Page 103 of The Throne Seeker

Out. She had to get out.

She maneuvered her way through the crowd, nearly at the doors until?—

Roman appeared, dressed in a black tunic, his wide and powerful shoulders blocking her path. His golden eyes shone brighter thanks to the matching gold décor surrounding him. His face was emotionless—per usual when it came to Rose.

She had to control the impulse to slap him across the face.

Roman opened his mouth to speak, but she didn’t give him the chance. She couldn’t hold back the venomous question thatspat out in a calm rage. “You’re in charge of the negotiations with Vertmere, are you not?”

Roman had the decency not to gloat as his jaw feathered. “Yes, along with Lord Barron.”

Her chin quivered as her hands balled into fists.

He looked around them as if he was searching for someone. “Where is Zareb?”

Just the mention of Zareb’s name on his lips made her lose composure. “Do you have to rub that in my face, too?” she lashed out with a harsh voice, tears beginning to brim her eyes. “Isn’t it bad enough you brought her here?”

Roman blinked, perplexed by her outburst. “What are you?—”

She encroached upon his space, leaving nowhere for him to look but at her pain-stricken eyes. “Iam the one who tried to protect Xavier after that night on the beach. I lied about falling on the rocks to protecthim. Iam the one who helped save Tristan’s life after the first challenge.Isavedyourlife by getting the phoenix’s tears for you.Iam the one who got us out on the sea beast. I’ve done everything I possibly could for you and your family, and yet still, all I get is suspicion and disapproval!”

His eyes danced between hers as the harsh lines of his frown softened, like something was finally clicking in his mind.

“You know what? It doesn’t matter. You win,” she dismissed with a defeated tone. With a sharp turn of her heels, she stalked off.

She could have sworn she heard him call to her.

But she didn’t care.

CHAPTER 44

Rose went to the stables the next morning, doing her best not to let herself spiral into a dark place. She contained the tears that threatened to surface as she stared at the empty stall next to hers. Zareb should be here riding with her. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair. She mounted her horse, heading off for a long ride along the beach.

A dark storm was rolling in, driving the waves onto the shore with a heightened force. The wind whipped her blue dress around as she galloped along the beach, pushing the white horse to its limits, like if she just rode a little faster, she could outrun it all. It wasn’t until raindrops began to pelt her face that she slowed down, first to a trot and eventually to a walk.

Rose gazed out at the stormy horizon. After leaving the celebration last night, she hadn’t spoken to anyone—not even her mother, although she had heard her and Thea whispering when they thought she was asleep. Her mother had mentioned that Tristan had gone into a rage over the announcement and had refused to sign the treaty. He had even attempted to visit her, but her mother wouldn’t let him in.

She didn’t know if she should feel glad or sad about the fact—she almost wished she didn’t feel anything.

She was so full of grief, she was empty.

She patted her horse, her cold, numb fingers brushing its coarse hair. She knew what she needed to do.

She just didn’t know if she had the strength to do it.

A figure appeared in the distance; it was Tristan, riding toward her as she had requested, answering her call.

She knew he would always answer her call.

He didn’t stop until his horse was beside hers. He was wearing his new shiny crown—another punch to the gut. “I looked all over for you last night, but your mother said you were already asleep by the time I was able to get away… We need to talk.”

She peered up at the dark-gray clouds, poised to empty at any moment. “Yes, but not here. Come on, I’ll race you.” She craned her head before she took off towards the old ruins.

Though her response had caught him off guard, he recovered quickly, urging his steed to follow hers.

They raced each other like they had when they were young, when they didn’t have a care in the world, when it was just them.

When nothing else mattered.