Page 106 of Cursed Crowns

“It’s probably for the best,” said Rose with a sigh. She was going to miss that wolf more than she cared to admit, but the desert was becoming more hostile by the moment. Elske would be safer back home in Gevra, where she belonged.

Lei Fan pointed to the mirror. “I’ve spent the last eighteen years living under the desert, but I’ve never seen anything as unsettling as an entire person popping out of that thing.”

“Trust me. It’s even more unsettling getting sucked into it.” Rose tucked the mirror into the sash at her waist. “Please don’t mention it to anyone. Kai knows Wren and I are able to switch, but he doesn’t know how. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

Lei Fan’s brows rose. “You don’t trust my brother, do you?”

Rose hesitated. “Do you?”

Lei Fan snorted. “I’ve known him all my life. Of course I don’t.” She slumped onto a nearby bench, absently stroking the carved horse on the armrest. “I love my brother, but I know how hungry he is. For acceptance. For power. He gets it from our father.” She frowned. “Sometimes I wonder if things would be different if our mother was still here. If Kai would stopreachingfor things he doesn’t need.”

Rose sank onto the bench next to Lei Fan, trying to figure out just how much she knew about Kai’s poisonous ambition. “Is that why he hates Shen?”

Lei Fan offered no denial. “It’s jealousy, really. You have to understand, we’ve been trapped under the desert for years. And Kai so desperately wanted to be the hero. He used to talk about it in his sleep.” She lowered her voice and Rose leaned in close. “He keeps telling everyone about how he dug his way out of here, but who do you think summoned the wind to help him? Who blew mountains of sand out of his way so he could claw his way out?”

“It was you.” Rose’s eyes widened with admiration. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Lei Fan shrugged. “I don’t care about glory. I just wanted to help my kingdom. I think I was the only one who hoped that Shen was still out there somewhere. We were so close when we were little, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still alive. That one day he might come back.”

For a fleeting moment, Rose wanted to tell Lei Fan about what she’d seen Kai and Feng do at the festival. But as much as Lei Fan clearly cared for Shen, Rose didn’t want to strain her loyalty. Especially after Shen had just turned on her so viciously. “I’m glad you didn’t give uphope,” she said instead. “Nothing matters more to Shen than family. Your support means everything to him.”

Lei Fan grinned. “I’m just glad to have him back. It finally feels like our luck is changing.”

Rose returned her smile. “I hope you and I can stay friends, Lei Fan. You’ll always be welcome at Anadawn.”

“I’d like to visit one day,” said Lei Fan.

Rose snapped her chin up at the sound of her name on the breeze. Shen was calling her from inside the palace.

“Excuse me,” she said, rising from the bench and hurrying inside.

Shen was pacing by the Forever Fountain, every muscle in his body coiled with tension.

“Shen!”

He turned at the sound of her voice. He reached her in ten quick strides, taking her hands in his. Relief coursed through Rose at his touch, at the softness in his face. “I owe you an apology, Rose. I’ve been an idiot.”

Rose glanced over her shoulder, mindful of the nearby servants. “We shouldn’t talk here,” she said, pulling him away from the fountain. “Come with me.”

Back in her bedroom, Shen locked the door behind them and drew the curtains, blocking out the morning sun. He turned around, his face in shadow now. “You were right, Rose. About everything. Wren and I overheard Feng and Kai talking in my uncle’s bedroom. They tried to kill me.”

Rose slumped down on the edge of her bed, the weight of that terrible truth finally leaving her shoulders. Wren had done the impossible. She had got through to Shen. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

He came toward her, his eyes pleading. “Forgive me, Rose. I should have never doubted you. I’m sorry for the terrible things I said. All I could see was all the things I’ve wished for since I was a child.”

“You can still have those things,” she said, gently pulling him down beside her. “Just not with Kai. Or Feng. I’m sorry they aren’t the people you hoped they were.”

“At least I know now,” said Shen, steel-eyed. “I can protect myself and my kingdom. I can protect you.”

Relief blossomed inside Rose at Shen’s words, and with it, exhaustion. Goodness, she was tired. She hadn’t slept in forever, and she desperately needed to get out of this filthy dress. The knot was digging into her shoulder, and it was too tight around her waist.

“Shen?” she said tentatively. “Could you help me with my dress?”

He swallowed thickly, his gaze falling to the hollow of her throat.

Rose offered him a coy smile. “Lei Fan knotted it so tightly; I’ll never wriggle out of it on my own.”

With reverent fingers, Shen began to untie the knot at Rose’s shoulder. “Like this?” he said, his breath tickling her neck.

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