Page 127 of The Throne Seeker

“Not the celebration,” was all Roman would disclose.

She hesitated to follow, but she was eager for a distraction—any distraction.

So she left her pathetic reflection behind and followed him out.

CHAPTER 54

Rose stepped outside and the salty sea air almost instantly cured her nausea. The sun had plunged into the sea, spreading what was left of its rays across the horizon, transforming the sapphire sky and sea into a world of soft pinks, purples, and oranges. She let that fading warmth soak into her skin, embracing her like a hug—like they sky gods knew she needed it.

Roman was the first to pass through the arched wooden gate, keeping his swift pace until they had ventured deep into the garden. She silently stared at the torch-lit path, trying to recall all the names of the flowers she passed to keep her mind busy.

“You feel better?” Roman asked, speaking for the first time since they’d left her room.

She gave a small nod. “Yes, thank you.”

He shot her a glare. “What did I tell you about thanking me?”

Rose was taken aback at the sharpness in his voice, not sure how to respond. So she didn’t, hyper-focusing on the blooms again.

They wandered down the stone paths together in a comfortable silence, the crooked oak branches swaying overhead as they strolled. They must have been walking a longwhile because soon, the colorful sunset was swallowed up by the night sky, unveiling the stars and twin moons.

Tonight, the gardeners scatteredthousandsof candles throughout the paths and beds for the wedding festivities, mimicking the stars above. Even the small pond nearby had candles floating on full-grown lily pads.

She stared at the flames as Roman said, “You like lights, don’t you?”

Guilty as charged.

“I love them. There’s something so beautifully pure about them… How their flames dance so freely. The darker it gets, the brighter they shine. Radiating their own heat, their own special energy.” She lifted her head to the sky. “The stars are much the same. In the darkness of the net that holds them, they still manage to give off their own small light for the entire galaxy to see.”

Roman’s mouth ghosted upward. “You’d love Eristan.”

She automatically pictured the island province across the eastern seas. “Why is that?”

“At night, the shores are lined with bioluminescent plants, trees, creatures, rocks, everything.” He casted his gaze out as if transporting himself there. “Any color you can think of and more. Some I can’t even quite explain. When you look down into the water, the rocks shine in the dark. It feels like you are swimming through the night sky. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

Her heaven. That was what he was describing. “It sounds wonderful.”

The warmth of the candles danced in his eyes as he gazed at her. “Would you like to see them one day?”

Yes, she practically shouted into the void.Anything to get me out of here.But instead, she simply said, “Someday.”

“Then I have no doubt you will… someday.”

At last, they arrived at the heart of the garden. The oversized fountain was full of the same candlelit water lilies that drifted in the pond, floating effortlessly atop the dark pool.

Rose stopped to watch the overflow cascade to the lower levels, the simple trickle soothing her nerves.

She didn’t know Roman was standing behind her until his warm breath fanned the back of her neck. Her joints locked in surprise. “I’ve been a fool, Roe,” he whispered with remorse.

Her stomach flipped at the sound of her nickname again. She hadn’t realized how much it meant to have him refer to her in such a sentimental way.

“I should’ve never doubted you,” he ground out, clearly not used to admitting when he was wrong—a family trait.

She wasn’t expecting his apology to affect her the way it did. She could almost identify it as… relief? She soaked in his words, making sure she’d heard them correctly. But there they were, as clear as day.I should’ve never doubted you.

“You seemed so sure I was the villain… What changed your mind?” She didn’t turn to look at him, though she could feel his gaze burning into the back of her head.

“That night after Tristan’s succession celebration, you put me in my place, and I didn’t like it,” Roman admitted. “You made me start to question everything. Malcolm is here for the wedding—” Malcolm? Malcolm—yes, she remembered Xavier’s best friend well from his frequent visits, “—so when I ran into him last night, I asked him about Xavier. They’ve been traveling together, and Xavier told him the whole story. He told me about what happened that night on the beach and how Xavier admitted to using you to get out of the succession. Then you saved my life, and I’m still not sure at what cost. But when you pulled that stunt with Grant, I didn’t know what to think. I thought maybe you were only using Tristan for your own advantage until… until I saw you today.” He paused, shifting as the loose rock crunchedunder his feet. “It solidified just how grave of a mistake I made. You were never the threat I feared… You were the savior.”