Page 244 of The Throne Seeker

“We’ll stay until it’s over.” Before Roman could protest, she took his face into her hands. “You need to say goodbye. For Harriet’s sake. For your parents’. They deserve that. What could a few more hours hurt?”

He gave a loud resigning sigh. “Fine, but the moment it is over, we are leaving—the very moment,” he stated with a pointed look. “And don’t breathe a word of it to anyone but your mother.”

“And Xavier,” Rose added with a hesitant voice.

Roman’s eyes raced to hers, his body becoming rigid. “What?”

“What does Xavier’s future hold after tonight? Eternal exile? He needs a sense of purpose again. He’s lost. Alone.” Rational or not, she knew it was primarily her fault—or more, her siren’s. “He has just as much right to find these men as we do. If we leave, the court will be safe, but we’ll be more vulnerable than ever. There are only three of us against these men. He could help… and there are few I trust more than him.”

Roman gritted his teeth as his jaw feathered, resentment leaking from him. But another more logical part of him must have seen reason, because he said, “And Xavier, then.”

At that moment, she realized just how desperate they truly were.

CHAPTER 85

Though the invitation to join their cause almost sent Xavier’s jaw to the floor, he accepted. It was hard to tell who felt more relieved when Rose announced their departure that night—her mother or Xavier. They all agreed to retreat to Highland Haven until they could gather more information.

Roman hadn’t left Rose’s side since last night. She didn’t need her siren to know how incredibly anxious he was—glancing over his shoulder as they walked through corridors and as they ate. It made her even more nervous than she already was.

The sun dipped into the sea, marking the beginning of the passing ceremony. Typically, the ceremony itself was a momentous affair. However, Tristan had instructed that only a few should be invited. The council agreed that, given recent events, it should remain intimate.

The pathway leading to the beach was marked by tall oversized torches, traditional sun emblems hanging just below them, with beautiful flowers winding between the posts. It was customary for the party to walk down the path together to commemorate and honor their memory one last time.

Tristan and Satin were at the forefront of the small group, with guards positioned on either side. Rose was surprised to seeSatin’s hand clasped in his, the simplicity of the gesture warming her heart. Although Satin fought hard to portray indifference, it was obvious that she still cared deeply for Tristan. Satin’s sympathetic glances at his solemn figure had Rose fostering hope that maybe they could resolve their differences after all.

A short distance behind, Xavier and Harriet followed. A special pain bled from their youngest sister, tears welling in her eyes as she clung to Xavier’s arm, resting her head on his shoulder. In contrast, Xavier’s face revealed no emotion; his presence was so muted that Rose could barely sense it. It came as no surprise that he tried to numb the pain. He had trained himself to block out his feelings. This was his way of coping, how he could stand it.

To their right stood Roman, Rose, and her mother. She would have preferred not to walk in the front, but it was customary for the family to lead the way. Roman needed her beside him, not just for support but also for his sanity, a fact he often reminded her of. She cherished the way he subtly stroked her hand with his thumb as if reassuring himself that she was still there. Still real.

She was becoming accustomed to the stares, but tonight, Roman had insisted she wear her cloak and hood, trying to minimize the attention. In her opinion, it was quite useless, but it gave him a sense of ease, so she wore it, walking with bare feet that molded into the sand.

The small group made their way to the sea, where towering torches lit the grand boat waiting for them on the shore, carrying the bodies of King Henrik and Queen Lenna.

Rose successfully maintained her composure until her gaze fell upon the king and queen. Seeing their hands intertwined together, lying side by side on the boat… something about the gesture brought up nearly unmanageable grief. Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched Roman’s hand tighter.

The priest came forward and recited the ancient farewell. His words barely reached her ears as she stared at the couple who laid so peacefully together atop the kindling, the lavender blooms and greenery gently releasing their fragrance into the air, carried by the sea breeze.

Twilight had settled in when Tristan took the priest’s place, standing precisely in front of the large boat.

To Rose’s annoyance, her siren came immediately to attention.

“To say we lost the best king Cathan has ever had would be an understatement.” His face remained sober amidst his raging aura. “But his legacy will stand the test of time, not only in the pages of history but in our hearts. When you look out over the peaceful fields of Cathan, I hope you remember King Henrik and the life he ensured for every person here. What I admired most about my father was that he didn’t just tell me how to be a man; he lived it. Even on the worst day, he lived what he believed.” Tristan paused, his jaw tightening as pain flickered in his eyes. “But what has to be the most inspirational was the love he had for my mother.”

Tristan craned his head to glance at the beached boat behind him.

“She was his whole world. Whenever she had difficult days, he’d drop everything to be with her, no matter how important his other tasks. Even late at night, he would head to the kitchen, prepare soup, and spoon-feed her himself. He hated dancing, but he was out on the dance floor at every chance because he knew she loved it. When he’d leave for duties, she went with him. They had their own language. They could have a conversation without having to utter a single word, which was infuriating beyond belief.” He let out a harsh, sharp laugh, then scanned the crowd, shifting to… Rose.

His gaze trapped hers like a viper catches its prey, swift and unsuspecting, suffocating her.

“My father once told me the only reason he was able to be the king he was, was because of the queen he had.” Tristan’s voice finally cracked, his ocean-blue eyes searing into hers as if he was speaking solely to her. “She was his reason. His light. The good in him. He knew it, and he held on to it. And I truly believe having her by his side made all the difference in the kind of king he became.”

Tristan finally set Rose free as he took hold of a torch and lifted it high above his head. “I promise from this day forward, I will do my best to be a devout king to Cathan like my father was,” he stated, louder now. “I will do my best to honor him by leading Cathan into a new era.”

He held up the torch in the air firmly. “In strength!” Tristan yelled at the top of his lungs.

“We can endure!” the large group chanted back, Roman’s voice loud beside her.

“In truth!”