Page 190 of The Throne Seeker

But apparently, that fact didn’t hold true.

Rose took another step to get a better look, emerging out of the woods while keeping her arrow aimed at its heart, unsure of its nature. She must not have been paying enough attention to her foot placement because a twig snapped loudly beneath her.

The creature’s head whipped toward her.

Her arms strained, holding her ground as its light-gray eyes bored into her soul. She held her breath, adrenaline pounding through her veins.

If she wanted to, she could let go of the arrow. She was confident enough in her skills to know she wouldn’t miss. It wouldn’t have time to escape.

But what she saw in the snawfus’s eyes was nothing like she’d ever seen. It looked so innocent, so pure. No aggression or fear could be found in them, even as she kept the deadly weapon pointed at its heart. The fact made her heart soften, and she decided to put her faith in the magical creature.

Ever so slowly, she lowered her bow, placing it on the ground at her feet, sure to never take her eyes off the snawfus.

The creature’s misty eyes widened. Its body shifted toward her slowly, coming closer.

She almost wondered if she’d made a mistake by dropping her weapon. There was no way she could outrun it. It’d catch up to her with a few strides of its long legs. If it wanted, it could easily trample her to death. She could do nothing but hold her ground and pray it wouldn’t hurt her.

Its eyes never left hers as it neared, locking her in a trance.

It didn’t stop until it was face to face with her.

You didn’t kill me,the whimsical, feminine voice said in her mind.

Rose jumped, though she supposed she should’ve expected it. This was now the fourth magical creature to speak to her.

No,she replied.

Why? I sense you know what I am. The power I possess. Don’t you want it for yourself?the snawfus asked.

No. I have no need of it,she responded in all candor.

The snawfus looked at her with brighter eyes.Then you are a rarer creature than I—one with a pure heart. Especially rare for a siren, but then again, I’ve never met a half-breed.

Her blood ran cold.What did you just say?

The snawfus blinked, realizing she didn’t know.My dear,you are a siren.

A siren? The monsters that almost destroyed Vallor?

Rose stepped back, shaking her head in denial.That’s impossible.

You have a shield covering you,the snawfus observed.Powerful blood magic placed on you as a baby.

She shook her head with more vigor.No. No, that can’t be. Both of my parents are human.

If you don’t believe me, answer me this. Aside from your obvious abilities to talk to another magical creature and your almost inhuman beauty, do you find men drawn to you? Can you sing so well that it entrances anyone who hears? Do you have enhanced physical capabilities? Are you able to manipulate water? Even breathe in it?

Rose widened her eyes in realization. Her breaths became shallow, her mind racing.

Did she, at long last, have the answers to her questions? With the sea beast, the phoenix, Onyx, and now the snawfus.

Could she speak to them because she was one of them?

She looked back up at the snawfus in awe.

The snawfus gazed back knowingly.You are the one—the one I’ve been looking for.I’ve been searching centuries for you. You are the first human or siren who has not tried to take my power for yourself—the first who has come with a pure heart. Fate has brought you to me, Rosalie. To fulfill your destiny.

What destiny is that?Rose was almost afraid to hear the answer.