Twin Crowns (Twin Crowns, #1)

by Catherine Doyle

Rathborne pushed her away. He retched again, this time bringing up a mouthful of blood. ‘The enemy wears two faces, Rose … We must come for the witches before they come for us … And they are coming … they will burn us … the flames … I can see them … I can taste them …’ A violent shudder passed through him and he retched again. ‘May the Great Protector watch over us now.’ He staggered away, still muttering feverishly to himself. Wren watched him go, wondering who had told him those strange things and what on earth they meant. ‘Rose?’ Celeste was standing in the doorway to the dining room. ‘What the hell is going on?’ ‘It looks as if the frostfizz didn’t agree with poor Willem.’ Wren clutched her stomach just as Tor appeared behind Celeste, wearing the same look of bewilderment. She stepped away from both of them. ‘Come to think of it, I don’t feel too good either. I really should retire.’ Before either of them could say another word, Wren hurried away, the clatter of her footfall filling the halls as she ran for the safety of her tower. Tonight had been a disaster, but if she was lucky – if the fates were watching over her – then that mouthful of poison would be enough to finish Willem Rathborne off for good.