Page 259 of The Throne Seeker

“No,” she said. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“We can’t all fit on Onyx,” Roman pointed out. “You two can get a head start, and I’ll be right behind you as soon as I find her.”

“And if you’re caught?” Rose asked. “Tristan will throw you in the dungeons as soon as he finds you.”

Xavier agreed. “She’s right. You don’t stand a chance.”

Roman glanced over his shoulder at the gates. “At least I’ll know you are safe. He’ll never let you leave if we’re found.”

“He won’t let you either,” she bit back.

“I’ll stay,” Xavier volunteered.

She shook her head. “No, I’m the only one he won’t hurt. I’ll go back.”

“He won’t let you leave his sight,” Roman argued. “And he’ll finish what he started tonight. I’m sure of it.”

Xavier narrowed his eyes, picking up on his tone. “What did he do?”

Roman ground his teeth, his jaw feathering. “He tried to force her to fuck him, that’s what.” His hands clenched back into white fist just having to say it.

“He didwhat?” Xavier exploded, his eyes sparking with outrage.

“We’re running out of time!” Rose reminded them. “The question is, what do we do?”

Silence fell over them. Xavier, still reeling over the news, paced.

“I suppose we stick together,” Roman concluded.

Rose looked to Xavier for confirmation.

He gave a loud, defeated sigh, unsheathing his sword. “Let’s go, then, so we can get the hell out of here before they realize we’re gone.”

Xavier moved to exit the stables, but before he could even take a step, a group of soldiers entered.

They were outnumbered.

CHAPTER 88

Following a thorough search and the confiscation of their weapons, Rose, Roman, and Xavier were led to the dungeons in silence. The guard escorting Rose kept her at arm’s length, deliberately avoiding eye contact, likely warned to be wary of her siren powers. Only flickering torches lit the dark, damp cells where they were each imprisoned, with Rose positioned directly across from the two brothers.

To her utter relief, her mother was waiting for them in a cell of her own. She’d never been so happy to see someone behind bars.

“Rose!” her mother exclaimed, her entire frame relaxing. “Thank the gods.”

Rose grasped her hands through the adjacent bars. “Mum! What happened? Why are you here?”

Her mother glared at the retreating guards. “After you went to see Tristan, I heard you shouting. I tried to open the door, but it was locked. I went to find Roman for help, but the guards took me on the way. They threw me in here and told me the castle was on lockdown but wouldn’t tell me a thing more.” She let out a frustrated puff. “What happened after I left?”

Rose looked uneasily at Roman. He wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“You were right,” she said, ashamed. “I should’ve never gone to see him.”

Distant voices drifted from the gates while keys clanked, echoing through the dungeon, then footsteps.

A black-eyed Tristan came into view. His split lip, courtesy of Roman, was curled into a hostile snarl. Though he seemed sober now, his sunken eyes looked almost hollow, bordering on sickly, exuding a new darkened aura.

Rose had never seen him appear so unlike himself—so estranged. Her gut twisted, making her queasy. She’d seen that look before—in her father.