Page 70 of Twin Crowns

Hissing seaweed.

“You tricked me,” said Wren indignantly.

“How about another one, then?” Celeste’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “When’s my birthday?”

Suddenly, Wren was glad of the steam gathering between them. It hid the look of sheer panic on her face.

Celeste released her with a shove. “It’s today.”

Wren squeezed her eyes shut, dread sinking like a stone in her gut. How had she forgotten something so important? What a fool she was! “Happy birthday?” she said weakly.

“Don’t even bother,” snapped Celeste. “In all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve never once forgotten my birthday. And last night, you threw a dinner for your prince and served cake inhishonor.”

“Oh,” was all Wren could manage. She was well and truly done for. In fact, she had been since the moment she’d planned that cursed dinner.

Celeste wasn’t done. “I’ve known Rose Valhart all my life. I know her every expression, her sense of humor, her heart. I knowher. And I don’t know you. You might be a good imitation, but you are not goodenough.” She prodded Wren in the chest. “I’ll give you one chance, here and now, to be honest with me. If you lie one more time, I’ll scream for the palace guards and have you hauled to the dungeons. Who are you, really?”

Wren raked the damp hair from her face, the heat of her panic mingling with the steam. She contemplated lying.

“Don’t even think about it,” warned Celeste.

Wren wilted. It was over, and they both knew it. Her ruse had come to a crashing end. If she let Celeste walk out that door, Wren would bemarched to the dungeons before morning, or worse, left hanging from the Protector’s Vault. She sank down into the bath. The water lapped at her waist, her robe floating around her like a brightly colored water lily. “My name is Wren. Rose is my twin sister.”

Celeste stood over her. “How is that even possible?”

“Eighteen years ago, Willem Rathborne murdered my parents,” said Wren, raising her head so Celeste could read the truth in her eyes. “The midwife escaped with me moments before Rathborne killed my mother. He only kept my sister alive so he could keep control of the throne. He’s still trying to keep control of it.”

“That’s not what happened,” said Celeste firmly. “The midwife—”

“Everything you’ve heard is a lie,” said Wren flatly. She knew it wasn’t Celeste’s fault for being hoodwinked like the rest of Eana, but she couldn’t help the sudden bite of her anger. “The midwife, Thea, was part of my mother’s family. She came to Anadawn to protect her.”

Celeste shook her head. “No. That can’t be true.”

“Then explainme.”

The silence stretched, the steam thickening between them.

“I can’t explain you,” said Celeste uneasily. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

“It does if you listen to my version. Thecorrectone.”

“What have you done with Rose?”

“She’s safe.”

“Where?”

“Far away.” Wren pointed in the general direction of west. “She’s in a village by the sea.”

Celeste slowly lowered herself onto the ridge. “Are there cliffs there?”

“Towering ones,” said Wren. “The sight of them alone would steal the breath from your lungs.”

“I think I’ve seen that place in my dreams,” murmured Celeste, more to herself than to Wren.

“It’s where our mother grew up.”

“You’re like Lillith, aren’t you? You’re awitch.” Celeste’s voice caught on the last word.

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