Page 198 of The Throne Seeker

“Send for her. Take her with you. I’ll help you. Come with me. I’ll hide both of you.”

She studied his face. Then she said with a softer voice, “Sounds like you don’t hate me so much after all.”

Moretti’s expression remained hard as he came closer, even as he said, “Of course I don’t hate you. I want to despise you,but this is my fault; if I knew it was you—gods, if I only knew—I would’ve never told them.”

“Sorry” wouldn’t help her now. She was wasting time. “I have to go.”

She turned, making her way quickly to the door.

Moretti followed close behind. “I’m telling you now, don’t go back. You won’t survive.”

She didn’t stop as she said, “I’ll be fine. I know how to take care of myself.”

Thunder clapped overhead as Moretti snatched her arm again just before she reached the door.

“You have no idea what you’re up against,” Moretti said, pleading for her to see reason. “These men fight like nothing I’ve ever seen. I can’t even tell you what they look like. They wear black hoods and masks—they could be anyone. Even coming to the city like this was a risk.”

“I have to try.” She couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

He gripped her arm tighter. “I can’t let you.”

“Let me go, Moretti,” she warned, sensing his desperation.

“I’m not letting you get yourself killed.”

“I survived the Snorri—I can survive this.”

Her siren recognized his greedy desire to keep her there, to force her to stay with him. He thought for a long moment while he searched her eyes. Finally, he gave a loud, exhausted sigh. “If you come to your senses and change your mind, my offer still stands.” He released her arm.

His disappointment became hers. The feeling was so strong that she wanted to reach out and comfort him, but she knew it would only make his pain worse. Instead, she gave him a small smile. “Thank you. I won’t forget this.”

Moretti drew close. For a split second, she was worried he’d try to kiss her, but his lips veered to press themselves to her cheek.

“I only pray you’re here to remember me,” he whispered in farewell.

Roman and Rose didn’t speak until they arrived back at Highland Haven, too worried about being seen or overheard to stop and discuss what she’d discovered. Once they reached the estate’s front steps, she recounted everything Moretti had revealed as the sky threatened to pour rain.

“I should go kill the snake,” Roman said with a vengeful scowl.

Moretti was the least of their worries. “We have bigger problems; we have to go back, Roman. What about your family? The people at court? What if they’ve infiltrated the castle under their very noses because of me? It’s all my fault.”

He shook his head sharply. “No. We stick with the original plan and send for your mother to come here. It’s not safe. For anyone. If it’s you they want, the best thing to do is stay away.”

She couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. “What if something’s already happened to her?”

“Your mother is strong, just like you. She’ll be fine. If they wanted to hurt her, they would’ve done it already.”

Rose had been so involved in their discussion that she hadn’t noticed Gretta exit the manor until she heard shouting.

“Roman!… Roman!” Gretta called from the front door, shuffling out as fast as she could, holding something in her hand. “It’s a letter from the castle… it’s your mother. Her illness has taken a turn for the worst.”

The hits just kept coming.

Roman snatched the parchment from Gretta, reading his father’s scribbles. After he finished, he lowered the letter, lettingit fall to his side as his gaze drifted. “It looks like I have to return after all.” His eyes returned to her. “But I still think you should stay.”

Not a chance in hell. “I’m coming with you.”

“We just got done discussing how dangerous it will be,” he said with a stern look.