Page 261 of The Throne Seeker

No. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t.

Rose threw an anxious look to Xavier for confirmation.

To his credit, Xavier remained calm. “Or perhaps he knew it was a lie,” he replied flatly.

Lord Martin stuck up his nose. “Are you calling my spies liars?”

“Of course I am, because it’s not true,” Xavier replied with a deathly even tone. “I was banned from the borders. Call upon Malcolm. I was with him.”

“You were with him the entire time?” Tristan pressed.

Xavier’s face twitched as he admitted, “No.”

“It was you who tried to kill me that day, wasn’t it?” Tristan accused, betrayal shining in his eyes. “Dragonshade is a poison sourced from the northern borders of Artistan, which the dragons of old used for their hatching grounds, not far from Amernth. That is where you were all this time, were you not?”

Xavier’s eyes sharpened like crystallized icicles. “Yes, I was in the north, but that doesn’t mean I did it.”

“Then what’s your excuse for being in the woods?” Tristan pressed.

“I don’t have one. I was never there,” Xavier hissed between his teeth.

Rose’s eyes darted between Xavier and Roman. They weren’t going to win this. There was too much stacked against themand no proof of their innocence. Her heart raced, leaving her lightheaded.

Lord Barron grew impatient. He stalked to Roman’s cell to confront him directly, his dark robes gathering straw as he said, “If you admit fault, we will be merciful in your sentence. Just tell us where it is, and I promise you, you’ll be much better off.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t have it,” Roman repeated. “Get the lotus powder. I’ll prove my innocence.”

“Unfortunately, that is a rare commodity to come by in Cathan. It was supplied by the seer, who has yet to be found. Besides, the Lotus powder is too unreliable in this situation, especially when its effects can be manipulated by magic,” Lord Martin said, glaring at Rose. He turned to Tristan. “Perhaps we’re going about this the wrong way. There may be a bigger game at play.”

Tristan stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I only wonder if Roman and Xavier are mere pawns in a much bigger game,” Lord Martin insinuated, gazing at Rose. “And she’s the master.”

Tristan’s eyes flickered her way. For the first time since he stepped foot in the dungeons, his raging eyes morphed into a state of panic.

The tide in the room shifted—the true reason for all this.

They didn’t want Roman and Xavier.

They wantedher.

Lord Martin whipped back to Rose, pointing at her accusingly. “You’ve been power-hungry ever since you arrived here. You and your pernicious mother clawing for any position at court, using your charm on our king to allow you to visit every summer. You kept your powers strategically hidden, patient for a few years until you smelled blood in the water when you heard rumors that Xavier’s succession was in jeopardy. You dethroned Xavier, forcing him from his position to satisfy your own agenda.Then, under your influence, you had him attempt to kill Tristan to throw the succession in your favor. Then, after that failed, you swayed yourself into Tristan’s and Grant’s affection, keeping your options open to the two most likely candidates to win. Then, when Tristan won, you were thwarted by a foreign queen. But that didn’t stop you…”

Lord Martin’s gaze switched to Roman as he continued. “You moved on to the next brother, the general of Vallor’s largest army. Once you learned of the queen’s health, you rushed back with your siren fully intact, bringing him and Xavier back to help you gain control over this court. You persuaded Roman to tell you about the talisman and then tried to bed Tristan as a distraction as Roman stole the talisman for you!”

Rose’s mother was the one to bite back. “She has done none of what you say. You have no idea who took the talisman. And so you all don’t look like fools for letting it be taken under your noses, you look to blame Rose—who has donenothingbut help not just the royal family but all of Cathan. But what would you know of that, Lord Martin? While you sit and hide in the protection of this castle. Well, danger has finally crept its way into these walls. There is no more hiding.” Her mother looked to Tristan. “Your father saw it, and he’d have never allowed for this, let alone blame an innocent girl for the high council’s negligence.”

Lord Martin’s mouth curled, the insult striking a chord with him. “She is not agirl. She is a siren. Nor do I trust the whore who birthed it.”

Tristan slammed his fist against the bars. “Enough!” he bellowed. “We came to find the talisman. There is no evidence of Rose’s involvement. It is mere speculation on your part, Lord Martin, and I donotcondone the continued self-serving accusation.”

Rose’s lungs finally accepted air back into her lungs. It gave her a sliver of solace to know Tristan still cared enough to protect her.

However, that comfort vanished when Tristan’s harsh gaze returned to Roman. “But wedohave concrete proof that Roman had access to the talisman and that Xavier committed treason during the first challenge. Since the lotus powder is out of the question, our options are limited…” His eyes searched the air as he thought. “It looks like we’ll have to deal with this the hard way.” Tristan gestured to the guards. “Take them to the cliffs.”

An avalanche slammed Rose to the floor. She knew what happened to those accused on the rocky seaside. He couldn’t be serious. He would never. They were his brothers. Hisblood.

But as Tristan said earlier that summer—blood doesn’t make a brother.