Page 76 of Twin Crowns

Wren wiped her hands on her dress and slipped the dagger from her boot. She crept up behind Celeste, like a wildcat stalking its prey.

A rogue wind swept through the trees.

“Do whatever it takes to seize that throne, little bird,” whispered Banba’s voice in her head.

Celeste giggled at something in her book, then eagerly turned the page.

Wren smiled without meaning to. Then her face fell. Her fingers trembled around the knife.

Celeste was Rose’s best friend.

HerShen.

Wren’s palms were sodden, her breath swelling in her throat. She could take the throne from her sister, but could she take away the onlyfamily Rose had ever known? The only person at Anadawn willing to fight for Rose? Celeste had interrogated Ansel to make sure he was a worthy suitor for her. She had even risked the Kingsbreath’s wrath to stand up for her at the dinner.

“Eana will forgive you,” urged Banba’s voice in her head.“I will forgive you.”

Wren took another step and faltered.

How could I ever forgive myself?

Now that the reality of her decision was upon her, Wren couldn’t face it. Killing an evil man was one thing, but murdering Celeste—whose only crimes were her cleverness and her loyalty—was quite another. It wouldn’t just stain Wren’s hands, it would stain her soul, too. And when Rose found out...

No. Wren had to find another way, even if it was riskier. She owed that to her sister. She owed it to Celeste, who, after all, was not so unlike her. She couldn’t kill Rose’s best friend, which meant she had no choice but to try to enchant her.

Wren dug her fingers in the dirt, her mind whirring as she searched for the right words. She had never done a memory enchantment this intricate before. If the spell was too broad, it wouldn’t hold. Too narrow and it wouldn’t be enough.

Her skirts rustled as she stood, and Celeste looked up from her book. She frowned. “What are you—?” Then she noticed the dagger in Wren’s hand. Her eyes went wide. “Don’t.Don’t you dare.” She tried to scrabble away, but Wren loomed over her.

“From earth to dust, set your suspicions free. Forget all that makes you mistrust me.”

Celeste cowered as Wren cast her fistful of earth, but the dirt never fell. The air around Celeste shimmered, and then she went very still.

Wren held the dagger behind her back while her breath ballooned inside her.

Celeste blinked up at her. “Rose?” she said uncertainly. “When did you get here?”

Wren loosed a sigh. “Just now. I was out for a morning ride when I spotted Lady by the trees.”

Celeste looked at her lap. “I was... reading... I think.”

“So you were.” Wren bent down to retrieve Celeste’s book, subtly returning the dagger to her boot. “I think you’ve lost your page.”

Celeste thumbed through the book, then looked up at her again. Her brows drew close. “Are you staying?”

“I’m afraid I can’t,” said Wren regretfully. “I only came out to get some fresh air. Now that I have, I should head back and check on dear Willem.”

Celeste’s eyes glazed at the mention of Rathborne. “Yes... that’s right... Willem is ill.”

Relief prickled in Wren’s cheeks. She hadn’t completely obliterated the last week from Celeste’s memory, just the parts that incriminated herself. So far, so good. “It’s positively wretched. May the Great Protector watch over him.”

Celeste nodded absently. She opened her mouth to say something, then forgot whatever it was.

“I’ll leave you to your novel. Happy reading, Celeste....” Wren waggled her fingers as she backed out of the clearing, leaving Rose’sbewildered friend alone in her cloud of confusion.

When Wren mounted her horse, her fingers were still shaking. It was a risk doing it this way. The enchantment had worked, but she had no idea how long it would last.

Still, it was better than the blade. She told herself that as Banba’s scowling face floated through her mind. If luck was on Wren’s side, her grandmother would never find out about her risky spell.

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