Page 271 of The Throne Seeker

And what was worse was she could tell he wasn’t even trying his hardest.

Despite her speed and agility, he pushed her back. Every strike she blocked forced her to retreat further. She was so focused on him, she overlooked the large fallen tree behind her.

She tripped, landing on the forest floor. Zareb would have reprimanded her for making such a foolish error.

He could have ended her right there and then, but for some reason, he seized the fallen tree instead, hoisting its weight like it was nothing more than a feather, about to set it on top of her so she couldn’t escape.

Onyx reared his head into him, knocking the siren back with such force that he flew a few feet into the air and back into the dirt. The siren rolled once and then halted his momentum by digging into the dirt with his hands. He glared up at the beast, his violet eyes glowing with irritation.

Rose was on her feet in an instant, lunging for the arrow.

But the siren was too quick. He knocked her back with one blow of his arm, forcing her onto her hands and knees.

The next moment, Roman was there. With lightning speed, he slashed at the siren with his sword. Striking with all his strength, Roman managed to stand his ground against the sirendespite his injuries, his rage providing the fuel his spent body needed.

Her siren beamed with pride, but Rose had no time to dwell on his heroics.

With the siren preoccupied, she searched for the arrow among the dense bushes. At last, she spotted it—and luckily, she also found the half-empty vial. She quickly grabbed them both.

She spun back around just in time to see the siren knock Roman’s sword out of his hands, swinging at him with such remarkable speed and power she was sure he could chop a tree down with one blow.

Roman avoided his sword, but each swipe came closer and closer to slicing him open.

He was going to die.

Rose’s siren surfaced like a volcano erupting from the depths of Vallor, her power swelling within, taking over her limbs. She refused to lose him—not when her mother had just risked everything to save him.

She charged at the siren, stepping between them, blocking the siren’s sword with her own with a loud crack.

The siren faltered backward in surprise.

Rose advanced, her muscles now somehow stronger than his. How that was possible, she didn’t know. But she channeled every ounce of the power flowing through her body, swinging her sword again and again as she steered the siren away from Roman.

At last, one of her strikes landed with enough force to momentarily weaken his arm.

She seized her opportunity, and with her hand that held the arrow, she plunged it into his exposed chest. Before he could react, she shoved her sword through his heart for good measure.

The siren faltered, stumbling back as he looked down at his chest. His eyes widened as blood dribbled down his tornclothing. His starry violet eyes flashed back to her, their beautiful color dimming with each passing moment.

He fell forward, but not before he grabbed her arm, dragging her to the forest floor with him, bringing them both to their knees.

“Listen to me,” he begged, his raw voice taking her aback with its pure sound. “I was sent to kill Tristan and Roman… and anyone else you love… to lure you out. He… he wants to isolate you so… so you’ll leave…” He struggled to take a breath. “Keep your ability to talk to creatures hidden; do not tell anyone else. Do you hear me? Not a soul…” He gasped. “Protect your mind at all costs… Save us all.”

He leaned forward and kissed her.

She was hit with a surge of power as he unlocked his guarded mind to her. A vision blinded her—memories. It was him among the trees, on the balcony, kidnapping the seer, cradling Rose’s unconscious body, the kiss he’d stolen the night Rose went missing before the third challenge, how he lured the sea beast into a snare—he revealed it all to her.

The vision shifted. She found herself in a dimly lit room resembling an underground library, where stone shelves were intertwined with trees, roots, and flowing streams. Yet, large windows revealed only an expanse of blue sky. She had never seen anything like it.

As quickly as the visions came, they left as the siren’s lips fell from hers. His violet eyes dimmed and rolled back. He landed on the forest floor with a heavy thud.

Rose scrambled backward like she was afraid he might come back to life.

Breathless, she stared at his lifeless form in a mix of terror and astonishment. Something didn’t feel right. His tone… what he’d just revealed…

She raised her fingers to her lips, his magic still tingling there. Through his touch, she felt as if he… as if he hadcaredfor her, cared about what would happen to her after he was gone. The bastard had just admitted to trying to kill everyone she loved.

So why couldn’t she help the terrifying feeling she’d just made a grave mistake?