Page 270 of The Throne Seeker

He laughed, a beautiful, dark, cocky sound. “By the gods, you really are beautiful, even by a siren’s standards. You can kiss me if you want.” He stepped closer, filling her lungs with the scent of fresh pine. “I’ll kiss back,” he taunted, mocking her.

“Stay away from me,” she hissed, not lowering her sword for a second.

“Why don’t we go somewhere private?” he continued, his violet eyes shining like stars in the heavens, drawing her in. “Then we won’t be interrupted by your three human boyfriends who are sure to try to come save you. But then again, it might be good. I’ll get to kill them, too.”

Rose’s face darkened, her grip on her sword tightening. She caught him off guard with a swift kick to the shoulder, knocking him to the ground as she exploited the arrow wound. She wanted nothing more than to end him, but she had too many unanswered questions and she didn’t know how quickly the Dragonshade would take her mother’s life; time was not on her side.

Thunder cracked through the heavens, clouds threatening to rain as the siren lifted a suggestive eyebrow. “You know, if you wanted me on my back, you could’ve just asked.”

Onyx sank his hooves into the dirt, threatening to charge him, but Rose held up her hand, telling him to stay put. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“I can’t tell you…” He breathed hard. “I’m bound not to.”

She delved into his mind to see if he was telling the truth, but just as before, there was nothing. It was like he was void ofany aura or emotion—a black wall of darkness, a blank space. Nothing.

“You can’t see into my mind.” His flawless, sloped, masculine lips spread into a smirk. “But if you come with me, I’ll teach you. If you’re lucky, I may just let you enter… willingly.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed, hating how he had information she so desperately needed. “You killed the king. You tried to kill Roman. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. You’ll never leave these woods again.”

“If you think you can beat me, think again. You may have had your human pets teaching you how to fight, but going up against a well-trained siren is well out of your reach,” he declared as his ethereal face hardened. “I can assure you, you will lose.”

“I don’t know about that.” Rose peered at his wound. “That arrowhead is laced with Dragonshade. It may just weaken you enough to let me beat you. If it doesn’t kill you first.”

His enchanted laugh blew with the same wind that tossed his sandy hair. “You think I’d bring a poison I didn’t have the cure to?” He retrieved a vial from his robes.

He’d had the cure this whole time.

“It wasyou,” she realized. “Youwere the one I saw in the trees during the first challenge and on the balcony.Youwere the one who tried to kill Roman.”

“Guilty.” He shrugged, indifferent. “I dressed up as one of your precious boyfriends in case anyone saw me hiding in the trees. And I would’ve killed him if you hadn’t interfered.”

“Why? Why would you want to kill him?”

He hesitated as though he was sorting through his words carefully. “For you,” he said as if it was obvious. “I tried my best to protect you, to get you on the throne, but these humans were too scared of you. If you stay now—protected by the king or not—theywillturn on you, just as they have on every siren in history. You’re meant for so much more than this pathetic human life,”he spat. “I tried to make you see that when I chained you to the cliffs and wrangled the sea beast. After the third challenge, I thought you’d see you were different, but you were blind to what was right in front of you. You have no idea who you truly are or where you come from. Come with me. I can show you, teach you, tell you everything you want to know.”

Instincts told her his words were true. But even with all that he had to offer, she was against him. Not after all he had done. What he had tried to do.

She lifted her chin. “I don’t want you or anything you have to offer.”

The cunning corners of his mouth lifted. The handsome action alone was enough to make her defenses cave. “I was hoping we could do this the easy way, but…” He looked over her shoulder, and the creases of his grin deepened. “It looks like I’ll have to persuade you.”

Rose glanced behind her.

Roman rode at breakneck speed on horseback. His mangled body clung on despite his grimaces with each jolt. Her siren sensed his turmoil from afar, the stifling panic that would ensue if he lost her.

The siren’s smirk spread wide. “Finally, I can get this over with.” He brought the small vial to his lips. “It’s been awful doing it the stealthy way.” He tipped it back.

Rose lunged for it, but he shifted his shoulder to avoid her blow. He grabbed her wrist and brought her into his chest.

A ravishing smile played on his lips. “We don’t need to play games. You’ve already won me. If you want me to come closer, I’ll willingly do so.” His velvety violet eyes roamed her as his sweet breath intoxicated her. He lifted his hand to stroke her pearl hair. “Gods, my siren adores you. It’s been an absolute nightmare trying to keep it at bay.” He leaned forward, about to place his lips on hers.

Rose shoved him back, slashing her sword at him. He dodged her attack with ease and lunged for the arrow on the ground. With his arm raised, he prepared to throw the arrow at Roman, who kept coming closer.

She took advantage of the distraction and shoved her elbow into the wound on his back.

The siren emitted an involuntary grunt as the arrow slipped from his grip to the forest floor. He lashed back around, drawing his sword, and swung. She pivoted, focusing on her footwork as their blades clashed.

Despite her best efforts, his blows were strong—too strong.