Page 88 of Cursed Crowns
Shen wasn’t laughing. He was looking at their hands, entwined on the bed. “Youneed to do all of that, Rose. You’re queen of Eana, as you’ve reminded me so many times.” He untangled his fingers from hers, wearing a smile so sad it chipped her heart. “I can’t sneak around with you forever. I know I’ve never been part of your destiny. And that’s fine, because now I finally understand my own. I need to be here now. This is where I belong.”
You belong with me, thought Rose, but she stopped herself from saying the words out loud. Her eyes prickled, and she looked away.
Shen brushed his fingers against her cheek. “You’ll be fine without me. You’re stronger than you know, remember?”
Rose’s breath caught. She leaned into his touch. The world around them disappeared until there was nothing but the two of them alone in her bed, Shen’s hand stroking her face, their breath mingling, their lips about to brush...
“I need you with me, Shen,” she whispered. And she meant it a hundred different ways, from every corner of her heart. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel his lips on hers.
Shen pulled back. “I can’t, Rose. I’m sorry.”
She snapped her eyes open, her cheeks flushing violently as she saw the regret simmering in his eyes.
She pulled away from him with as much dignity as she could muster. “What I meant is that I’ll need your help with the Arrows,” shesaid, clearing her throat. “I’d welcome any of the Sunkissed witches, but the warriors are of particular interest to me, for obvious reasons.” She summoned a practiced smile. “It will be a brilliant way to bring the Anadawn soldiers and the witches together and empower the entire country, don’t you think? And, of course, once Barron sees the impressive span of our improved army, he’ll stand down at once. Only a fool would move against us now.”
Shen’s frown deepened. “The people of this kingdom have just seen the sun for the first time in eighteen years. There are children here who have never seen the sky until today. I can’t rush them into battle.”
“But you said they would help me,” said Rose, recalling their conversation from two days ago, the promises they had made to each other by the river outside Ellendale. It felt like a lifetime ago now. “You said they would helpus.”
“Didn’t you hear Grandmother Lu tonight? My mother died fighting in a war that wasn’t hers to fight.”
“Your mother was a witch,” said Rose, straining to keep her voice under control. “She wanted to defend her fellow witches. Just like I need you now to help me defend them from the Arrows.”
He was already shaking his head. “If she had just stayed, the kingdom wouldn’t have been lost. She wouldn’t have died. Don’t you see? My father hid this place to keep our kingdom safe from war.”
“But you’re the prince now,” said Rose desperately. “Everyone will listen to you.”
“I won’t make them fight, Rose.”
Rose balked at Shen as he stood up. “So you’re just going to sit back and let Edgar Barron whip up an army against Anadawn? Don’t you care about me and Wren?” she said, throwing the covers off. “About theOrtha witches? About your own country?”
Shen paced the length of the room. “Of course I care. But I need time to figure this all out. It’s not that simple anymore. I’m a leader. I have to think about what’s best for my kingdom. You of all people must understand that.”
“What Iunderstandis that your kingdom resides inmydesert, Shen,” said Rose through gritted teeth. “I understand that I, as your queen, am asking for a pledge of loyalty.”
Shen stopped pacing. “And I’m telling you as yourfriend”—he paused, the word swelling between them like a thundercloud—“that I need to be here.”
Rose set aside her hurt feelings. After everything they had gone through, he knew that word would sting her the most. “Anadawn needs the support of the Sunkissed Kingdom, Shen. That isn’t a request. It’s an order.” As soon as she’d said the words, she regretted them, but she couldn’t take them back. She had made her stance. Now she needed to stick to it.
Shen’s eyes flashed. “I don’t answer to you, Rose. And neither does my kingdom. Feng told me about a treaty that was signed between our ancestors a long time ago. One that gives us sovereignty. One that allows me to make my own decisions.”
“What are you talking about?” said Rose hotly. “I’ve never heard of such a treaty.”
“You’d never heard of this kingdom until you met me,” Shen reminded her. “Maybe there are some things you don’t know.”
“You’re being unfair,” snapped Rose.
“And you’re being selfish,” he snapped back. “This kingdom doesn’t belong to you. And neither do I.”
Rose reeled backward, feeling like she had been struck. Shen stalked out, slamming the door so loudly that Elske woke with a growl. When the echo of his footsteps finally faded, Rose buried her face in her pillow and wept.
In the morning, Rose was resolute. She was going home. She’d done what she had come here to do, and with rebellion stirring in Eana, every minute away from Anadawn was precious. Treacherous. She changed back into her stained dress, packed her satchel with her mirror and her hairbrush, and prepared to leave with Elske.
She’d take Storm for the journey. Shen could at least lend her his horse if not the strength of the Sunkissed Kingdom.Hiskingdom, she reminded herself. According to some long-ago treaty that she had never even laid eyes on, Shen Lo didn’t owe her anything. Not his loyalty. Not his heart. What a fool she had been to give hers away.
Elske padded at Rose’s side as she stalked down the sun-drenched halls of the palace.
Lei Fan’s bedroom door creaked open as she passed and the tempest stepped out, wearing bright yellow pajamas. “What are you doing you up so early?”