Page 134 of Burning Crowns

‘Nowthatis the understatement,’ said Celeste, huffing a tired laugh. She pulled back, glancing around, anxiously. ‘Have either of you seen Anika?’

‘Not since we left the cliffs.’ Rose gave Wren a careful look, her heart aching for her sister. The last time they had seen Tor he’d been pinned beneath a beast, with his own beloved wolf collapsed at his side.

As if she was reliving the very same memory, Wren took off towards the treeline, glaring at the forest as if she was willing it to fall away entirely so she could see all the way to the cliffs beyond.

Rose let Wren go. She looked to the trees, too, fear like a fist in her throat, but she was not searching for a telltale glimpse of blue and silver. She was looking for a warrior who moved like the night wind. She was looking for the other half of her heart.

And then she heard a voice that stole her breath. ‘Rose!’

Shen Lo came tearing through the forest, shirt torn and bloody, but he wasalive. Alive and running and smiling, andohhis face was the most beautiful thing Rose had ever seen.

Celeste nudged her. ‘What are you waiting for? Go to him.’

Rose hitched up her skirts and ran to Shen, and when she reached him, she flung herself into his arms. He held her tightly, so tightly, as if he couldn’t quite believe that she was real.

‘Rose,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘Rose, Rose, Rose.’

Rose laid her head against his chest and listened to the thundering song of his heart. They stood still, holding each other in this moment of sweeping relief, their chests rising and falling in perfect harmony,as the world carried on around them.

‘Come with me,’ said Shen, pulling her into a slip of forest that had been untouched by battle. Even the small white wildflowers that dotted the forest floor were undisturbed.

‘You’re hurt again,’ said Rose, gently examining a new puncture wound on his neck.

‘I’m fine,’ said Shen. ‘It will heal.’

‘Of course it will. BecauseIwill heal it.’

‘You’ve already healed me once today.’

‘I’ll heal you as often as I need to. Now hold still.’

He brushed her hand away, curling his arms around her waist. ‘I’ll survive,’ he said, pulling her close. ‘Leave it for now.’

‘Stop being so stubborn,’ said Rose, putting her hands on his chest. ‘I want to make you feel better!’

‘Then kiss me, Rose Valhart.’ He dipped his chin, brushing his nose against hers. ‘Please.’

‘Oh.’ Suddenly dizzy, Rose went up on her toes, pressing her lips to his. Shen groaned, sliding his tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss. She kissed him, fiercely, with a hunger that surprised them both. He pulled her closer still and she pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He groaned again, running his hands down her back as she arched her body against his, losing herself in the heat of his kiss.

When they finally broke away from each other, Rose tilted her head back so she could see his face. He gazed down at her and brushed his thumb across her cheek.

‘You, Rose Valhart, are the bravest person I have ever known.’

She let out a sound that was part sob, part laugh. ‘I would quite like to go back to Anadawn and not be brave for a while.’

‘We can do that.’

Rose stilled. ‘Together?’

Shen’s dark eyes sparkled. ‘Well, I was thinking we could stay at Anadawn for a while, and then perhaps you could come back to the Sunkissed Kingdom with me for a few weeks … And then after that, we could go back to Anadawn …’ He cleared his throat. ‘And then the Sunkissed Kingdom. And … well, you get the idea …’ He raised his brows, his voice hopeful. ‘Don’t you?’

‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’

‘What? That if anyone here is organized enough to rule two kingdoms, it’s you?’

‘Shen! Can’t youtryto be romantic?’

He smiled, and it felt as if the sun had come out at night. ‘I’m saying that I accept your proposal, Rose. That I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than to marry you and spend every day of the rest of my life loving you.’ He held both her hands in his. ‘I know that falling in love with you took me by surprise. Even now, I’m still reeling from just how much I love you, how lucky I feel whenever you smile at me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. I don’t think I ever want to get used to it.’ He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them. ‘I know how much you love Eana, and how deeply you respect the Sunkissed Kingdom, too, and I believe together we will do a fine job of ruling them both.’

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