Page 101 of Cursed Crowns

He raked his hands through his hair. “I put her in danger. I put us both in danger.”

“At least now you know the truth,” said Wren. “This is your kingdom, Shen. It’s beautiful, but there’s a poison festering inside it. The sooner you get rid of it, the better.”

He nodded gravely.

Wren pulled him in for a hug. “It’ll be all right. The ones who matter will stand by you.”

She stood back then.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “This king stuff...”

Wren smirked. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, is it?”

“You’re still in Gevra, then,” he said, noting her dress. “How is Banba?”

“Alive.” Wren cleared her throat. “And... so is Prince Ansel.”

“Wait.What?”

The second-to-last sapphire winked out. “I have to go,” said Wren as she backed down the hallway. She bolted through the entrance hall and out into the courtyard, where she found Elske chained to the wall. There was a girl kneeling in front of her, dangling a thick slab of meat.

She startled at Wren’s approach, sending out a gust of wind. “Rose! I was just looking for you. Your wolf’s woken up. I’m afraid father had the servants chain her. But I thought she might be hungry.” Her dark brows knitted. “Where did you get that dress?”

“There’s no time to explain,” said Wren, stepping around the girl and kneeling beside Elske. She crushed the last of the petals in her fist and dissolved one of the chain links. The rest fell away with a clatter.

The girl jumped back. “That was enchantment magic!”

Wren looked up at her. “If your father ever comes near my wolf again, I’ll make sure she eats him.” She curled an arm around Elske, just as the last sapphire winked out. “And as for you... be careful.”

The girl opened her mouth to respond, but Wren was already gone, the wind tugging her through the looking glass, and back to the snow-swept mountains of Gevra.

38

Rose

Rose squeezed her eyes shut as she was pulled through the mirror into the icy heart of Grinstad Palace. She crouched on the fur rug in Wren’s room, waiting for the wind to stop howling. When it didn’t, she cautiously opened one eye. Oh! It was the true wind, keening through the mountains. Rose shivered as she stood up. She was still wearing her festival dress, which was entirely inappropriate for Gevra. And far too flimsy.

She glanced at the glowing sapphires. She was not about to spend the next eleven minutes chattering her teeth off. Especially when there was a wardrobe full of luxurious fur coats waiting for her. She strode across the room, then paused before it.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. But not from the cold. There was magic here... strange magic. Rose wrinkled her nose as she scanned the room. And what was that peculiar smell?

Suddenly, the wardrobe flew open, and a figure popped out like a jack-in-the-box. “PEEK-A-BOO!”

Rose shrieked, clutching the mirror to her chest as she stumbled backward. Was that...? No. It wasn’t possible. Wrencouldn’thave. She would never—

“Got you!” crowed Prince Ansel. “Oh, my flower, don’t look so scared! It’s just me! Your adoring fiancé!”

Rose swayed on her feet. “Oh no. No, no, no, no.”

Wren had gone and done it. Against all sense and reason, she’d used forbidden magic to bring Ansel back to life. Or something close to life. The prince’s skin was distinctly gray and he reeked. Four flies buzzed around his head. Rose rushed to open a window before she threw up.

She resisted the urge to stick her entire head outside, glancing again at the glowing sapphires. Nine remained. Rose took a steadying breath. Everything was going to be fine. She could manage another nine minutes in this room with an undead Ansel. All she had to do was keep her voice down, remain calm, and not cause a scene. She was more than capable of doing that.

As long as he didn’t come too close.

Rose shrieked at a tap on her shoulder.

Ansel had crept up behind her. “Rose, my darling! You are so jumpy! Is it pre-wedding jitters?”

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