Page 237 of The Throne Seeker

“Before I lose control!” Her siren flared with impatience. “My siren, it… likes you. No, it worships you. If I touch you… if we dowhat we did at Highland Haven… I fear in this form I will take not only your body but your very soul.”

It was meant to be a warning.

But her words only fueled the fire blazing in his eyes.

“I’m sorry to tell you that ship sailed long ago. Gone. Lost forever. You already own my body, my soul, my very existence.” He took a step toward her.

She stepped away. “But don’t you see? I don’t want toownyou. I just want to love you. And what good is love if it is not freely given?”

His brows pinched. “What does that mean?”

“What if you’ve only been in love with my siren this whole time?” she said, voicing her fear. “What if you loving me has nothing to do with me or who I am, but the power that I possess, tricking you to make you think you love me? What if I’m ruining your life, just like Xavier and Tristan?”

Roman let out a frustrated grunt. He flexed his hand out wide, like he was trying to prevent himself from throttling her. “Have you not heard a word I’ve ever said to you? I’m in love with you, Rosalie Versalles.You. I loved you before you were a siren. I love you now, and I always will.”

She wished that was all the reassurance she needed. “The spell only suppressed my siren. I’ve always been one. I see that now. At times, I could even feel it within me. I just didn’t know what it was.” She paused, trying to get through to him. “Doesn’t it matter to you? That my siren could be messing with your mind, your thoughts, your feelings? I could be doing it right now and you’d have no idea. Aren’t you worried that you’re in love with a monster?”

He shook his head in denial. “I couldn’t give a damn what it is you are. I know what you’re doing. Don’t you dare try to push me away.”

“I’m not trying to push you away.” She pulled at the roots of her hair in frustration.

“Then how could you even think of leaving me?!” he shouted, attempting to touch her.

She pushed him in the chest, forcing him to stay away. It barely set him back a step.

His eyes flared. “Is that supposed to be you not pushing me away?” he growled.

“I want to protect you!” she cried. “I’ll always protect you, even if it’s from myself… I’m dangerous, Roman,” she ended in a near whisper.

Roman gazed at her as though the statement was obvious. “Of course you’re dangerous.”

Her heart stopped in apprehension.

He let out a loud, frustrated sigh, coming closer again.

She allowed it this time.

He stroked her cheek. “Look at you. And I’m not talking just about your beauty, which is… undeniably out of this world.” His throat bobbed, struggling not to devour her. “But just look at all you’ve done. You’ve saved lives because of your beautiful, quick-witted mind. You’ve trained faster than any soldier I’ve ever seen. Hell, you rode a sleipnir for the first time in your life and won the most deadly race in history.”

Her siren’s chest puffed itself in pride, secretly loving the praise.

“But what’s even more dangerous than all that… is resting here.” He pointed to her chest. “This heart would save someone’s life when they didn’t deserve it.” His fingertips brushed the bare skin over her heart, just above the fabric of her dress. “This heart that would give up its own wants and happiness for strangers. The kind of heart that can spark loyalty and friendships that cannot be bought. To have a heart like that is a power I’mconvinced no one else has, andthatmakes you the most dangerous creature to walk this world.”

Her heart pained from the ache of being so full. She opened her mouth to speak, but the love pouring from him choked any words.

His hand slipped up to support the nape of her neck as the other lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “What did I tell you at Highland Haven?” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers. “I am yours,” he breathed.

Her heart throbbed. “And you are mine,” she whispered back.

The invisible rope that bound her broke. Her siren eyes sucked Roman in like a moth to a flame. His controlled eyes relaxed, becoming hazed—drunk-like. Her firm hands gripped the seam of his open tunic, pulling him towards the bed.

He didn’t resist in the slightest.

She lowered herself backward onto the bed, her pearl hair spilling around her as she kept her gaze fixed on him.

Roman prowled over her, lowering himself to close the aching gap between them.

The moment their lips touched, she relaxed, taking her first free breath that day. It was all she needed for her worries to sink out of sight. For the noise to drown out. To be so calm yet so utterly alive at the same time. Leaving Roman wouldn’t solve anything.