better look, but all she could see was the trailing end of what appeared to be a wolf’s tail.

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