Page 114 of Twin Crowns

“Your king is surprisingly observant.”

“A Gevran trait.”

“If utterly and completely contemptable,” Wren added pointedly. “Do you know he’s walking around in there completely shirtless?”

“Perhaps that’s another Gevran trait.” Tor’s laugh was breathy... dangerous, and Wren was again seized by the memory of their kiss, her hands sliding against his bare chest, his lips moaning her name as he...Stop that.She quickly gathered herself, but the soldier was smirking at her now as if he could read her thoughts. It was risky enough that hewas here with her at all—she couldn’t afford to let tonight go any further than this.

She cleared her throat. “So, you came to Eana to watch Rathborne, and somehow you wound up houndingmeinstead.”

“I found a new vocation.”

“Stalking me?”

“Wanting you.”

Wren’s cheeks flared.Damn.She looked away sharply. “I can’t think about that tonight.” She hastily peeled another strip from the bark. The silence swelled until Wren felt as if she could pop it with her finger. “Stop,” she hissed. “I canfeelyou thinking about it.”

“Wren, I can’t stop.”

She pulled her hair around her face. “A man who does not possess full control of himself cannot be trusted, Tor.”

He inhaled through his teeth. “Very well, then.” His gaze fell upon the golden key, and then in a completely different voice he said, “So, it’s the Kingsbreath you’re after.”

Wren turned the piece of bark in her hands, relieved to have something else to talk about. “First, I’m going to free his caged bird,” she said, thinking of that face in the tower window. “Once I help his seer escape, Rathborne will lose his connection to the future and any glimpses of what might happen to him. Then, I’m going to strip him of his precious reputation.” She clenched the key in her fist until the grooves stung her palm. “And after that I’m going to send him straight to hell.”

“For plotting against the witches of Ortha?”

“That.” Wren hesitated. “And for murdering my parents eighteen years ago.” She hardened her voice, all too aware of the soldier’ssharpened attention, the sudden clenching of his jaw. “It’s time Eana knew the truth. It’s time I freed this country from his grasping, greedy hands.” She thought of her sister inside the courtyard, wearing that ridiculous strip of fur as she danced for her life. “And it’s time I freed Rose, too.”

“I didn’t know he killed your parents.” Tor’s voice was carefully controlled, but his eyes were alight with a quiet fury, the silver streaks like lightning cutting through thunderclouds. Elske lifted her head from his lap as though she had sensed the change in his demeanor, felt the storm brewing inside him.

“Tomorrow all of Eana will know.” Wren looked up at the trees, trying to ignore the nearness of her own pain. Through the swaying canopies, she spied the west tower of Anadawn winding toward the stars. “But first I need to get into that tower.”

Tor held up the wooden key. “Not with this you won’t.”

“Do I really need to remind you thatyouare the soldier andIam the enchanter?” said Wren impatiently.

He flung the twisted key into the trees. “Then cast your spell, witch.”

So Wren did.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Tor watched her work, so quiet and still she wouldn’t have noticed him at all if it wasn’t for the heat rolling off his body. After six more failed attempts, she flopped back against the grass. She could feel the Gevran drums pounding in the earth, like a clock running out of time.

Tor peered over at her. “Do you want my help?”

“No.” Wren sat up. She blew her hair out of her face. “Fine. Yes.”

He smirked. “Say please.”

She didn’t know if she wanted to kiss that smirk or slap it off his face.“Please.”

Tor snapped the topmost button off his frock coat. Wren’s heart leaped, but the soldier was all business now. “This is Gevran iron. Strong as steel and mined straight from the earth.” He folded it into her palm, and Wren pretended not to notice the way her fingers tingled beneath his. “This time don’t think of the Kingsbreath. Your hatred will cloud your focus.”

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