Twin Crowns (Twin Crowns, #1)

by Catherine Doyle

‘My allegiance is to Wren.’ ‘I’m not asking you to choose.’ Rowena staggered to her feet. ‘Why are you helping me?’ ‘Because a good leader rules with compassion, not cruelty. My grandmother might own these sands, but Eana belongs to me.’ Rose levelled Rowena with a dark look. ‘You would do well to remember that.’ Rose smiled to herself as she walked back across the beach. Her blood was warm inside her, and her hands were tingling, but it wasn’t magic that set the new spring in her step. It was power. She had held it firmly in her grasp just now as she looked down on Rowena, and despite her anger and resentment, she had used it in the right way. With mercy, and justice. For the first time in her life, on this ragged little beach at the edge of the world, with sand in her hair and salt in her teeth, Rose felt like a queen. A queen, who was ready to face anything and anyone that stood in her way. When she returned to the hut, Banba was sitting in her rocking chair. ‘I know what you did.’ Rose squared her jaw. ‘It was the right thing.’ Banba snorted. ‘I should hang you from the cliffs for disobeying me.’ ‘Then go ahead.’ The old witch sighed and shook her head. ‘Your mother had the same kind heart. And it got her killed.’ A sweeping sadness came over her, and for a terrifying moment, Rose thought her grandmother was going to cry. She took a step towards her but then something in the old woman shifted. Banba’s gaze hardened, and so did her voice. ‘I won’t let that happen to you.’