Page 105 of Twin Crowns

Rose shook herself free from Wren’s grasp. “Have you lost your mind?”

“You did magic onmybest friend,” said Wren.

“Yes! To save his life!” snapped Rose. “You’rewelcome, by the way.”

Wren stilled as her pride faltered. She heard herself properly for the first time, defending something that she knew was wrong. Rose had saved Shen’s life in the desert, and Wren had almost taken Celeste’s from her in the woods. If Shen were here now, he would be ashamed of her.

Celeste towered over Wren from the bed, the sunlight streaming over her shoulders and picking out the threads of amber in her dress. Beneath the fury in her face, Wren could see hurt and confusion, too. Pain she had caused.

She dipped her head in shame. “I’m sorry, Celeste,” she said, and she meant it. “I was desperate that day in the woods, but I shouldn’t have done it.”

Celeste stood her ground. “Promise you’ll never use your magic against me again.”

“I promise,” said Wren, and she meant that, too.

Celeste stepped down off the bed. “Now, make the same promise to your sister.”

Wren blinked at her. “Excuse me?”

Celeste jerked her chin toward Rose, who seemed just as surprised by the request as Wren was. “Promise you won’t use your magic against your sister either.”

Wren’s lips twisted. It was a bold request. After all, once Rathborne was out of the way and the Gevrans were sent packing, Rose would be the single biggest obstacle on her path to the throne. The way Celeste was staring at Wren made it clear she had already come to that same conclusion. She knew how badly Wren still wanted it, how meeting Rose—her own sister—hadn’t changed her ultimate goal.

Rose turned to look at her. “Wren? Why are you hesitating?”

“I promise,” said Wren, after a beat. “Of course I promise.”

Celeste blew out a breath, the fire in her gaze banked. For now. “Good. Now, fill me in on everything.”

So they did. And together, the three of them began to plot.

“I still don’t see why we can’t just kill him in his bed and be done with it,” said Wren as she reclined against Rose’s headboard.

“Because it’s reckless,” said Rose impatiently. “Willem’s already doubled his personal guards since you tried to poison him, and who knows how many more he hasinsidehis chamber? You’d never be ableto enchant them all, and if you’re caught, then it’d be over.”

Wren closed her eyes. Though it pained her to admit it, her sister was right. “Fine. No bedroom assassination.”

“If you ask me, I think you’re getting too caught up in the murder aspect,” Celeste interjected.

Wren rolled her head around to face her. “What other aspects are there, Celeste?”

“Why not seek the Kingsbreath’s exposure first?” suggested Celeste. “Once the country sees him for what he really is—a liar and a usurper—then you can have your retribution. Hang him from the Protector’s Vault, if you like.”

Wren sat up straight. “Keep going.”

Celeste’s smile curled. “I say you do it at the wedding tomorrow so every Eanan noble and official can witness the moment you expose him for all of his lies. And what better way to do that than to introduce Willem Rathborne and the rest of the congregation to you, Wren? The royal twin that got away.”

Rose began to nod. “The royal twin that the witches of Ortha protected.” She looked at Wren, eyes alight with triumph. “We can change the way Eana thinks about witches, show them they were wronged by Willem eighteen years ago, too.”

Wren was still chewing on the idea, but she certainly liked the way it tasted. Exposing Willem Rathborne in public would go a long way to rebuilding the witches’ poor reputation in the capital and sowing the seeds of change ahead of her own reign. But would that be enough to satisfy Banba? Or would she still insist on tearing down Anadawn inrevenge for Lillith’s War and filling the rivers of Eana with the blood of all those who’d once supported it?

And then there were the Gevrans to worry about. Without a wedding there would be no alliance, but Wren doubted King Alarik would go quietly after coming all this way for the witches.

She quickly banished the thought. They could worry about that once the wedding was canceled. First, they had to deal with Rathborne. “Andthenwe can kill him, right?”

“Once Rathborne’s exposed, you can punish him any way you like,” said Celeste. “And you can do it under the sun, sanctified by Eanan law. A true justice.”

“I like it,” said Wren slowly. In fact, she loved it.

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