Page 85 of Twin Crowns

She tugged on the end of her blue tunic. It was the nicest one she’d been able to find among Wren’s things. Despite everything, she wanted to look nice tonight. She wanted him to think she looked nice. “You don’t need to check up on me all the time, you know. I’m not as helpless as everyone here thinks I am.”

Shen’s dark eyes widened. “I don’t think you’re helpless at all, Princess. Quite the opposite.”

“Still, I never thanked you properly for saving me.” Rose bit her lip as she held out the amber bottle she’d found under Wren’s bed. “I was wondering if you’d like to come for a walk with me? We could have some of this.”

Shen raised his eyebrows. “Rum?”

“Yes,” said Rose confidently, even though she had no idea what was in the bottle, only that it smelled like bonfire fumes.

“Well, I never say no to rum.” Shen rolled to his feet, his eyes never leaving hers. “And to be honest, Princess, I think I’d find it hard to say no to you at all.”

Even though the night was cool, Shen’s words sent a delicious heat buzzing through Rose. “Good,” she said coyly. “It’s about time you started paying me the respect I deserve.”

Shen threw his head back and laughed, the sound dancing around them like fireflies. Rose let herself enjoy it as they ambled along the beach together, their fingers almost brushing. In the moonlight she could better appreciate his profile—his strong jaw and proud brow, the gentle curve of his lips that made it seem as though he were always smiling. He must have sensed her looking at him, because he turned suddenly, piercing her with his gaze. His dark eyes looked like fallen pieces of the night sky. “What is it?”

She reached for something to say. “Tilda tells me it’s rare for you to stay in Ortha for weeks at a time. She says usually you are running back to the desert every chance you get.”

Shen shrugged. “Ortha is my home, but the desert still calls to me.”

“Is there any particular... reason you’ve stayed so long this time?”

He flashed his teeth. “Someone has to keep you alive.”

“Well, I think I can take it from here.” Rose looked at her feet, hoping he couldn’t hear the guilt in her voice.

“I don’t doubt it, Princess.” He moved a step closer, and her breath caught in her throat. “All the same, I can be a good friend to you in Ortha.”

Oh.

A friend.

Rose told herself it didn’t matter how he thought of her. Her mind was already made up. She was leaving tonight. Not to mention she was engaged! And yet... for some reason, that word—friend—stung. Whatever this was with Shen didn’t feel like friendship to her. It felt like a glimpse of something more. Something she’d never imagined was possible.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked. “You’ve got the strangest expression on your face.”

Rose’s breathwhooshedout of her. “I... was just wondering about your chain.” She pointed at the glint of gold around his neck.

“Oh.” Shen frowned as he tugged it free, revealing the ring dangling on the end. Up close, Rose could see it held an engraving of the sun, with a small ruby shining in its center.

“Are you...? Is it...?” She searched clumsily for words. “Areyoubetrothed?”

“Me? No. This is... No.” Shen smiled. “No, I’m not betrothed, Princess.”

Rose tried not to look relieved. “I just thought... Well, it’s a magnificent ring.”

Shen turned the ring in his hand. “I was wearing this the day Banba found me.” His voice quieted as he slipped it back under his shirt. “I like to imagine it belonged to my mother.”

Before Rose could overthink it, she took Shen’s hand in hers and squeezed tightly.

He didn’t let go.

They had strayed from the village and the glare of its huts, to where the moon bathed the cliffs in silver light and the waves crashed wildly against the shore.

“Here seems as nice a place as any to drink some rum.” Rose reluctantly dropped Shen’s hand before sinking onto the sand. She raised the bottle to her lips and took a careful sip. It burned all the way down, then settled like an ember in the pit of her stomach.“Mmm...”

“Easy there, pirate,” said Shen, sinking down beside her. “You don’t want to make yourself sick.”

Rose handed him the bottle. “Show me how it’s done, then.”

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