Page 225 of The Throne Seeker

So why did it only give her a thousand more questions?

“Perhaps we could use it?” Roman said, studying the talisman. “If the Blood King’s after it, perhaps it holds the power we need to defeat him?”

No,a mystic voice said firmly in her mind, alarming her—the feminine voice sounded like the snawfus.Don’t even touch it,it warned.

Why?she spoke back into the void in her mind.Why? Please, can you hear me?

But there was no reply.

“No,” she said after a long moment, heeding the warning. “Whatever it is… something is telling me not to go anywhere near it. Are you sure it’s safe down here?”

He nodded firmly. “Yes. There’s nowhere in Vallor safer than these tomb walls. Only royalty and the high councilmen know of its existence. And now you. But I’ll see to it there are more guards on duty, just in case.”

The tension left her body. She was glad to be reassured. She glanced at the talisman one final time, the magical object calling to her siren once more.

She shut it out.

“Come on, it’s getting late. We’ll need to be ready for tonight,” she said, anxious to be above ground again.

After all, they still had a ball to attend.

CHAPTER 79

As the sun dipped below the horizon, twilight wrapped the world in a warm glow, casting a tangerine blanket over Rose’s room as she got ready for the ball.

She’d opted for a dress made of a light sea-green, form-fitting fabric. The elegant trumpet gown hugged her hips, cascading down to the floor. It went perfectly with the golden mask Thea had designed, interwoven with a green ribbon around its edges.

Thea had achieved the wet hair look Rose had requested by applying some sort of unique mixture to her wild mane, infusing it with a deliciously fragrant jasmine scent. She let her wavy pearl-white hair flow freely beyond her shoulders, forgoing the usual court updo. She looked like she’d returned straight from a swim.

It was perfect.

Looking into the floor-length mirror still took her by surprise. The lethal beauty she now possessed was like a honed weapon, poised to strike any unsuspecting bystander.

Definitely not the worst fate imaginable.

Her gaze lowered to the mask in her hands. An idea came.

She had Thea fetch her some shimmery gold paint, similar to what she wore for her coming out ball. She stuck her fingers intothe cool, thick liquid and went to work, drawing the bindrune symbol on her chest, just as the seer had during the second succession trial.

The seerhadsaid that it would give her strength.

And tonight, she was determined to harness whatever strength she could find.

Rose stood atop the magnificent marble staircase in the same spot as she had earlier that summer, her siren eyes peering through her golden mask at the dancing couples below.

The girl who had stood here before… was gone. Forever. Pain gripped her heart to know she wouldn’t be coming back.

But that was a death to mourn another day.

Taking a deep breath, Rose stepped down the smooth marble stairs, keeping her head held high. With each step, heads turned. Whispers circulated. Jaws dropped. Their eyes fixated on the shimmering symbol on her chest. Her shaky knees threatened to buckle, but she pushed through the insecurity. She scoured the crowd, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

The court stopped dancing altogether as the music faded into silence. She had captured the entire room’s attention. Good.

She was halfway down the staircase when she stopped, taking another steady breath.

Her hands lifted to untie the ribbon securing her mask, sliding it off her face inch by inch. She lifted her chin, flashing her sea-green eyes upward to the crowd.

Gasps of shock spread like wildfire. A mixture of emotions slammed her from all directions—some curious and eager, others blazing with hostility.