Page 26 of Twin Crowns

“We aren’t bathing together. We’re sharing space.Iamallowingyou to remain in my presence.”

Shen turned his gaze on the stars. “Whatever you say, Princess.”

Rose let herself relax, sinking until the water was almost up to her chin. Then she tilted her head back, her hair floating around her like a halo as she looked up at the stars. They calmed her pounding heart.

For a long time, the only sound was the occasional whisper of the sands and the water lapping against the stones. With only the sky as her witness, and as desperate as she was to return home, Rose could admit to herself that sitting in this steaming hot spring in the middle of the night was, in fact, quite nice. Even with a desert bandit for company. And while she’d never say it out loud to him, it really was the best bath she’d ever had. Even better than the ones Agnes drew at Anadawn, with mountains of bubbles and perfumed soaps.

Anadawn. Not for the first time, Rose wondered what was happening in her absence. The palace must be in an uproar. Perhaps all of Eshlinn, too. Her soldiers would be riding all day and all night to find her. Perhaps the Kingsbreath was riding with them, so consumed by worry that he wouldn’t dare stop to rest until he found her.

Unless...

Rose tried to push the other thought away, but it was already burrowing in. She knew how much appearances meant to Willem. Reputation was everything, and Rose’s and Eana’s went hand in hand. He wouldn’t want their arrangement with Gevra to fall apart. If King Alarik got word of the missing princess, he might whisk his brother,Ansel, back home, and look for a more secure nation to ally with. The Kingsbreath was a clever strategist. He would likely do everything he could to keep this quiet, publicly holding court back at the palace while sending out the best Anadawn soldiers to find Rose in secret. Perhaps, then, Ansel did not even know she was gone. Perhaps he thought she had taken ill and was hiding in her tower!

But some people would certainly notice her absence. Celeste would never fall for such a ruse. And Cam and the rest of the cooks would miss her visits. And then there was Agnes. Her beloved maidservant would start asking questions soon, and then she would worry herself into a tizzy. They all would.

Rose had to get back.

And yet... As much as she hated to admit it, a small part of her was enjoying the adventure of being out of Eshlinn, of exploring parts of Eana she had never seen... places she might never have known.

Sometimes, in the quiet of the palace, when Rose felt the strands of her destiny tightening around her, she thought she might suffocate. There was something about the desert air—and this hot spring—that felt almost like an antidote. It soothed a part of her she didn’t know was ill.

Anyway, it wasn’t the worst thing for her to see more of Eana, the country she claimed as her own. If nothing else, this kidnapping was proving to be educational. And who could argue with the merits of—

There was a loud splash across the pool. Rose snapped her chin down to find Shen suddenly on his feet, water sluicing off his shoulders as he bent over. He was swearing softly, and his hands were pressed against his thigh where the blood beetle had slashed him with its pincer.

The cut looked severe. Rose could tell, even by the light of the moon. And worse, it was still oozing blood.

“You’re hurt!” she cried.

Shen groaned. “I thought the water would help, but it’s getting worse.”

Rose had never touched a man’s leg before—she’d never evenseena man’s bare leg, for stars’ sake—but he was clearly in agony, and the sight of all that blood stirred something deep and primal inside her. She wanted to help him. She suddenlyhadto help him, the urge so strong it sent her wading across the pool. “Let me look.”

Before she knew it, she had knelt in the water and began gently pressing her fingers around the edges of the cut. It was deep and angry, and starting to pus.Oh, stars!What was she supposed to do now?

Suddenly, her fingertips began to prickle.

Shen opened his mouth to say something, then blinked in surprise. He pressed his hand down on hers. “Don’t move,” he said gruffly. “That’s helping.”

Rose left her hand where it was. Her breathing slowed, and she felt a faint pulling inside her. Stars twinkled at the sides of her vision until she thought, for a horrifying moment, she was going to pass out. She gasped as the prickling sensation in her fingers intensified and then, as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.

“Ah.” Shen let out a long, relieved sigh. He lifted his hand.

Rose pulled her fingers away from his leg. She blinked, twice, then leaped to her feet.

The wound was gone!

The skin had stitched itself back together, leaving behind a light brown line.

She staggered backward. “You... you did that. It’s witch magic! You’re a witch!”

Shen’s eyes were wide, the word soundless on his lips:No.

“Yes,” heaved Rose. “You did it! I saw you do it!”

Shen shook his head, as though he couldn’t quite believe it. “Youdid that.” There was a beat of silence, Rose’s heart pounding so hard she couldn’t think straight. Couldn’tseestraight. And then Shen said the worst five words she had ever heard in her life.

“Rose, you’re ahealer witch.”

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