‘What nonsense! Willem is a good man,’ said Rose, just as fiercely. ‘He has taken care of me my entire life. He loves me.’ Banba gave her a piteous look. ‘No, Rose. He needs you.’ At Rose’s silence, the old woman went on, her words like a dagger, twisting and twisting in her chest. ‘Don’t you see? Willem Rathborne had to keep you alive – you were the perfect prop princess that would allow him to rule Eana from behind the curtain. Of course he only needed one of you. He would have killed Wren, too, if he had found her in that chamber.’ Rose pressed her lips together. She knew there was no point
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