Her mother echoed the nod, her face tight. “I don’t believe for a moment he’s told us everything either, but I do know that his schemes rely largely on the world believing the two of you are one person. I don’t want to impinge on any pleasure his gifts may give you, but you should know one very important thing about Clotaire: he does nothing without an agenda, and that agenda is always and ever to serve himself and his own best interests.”
“Mother is absolutely right,” Rose said from the open doorway. “Sorry to intrude.”
“Not at all,” Shoshan said. “I’m so glad you were able to join us. Did you walk the Dream to get here?”
“Yes.” Rose hesitated in the doorway, uncharacteristically uncertain. She looked different and Thorn realized that Rose wasn’t wearing any of her usual elaborate jewelry, her gown still fine, but plain, devoid of the gemlike roses. She’d put her hair in one long braid down her back, the hairstyle making her face sharper, even severe. Adsila perched on Rose’s shoulder, brilliant in cobalt and rust, copper-rimmed eyes glinting. Except for the avatar, with Thorn sitting with their mother, dressed to the hilt, it seemed as if they’d already traded places. Thorn was becoming beautiful, polished Rose and Rose was… who? Not the orphaned waif in the cottage, that was certain.
“Is it all right if I come in?” Rose asked.
“Of course,” Thorn rushed to say, abashed that she hadn’t already, instead staring and lost in thought. She jumped up then, and went to embrace Rose, the idea in her head to thank her twin for the incredible gift of Sebastien, but Rose stiffened, andthey collided awkwardly. Thorn drew back, flushing and muttering an apology.
“It’s fine,” Rose assured her, patting her shoulder, which still felt weirdly awkward. “I won’t stay long. I know you both have a lot of catching up to do.”
“You are always welcome, Rose,” Shoshan said, holding out her hand to her other daughter. “This is a terrible situation for all of us.”
“Yes, it is,” Rose agreed, taking her mother’s hand and sitting on Shoshan’s other side, a bookend to Thorn, “but most difficult for Thorn, I think. Still, we all have things to discuss. I wanted to tell you in person, Mother, that Sebastien and I have agreed to be friends only. I gave him my blessing to be with Thorn.”
“Sebastien knows about Lilythorn?” Shoshan asked in considerable surprise.
Rose lifted her brows in question. “Lilythorn?”
“I’m trying it on,” Thorn explained. “And yes, Mother,” she said, feeling shy still to use the word, “we met a while ago.”
“That’s how I discovered Thorn’s—Lilythorn’s—existence,” Rose added.
“We are in love!” Thorn blurted. She’d felt as if she was bursting with the news. “Sebastien and I. We didn’t mean to hurt Rose, though.”
“You didn’t,” Rose assured her. “It’s really fine,” she told her concerned mother. “Sebastien and I were never a fit.” An odd expression crossed her face, Adsila cooed, and Rose stroked the kestrel’s beak.
“No, you never really were, I agree,” Shoshan murmured. “But you and Sebastien are,” she said to Thorn.
“He asked me to marry him and I said yes,” she added, managing a quieter tone, even though she wanted to shout it out.
“Congratulations,” Rose said, and Thorn believed she meant it sincerely. “I wish you both very happy together.”
“We, I, wish you happy, too, Rose. Sebastien told me that he’d promised you our support in whatever you decide, but I want you to know I mean it, too.”
“Thank you,” Rose replied gravely. She seemed so sad and Thorn desperately worried that it was her fault, that she’d somehow transferred her sorrow and loneliness onto Rose and stolen away all of Rose’s former confidence and joy.Only one of them lived…
“I never wanted any of… this,” Thorn said, gesturing weakly, feeling inadequate to explain because shehadwanted this—a mother and a sister and a true love and a pretty dress and to be out in the world, but… not this way.
“None of us did,” Rose answered her with a quirk of a smile. “At least, not this way,” she added, seeming to read Thorn’s mind. “But we must take the cards life hands us and play our best game with them.”
“I don’t like any of this,” their mother fretted. “Lilythorn, you’re very young still and have experienced so little of the world. You don’t have to rush into marriage, despite Clotaire’s plans.”
“I want to marry Sebastien,” Thorn assured her mother. “I’m deliriously happy. It’s like a dream come true. The happy kind of dream.”
“Yes, but Rose—didn’t you tell her?—Clotaire plans to swap you out again and leave Rose in place at Soren’s court, and take Lilythorn away into another form of hidden captivity. He only wants to use you.”
“Sebastien told me,” Thorn assured her and Rose at once. “He knows everything, too, and Rose and I won’t switch. I’ll stay and Rose will… I don’t know what you plan to do?”
Rose’s smile spread into something wicked. “I think Clotaire will find he is not the only one capable of scheming. We’ll let him think we’re falling in line until Lilythorn and Sebastien are married, Soren’s contract signed.” She nodded to Thorn, as she absently stroked Adsila’s head with one finger, the kestrel making a trilling sound like a purr. “Sebastien and Thorn will findtheir happiness with each other. And I’m going to make my own way.AfterI deal with Clotaire.”
“Be careful, Rose,” Shoshan cautioned, her face lined and weary. “I can’t bear to lose you, too. I already lost one daughter.” She took Thorn’s hand and squeezed it.
“I can’t let Clotaire remain free,” Rose said firmly. “He will view you as a loose end, Mother, and you know how he handles those.”
Shoshan whitened, then her pale eyes glittered. “I can handle myself. My power exceeds his.”
