Page 144 of Burning Crowns

Rose

CHAPTER 56

Two blissful weeks after her wedding to Shen Lo, on the night of her return to Anadawn, Rose slipped from her bedroom in the east tower where her new husband slumbered, and clambered out on to the palace roof.

It was good to be home, her face feathered by the river wind and bathed in the starlight of the glittering sky. Her sky. Rose loved every inch of her kingdom, but it was the stars of Eana that most enchanted her. First, as a young girl trapped in her tower, peering out at the great wide world, and now as a new queen looking to her future.

She smiled as she lay back on the roof, listening to the palace wind down for the night. The moon was full and bright above her, and Rose blew out a breath, marvelling at its immense beauty. How lucky she was to have the sky all to herself. To get to spend the night out here, swaddled in her warmest nightgown with a woollen blanket draped around her shoulders, listening to the song of the nightingale in the trees and the quiet patter of—

‘Hissing seaweed,’ cursed Wren, as she clambered out of a nearby window. ‘It’s freezing up here.’

Rose sighed. ‘I did tell you to bring a blanket.’

‘I got distracted,’ said Wren, as she crawled across the slats in a pair of silk pyjamas and sheepskin slippers. Her hair was messy as a bird’s nest and her cheeks were slightly pink. ‘Tor was teaching me how to—’

‘I really don’t need the details,’ said Rose, quickly. She lifted the edge of her blanket. ‘Here. You can share mine.’

‘Thanks,’ said Wren, snuggling in beside her sister. She removed a napkin from her pocket and opened it to reveal two crushed yellow macarons. ‘I brought you a snack.’

Rose plucked one from the napkin. ‘You truly are a good sister,’ she said, biting it in half and relishing the burst of citrus.

‘Almost as good as you,’ said Wren, nibbling at the edges of the other.

They lay back on the roof, turning their gaze to the stars.

‘Our birthday is coming up soon,’ said Wren.

‘Yes,’ said Rose, who had been discussing it with Celeste earlier that evening. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve already started planning our party.’

Wren snorted. ‘Of course you have. And here I thought you’d be distracted by your honeymoon.’

‘A capable queen can handle more than two things at once.’ Rose smiled coyly as she polished off the rest of her macaron. ‘Especially when one of those things isveryenjoyable.’

‘I really don’t need the details,’ said Wren, perfectly mimicking her sister from a moment ago.

Rose’s laughter soared, her heart lifting with familiar joy. ‘Just make sure you get me a good present.’

‘You mean I have to get you a present for myownbirthday?’ said Wren.

‘I’m afraid so,’ said Rose, starlight refracting off her ruby ring as she dusted the crumbs from her fingers.

Wren blew out a breath. ‘Very well. But the same goes for you. And I want an elk.’

Rose chuckled, entirely unsurprised by the request. Then she turned to her sister, the joviality fading from her voice. Thoughts of their upcoming birthday were making her feel pensive and, more than that, grateful for how far they had come. ‘It’s hard to believe everything that’s happened to us these past twelve months. All these years, I thought I had no magic. No family. And now, here you are, like a wish sprung from my wildest dreams.’

Wren found Rose’s hand beneath the blanket and held it. ‘Growing up in Ortha I always thought of myself as unlucky. A witch with no parents, a girl who would have to sneak around and steal her way into a life that didn’t truly belong to her. I’m so glad I failed, Rose.’ She let out a small laugh. ‘I’m so glad that we decided to do this together. To rule. To fight. To lead. I always thought Anadawn was my destiny, but I see now that it was you all along.’

Rose smiled at her sister’s words. They warmed her heart, chasing the chill from her toes. ‘How strange it is to think that this time last year I didn’t even know about you,’ she murmured. ‘I thought my life was going to turn out entirely differently. I’m so thankful that it didn’t. I’m so thankful that you found me.’

Wren squeezed her hand. ‘We found each other.’

‘At long last,’ said Rose. ‘And that’s the best gift of all.’

Wren perked up. ‘Does that mean—?’

‘You still have to get me a gift,’ she added, hastily.

They peeled into laughter, their breath making clouds in the air.

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