Page 128 of Twin Crowns

Tor pushed his way through. “Let her go to him, Alarik! Let her try.”

The king turned on his soldier with the icy rage of a blizzard. “Youhave done enough, Tor.” He bared his teeth menacingly, but his voice cracked with the fissure of his grief. “Ansel isdeadbecause of you.”

“Move, all of you! GET OUT OF MY WAY!” Princess Anika jostled her way through the gathering soldiers, wailing as she beheld her brother’s body. She yanked the knife from his chest, blood spurting on the marble floor as she raised it above her head.

“Where is the imposter princess?” she screeched. “I want blood. And I want itnow.” She pushed her way toward Tor. “Where is she? The oneyousaved over your own prince?” She was brandishing the knife wildly. “I’m going to drive the dagger meant for her into her heart!”

“No!” cried Rose. “It’s not Wren’s fault! We never wanted this!”

Anika pointed the knife at her throat. “By killing our brother, Eana has declared war on the great nation of Gevra. Mark my words,Princess, we will bring you to your knees!”

“It was Rathborne! Where has he gone? We need to find—”

“Silence, you snake!” Alarik shoved Rose at one of his soldiers. “Anya, take this one to my ship and bind her arms. I’ve had enough of mind games and poisoned magic.” He pulled Tor back. “Youcan bear my brother’s body. Make sure to protect it better than you did when he was alive.” Alarik turned from the altar and glared out at the remaining guests, his voice solemn. “The wedding is off.” He heaved a dramatic breath. “Now, we are at war.”

The last of the guests scattered in a panic as the soldiers advanced toward each other. Several Gevrans swarmed Rose, grabbing her roughly by the arms and carting her away from the altar. “Guards! Help me! Do something!” She kicked and screamed but it was no use—their grip was like iron, and her own soldiers were hopelessly outnumbered, the snow tigers growling and snapping at their legs.

Where was Wren? And what had become of Rathborne in the chaos?

She could hear Celeste yelling her name, but Rose was lost in a sea of Gevran shoulders. She couldn’t see a thing over her towering captors. They moved as one, creating a living cage around her. A prison from which she couldn’t possibly hope to escape.

There came a faint breeze, followed by the whistle of steel as Shen dropped from the rafters of the Protector’s Vault and stole a Gevran’s sword right from under his nose. He drew his elbow back and smashed the hilt into the soldier’s jaw while kicking another’s legs out from under her. They both fell with a clatter, Shen grabbing a second sword midspin. He flattened the blade and drove it into the back of another’s knees, Shen smashing his forehead against thesoldier’s nose as he crumpled to the floor.

Another soldier ran at Shen, but he spun in the air, swiftly kicking him in the face, before skewering the foot of another with the point of his blade. He removed it in the same beat, the soldier whimpering as she staggered backward.

Shen gripped a weapon in each hand and brandished them at Rose’s two remaining captors.

“Hands off the princess.” He sharpened the blades against each other. “Or I’ll be forced to remove them myself.”

The Gevrans exchanged a panicked look as King Alarik came striding purposefully down the aisle. “And who areyousupposed to be?” he demanded.

“Someone you wouldn’t want to meet alone on a dark night.” Shen spun again, kicking the soldier holding Rose’s right elbow squarely in the chin. He crumpled at the king’s feet. “Or right here and now, as it turns out.”

The other soldier released Rose and took a careful step back. Rose collapsed against Shen’s chest as her own guards finally broke through.

“Gevrans! Do not yield!” roared Alarik. “He’s only one man!”

Shen smiled blandly. “Actually, I’m a witch.” Then he threw one of the swords directly at Alarik’s head. It skewered a branch on his crown, ripping it from his hair and carrying it across the altar, where the blade embedded itself in the ceremonial plinth.

Alarik went deathly pale. He backed away, gingerly patting the top of his head. “Tor! TOR!”

“Please stop showing off,” said Rose in alarm. “You’re going to start a war.”

“I think it’s a bit late to worry about that.” Shen curled an arm around her waist. “You look beautiful, by the way. Is it bad luck to kiss the bride?” Without breaking her gaze he used his free hand to punch another advancing Gevran. “On second thought, I don’t care.” Then he dipped Rose and kissed her.

It felt for a moment as if time stopped. Then the world crashed back in as a Gevran soldier barreled into them. Shen spun Rose out of harm’s way and kicked the soldier’s ankles out from under him. The clash and clamor of steel echoed throughout the Vault as the soldiers fought each other across the pews and in the aisles.

Celeste, who had managed to burst in through the front door while Shen had made his entrance from above, finally broke through the fray. She elbowed a dazed-looking Chapman, who had only just staggered to his feet. “Thank goodness you’re all right!” She grabbed Rose and pulled her close, glancing briefly in Shen’s direction. “He’s very handsome, but you should know that, for all his warrior skills,I’mthe one who had to break him and Wren out of the dungeon.” Celeste pulled back, scanning the tide of green and blue. “Wait. WhereisWren?”

“In trouble,” said Shen, who had hopped up onto a pew to scan the crowd. “Come on!”

With Shen leading the way, Rose and Celeste picked up their skirts and hurried toward the back of the Vault, where despite everything, the Eternal Flame was still burning on its plinth. Shen fought off three more Gevran soldiers while Celeste grabbed a sword and swung it wildly at a silver-fanged wolf, clearing the way for Rose to duck around the altar.

She skidded to a stop.“Oh!”

Wren was facing off with Percival Reeve. The keeper was jabbing a flaming iron poker at her. “Be gone, you wretched witch!” he cried as he lunged. “Our Protector will keep us safe!”

“I know Rathborne’s back there!” Wren was struggling to keep Ansel’s unwieldy Gevran sword aloft. “Let me at him! He has to pay for what he’s done!”

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