Page 96 of Twin Crowns

Rose felt as if she had been slapped in the face. Her own anger—vicious and biting—bubbled to the surface. “And you do? Oh, please! You aren’t fit for anything other than casting silly little spells and fishing on small smelly boats! You know nothing about ruling a nation!”

Wren jabbed her finger at Rose. “I know you don’t ally yourself with a bloodthirsty king unless you want blood on your hands.”

“The Kingsbreath’s spies said the witches were plotting against Anadawn!” Rose shouted. She’d never wanted to smack someone so much in her life. “Andfurthermore, youwereplotting against me!”

They fumed in silence, the tension so thick Rose could almost taste it. She took a moment to gather her composure. She should not havestooped to Wren’s level and raised her voice just now. It was positively unregal. “But it didn’t work,” she said calmly. “I’m back and Iwillbe Queen. No matter how you, your witches, or Willem Rathborne seek to conspire against me.”

“And what about Gevra?” challenged Wren. “You won’t be Queen of anything unless you cancel your wedding.” Her lips twisted. “Which is easier said than done, by the way.”

“That’s precisely what I intend to do,” said Rose adamantly.

Wren snorted. “By all means, go right ahead, Rose. I’m afraid Rathborne won’t be at the ball tonight. He’s had a little poisoning mishap, which has left him feeling rather ill,” she said, with no small amount of satisfaction. “But good luck renegotiating the terms of your ill-conceived alliance with King Alarik.” Wren smiled blandly. “He’s arealdelight.”

“I’ll handle everything this very evening.” Rose refused to be cowed by her sister’s taunt. “You will see how a true princess gets things done.” She rolled her hand, expectantly. “I’ll need my dress back.”

“Why don’t I just use one of my ‘silly little spells’ to make you one?” Rose startled as Wren leaned over and reached into the pocket of her tunic. She removed a fistful of sand and rubbed the grains between her fingers. “Hold still, dear sister.”

Rose shifted nervously. “Don’t you dare turn me into a goat.”

“Shh. I’m focusing.” Wren shut her eyes and muttered an incantation. Then she sprinkled the sand over Rose’s head. The grains never landed.

As the dent between her sister’s eyebrows deepened, Rose’s skinbegan to tingle. Her tunic shifted, and when she looked down at herself in the dimness, she found it was glowing. Slowly, seamlessly, the tattered material transformed into a sumptuous gold dress, the exact twin of the one Wren was wearing. “Oh, my stars!”

As the dress settled on her curves and tightened around her waist, Rose’s face began to prickle. And then her hair, as though an invisible hand were running a brush through it. The strange glow settled into a gentle shimmer and then it was done.

Wren opened her eyes and smiled so wide, Rose could see all of her teeth.

Suddenly, Rose was smiling, too.

Wren tucked a manicured curl behind Rose’s ear. “Wow, I’m good.”

“I’ll grant you that. Idolook divine.” Rose surveyed herself with delight. “Although you forgot one important detail.” She deftly unclasped the pearl necklace from her sister’s neck and fixed it around her own. “Now, you stay here and don’t cause any more trouble than you already have.”

Wren flashed her teeth. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Rose swiftly left the library and flounced across the Anadawn courtyard, relieved to be wearing her best gown, to feel beautiful once more. There was a rightness to it, a sense that the world was settling around her exactly as it should be. Up ahead, a towering figure hurried through the darkness toward her, his boot buckles clinking in time with his footsteps.

“There you are. I was beginning to worry.” The moonlight shifted, and Ansel’s personal guard appeared before Rose. He reached for herhand, then stopped suddenly. “Rose?” he said uncertainly.

She smacked his hand away. “What on earth do you think you’re doing? How dare you touch me!”

The soldier stiffened. “Forgive me, Your Highness. It’s so dark out here.” His frown deepened as he studied her. “I thought maybe... No. I don’t know what I thought. I’m sorry.”

“Never mind,” said Rose, brushing past him. “Lucky for you, I have more important matters to deal with.”

And with that, she swept into the palace and back into her life.

33

Wren

Wren stood in the middle of the library, listening to the sound of her sister’s fading footsteps. She would slip away once Rose was safely inside the ballroom. Her bullheadedness was already working in Wren’s favor. Though her sister’s efforts with King Alarik would surely come to nothing, Rose was unwittingly providing the perfect alibi by presenting herself at the Welcoming Ball, leaving Wren free to pay the Kingsbreath a visit in his bedchamber.

With still-tingling fingers she traced the dagger fastened at her hip.

Her magic was warm in her blood, her heart hammering with the success of her spell. In all her years as an enchanter, Wren had never felt power like that. She had nevercreatedsomething as fine as Rose’s dress and from nothing but a ragged tunic! It had turned out perfectly, every ruffle the exact double of the one Wren wore.

Rose had no idea that Wren wasn’t expecting the enchantment to go so well. She had simply expected Wren’s magic to be impressive. That made Wren chuckle as she paced the room. Perhaps it was the combination of Ortha sand and desert sand on Rose’s tunic thathad strengthened the spell. After all, earth taken from magical places worked better for enchantments. But there was only one way to know for certain. She found a vase of wilting roses on a table by the window. She stood over them, gathering the fallen petals in her hand. They were half dust already.

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