Page 4 of Twin Crowns

Lucky for some.

A shadow fell across the bed.

“You’re blocking my light, Shen,” Wren whispered.

“I’m trying not to disturb you.” Shen was crouched on the window ledge. “In case you wanted to, you know, have”—he cleared his throat—“an emotion.”

Wren bristled. “I amnothaving an emotion.”

“Calm down. I won’t tell your grandmother.” He swung his legs around and slipped soundlessly into the room. “You can be yourself with me.”

In the climb, strands of his black hair had escaped from his leather tie and come to rest along his forehead. Other than that, he looked immaculate.

Wren looked him over. “Did you even break a sweat?”

“Of course not.”

She kept her voice low. “Well. What do you think?”

“She’s certainly a prettier sleeper than you. You’re a hideous drooler.”

Wren punched him in the arm.

He chewed the smile from the inside of his cheek. “You’ve got more freckles. And her hair is darker than yours.”

Wren passed a hand over her braid, frowning.

“I bet she’s a lot nicer.”

“I will fling you back out of that window, Shen.”

Rose sighed as she turned over. Her eyelids twitched. Now that she was so close, Wren was seized by the sudden desire to look into hersister’s eyes. Would Rose know her? Would she scream? Would she—?

“Wren!” hissed Shen. “Do the damned spell!”

Rose murmured in her sleep. “Celeste?”

A bolt of panic coursed through Wren. She whipped a handful of Ortha sand from her drawstring pouch and opened her palm. Enchantment gathered in her fingers. The words spilled out, fast and loose.“From earth to dust, in dark we creep. Please put the princess back to sleep!”

Rose snapped her eyes open.

Wren’s heart stuttered as she blew the sand from her palm. It floated like gold-winged fireflies before disappearing into nothing, taking the princess’s gasp with it. Her lids drooped, and she flopped against her pillow, unconscious.

Wren tightened the string on her pouch. Her fingers were trembling. She crushed them into her palm. It was foolish, really, that moment of hesitation. It wasn’t like Wren didn’t know what to expect to find in the east tower. She had always known she had a twin sister. She had been raised to steal her life, after all, but seeing Rose here, so close and warm andalive, had suddenly filled her with... well, anemotion.

“Did you see her eyes?” she whispered.

“As green as emeralds.” Shen’s gaze shone too brightly in the moonlight. He was watching her in that way of his, as though he were reading the movements of her soul. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Wren smiled thinly. “We need to hurry. Give me the rope.” She set about unraveling it. “I’ll anchor you.”

“Great,” said Shen, drawing the canopy back. “I’ll go ahead and kidnap your sister.”

Wren tied the rope to the nearest bedpost, then tossed it outside the window. When she turned around, Shen was standing in the middle of the room, the princess slung over his shoulder. With remarkable stealth, he climbed back out onto the window ledge. The rope went taut as he lowered himself down the white tower, Rose’s dark hair spilling out like seaweed across his back.

“Wait!” hissed Wren. She unhooked her cloak and tossed it out of the window. “That nightgown won’t do her much good in the desert.”

Shen caught it by the clasp, without so much as wobbling. “And I thought you’d be the evil twin.”

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