Page 235 of The Throne Seeker

Rose glared at the bindrune painted on her chest, symbolizing her supposed strength. It felt like a cruel joke.

Her long, polished nails dug into her palms. None of them deserved this, none of them.Shedidn’t deserve this. Another wave of outraged tears leaked from her sea-green eyes.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed a bag and shoved everything and anything in it.

Her mind raced as it formulated a plan. She’d go to her mother, consult with her, and they’d leave together. They’d go to the home she now owned, thanks to Roman. They could live out their days in the country, having as normal a life as possible. Shehad more than enough money for them to be comfortable. It was the only way to save Roman from herself.

A loud knock on the door startled her.

“Rose, it’s me.” Roman’s voice carried through the hall.

She closed her eyes with a silent curse. With all her strength, she contained her siren’s demand to open the door. She continued to gather her things, quickening her pace.

Another knock. “Please let me in.”

She ignored his pleas, hoping he’d assume she wasn’t there.

Silence.

The door latch jiggled. “Rose, I know you’re in there,” he said louder.

She kept silent, praying he’d leave, still quietly scrambling for her things.

“Rose!” he yelled this time.

Silence again.

She waited, straining her ears. It was quiet. Not a sound. She sighed in relief, he had gone.

The door burst open.

Roman barged in with his sword drawn, prepared for a fight.

He found no such threat. Instead, his eyes fell to the bag and the belongings in her hands.

His eyes became darker than a moonless sky.

He flung the door shut loudly behind him and slammed his sword back into its sheath.

Without a word, he stalked toward her, taking slow, calculated steps, eyes deadlocked onto her so vigorously, she thought he might lash out. But his movements remained controlled even as his hands balled into white fists.

Rose backed away, not in fear, but because she knew the proximity would weaken her willpower. Still, he came closer, not stopping until her back hit the wall.

He pinned her against it, hands on either side of her head, pushing her back onto the cold stone. His enraged eyes gouged themselves into hers.

“You’re not leaving me.” His voice was low. Dangerous. Possessive. “Not now. Not ever.”

She didn’t understand. “How did you know I was?—”

“After I was done being an ass, I turned back to apologize, and I saw you leave the ballroom. I followed you into the corridor and overheard your conversation with Xavier. I thought you didn’t mean it, but were you actually going to go through with it? You were really going to leave me?”

A crash of his anguish filled her at the mere thought, the agony that would surely be his if she left him.

He grew impatient. “Answer me. Would you have even told me if you left?”

Rose took a steadying breath. “Not if I thought it was what was best for you.”

He slammed his fist against the wall, making her flinch. “Damn what you think is best for me!” he shouted.