Page 11 of Burning Crowns

‘I wish I could stay longer. But I have to get back to the Sunkissed Kingdom. There’s still much to be done.’ Shen ran his hand through his hair, the stress of these past few months written in the lines on his brow. ‘You’ve spent your whole life preparing to rule, Rose. I’m still learning how to be a king to a kingdom of people who barely know me. My place is with them, now more than ever. You must understand that.’

Rose looked away, so he wouldn’t see her bottom lip tremble. She hated that she cared so much.

‘Rose?’

‘Of course I understand. I wouldn’t want to distract you from your duty.’

His voice softened. ‘The truth is, even when I’m not with you, you are a distraction. You’re never far from my mind, Rose.’

She turned back to him. ‘And you really must leave right this very moment?’

‘Lei Fan and the others will be waiting for me. I was meant to be at the gates an hour ago.’ He chuckled. ‘I wasn’t expecting to find you in the bath and to get so …’

‘Distracted?’

‘Exactly.’

For a beat, they smiled at each other.

Then Rose pouted. ‘Why don’t you send them on without you? You can catch up. Storm is the fastest horse in all of Eana …’ She trailed off.

‘Don’t tempt me,’ said Shen, his night-dark eyes burning with desire. ‘You know I would if I could.’

Rose did know that. But it didn’t make it any easier.

Sometimes, she secretly longed for the time before Shen knew he was the lost heir of the Sunkissed Kingdom. When he was still a bandit, and his time was his own.

Now he had other responsibilities.

Other duties.

‘Fine,’ she said, rising from the bath. ‘Then at least pass me my robe.’

His gaze roamed, and for a moment, he looked as if his resolve would crumble. Then he sighed, turning from her to fetch the robe. ‘Of course.’

Shen left shortly after that, pressing a kiss to Rose’s lips and whispering a promise that he’d be back soon to join her in that bath.

Rose watched from the window as he rappelled down her tower.

‘You do know that you can take the stairs now?’ she called after him. ‘The guards all know you.’

His laugh echoed in the dark. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’

She shook her head and laughed just the same. ‘Goodnight, Shen. Give my love to Storm.’

‘Lucky horse.’

Wren

CHAPTER 7

Wren pulled her cloak tighter as she trudged through the deep snow. Her fur collar feathered her cheeks as she blew a breath through her hands, desperately trying to warm her numb fingers. It was no use. The wind howled, sending a shiver rippling up her spine and chattering through her teeth.

Hissing hell.

All around her, the air was hazy and white. She squinted through the fog, pushing further into the unknown. She was lost in the damned mountains again, trying to outrun that terrible screeching laugh. It always came with the wind.

Oonagh Starcrest was taunting her.

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