Page 6 of The Throne Seeker

Her heart swelled at the sheer tenderness of his voice. “You were needed here. But I appreciate your thoughts all the same.” She changed the subject, continuing through the shelves. She didnotwant to delve into that bag of worms today. “Your father must be so relieved about the peace treaty… I still can’t believe Roman’s a general.”

“Not just a general. The general overallof Cathan’s armies.” His eyes glowed with pride. “The youngest Cathan has ever seen.”

“I know it’s been a long time, but I still feel so frightened for him.” She kept picturing her younger best friend running toward her with a frog in hand and a bright smile.

Tristan’s kind expression made her weak in the knees. She’d forgotten how small she felt to be pinned under his gaze. “You underestimate him. He’s become one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. I wish I could’ve joined him, but my father wanted me here.”

“Xavier seems more distant. How is he?” she asked.

Tristan scowled at the sound of his name. “You’ll find that, like Roman, Xavier has also changed, but not for the better.”

Her eyes shifted to meet his in alarm. “Why? What’s happened?”

Tristan’s gaze lowered. “It’s a story for another time.” He dismissed the question as if shaking off a bad memory. “But Xavier’s mistakes have cost Cathan dearly. Nowadays, he ignores his duties, drinks far too much, and disappears completely for days at a time. I’m starting to wonder what my father will do with him.”

She stopped walking as they settled in a quiet, deserted aisle. “You don’t mean they’re thinking of stripping him of his succession?” she asked in disbelief.

Tristan shrugged, looking perfectly unsympathetic. “I can’t be certain, but if my father challenges it, it’ll be up to him and the council to decide.”

“Would he do that?” She didn’t want to believe the king had lost hope. “You know Xavier; he’s always been so… grounded.” Dare she say almost to a fault. He was a stickler when it came to obeying rules and orders. Always the voice of reason. Always the protector. Territory, she imagined, he’d gained by being two years older than Rose and Tristan.

“You’ve been gone longer than you think. If he continues like this… it’ll be a disaster.”

They couldn’t be talking about the same Xavier. Not the one who’d spent all his time studying in this very library with her. Not the Xavier who had given countless hours of youth to hisfather preparing for his duties. Not the Xavier who had won his succession by nearly dying while climbing a treacherous mountainside.

“But who would be your father’s successor?” Before he could answer, she pieced the puzzle together, her eyes widening. If Xavier were denounced, a new succession period would be forced open. “Does that mean you could be…”

“The next king of Cathan?” Tristan finished her sentence, neither looking happy nor sad about the fact. “Yes. But to be honest, it’s a slim chance. Remember, there are many great Houses who could easily have a chance at the throne.”

Her thoughts drifted as she looked through the sunny haze streaming from the window, shining on a volume of books. Never had she had a single reservation that Xavier would be the next king. The calmness he projected and the faith he instilled in others came as naturally to him as breathing. He’d always held himself to a higher standard because of it.

She came out of her daze, looking back at Tristan, his eyes already on her.

His face finally broke composure. “Hell, I’ve missed you.” He lifted his hand to brush the hair out of her face.

Her pounding heart soared. “Nonsense.” She tried to keep her voice light. “I’m sure you’ve been too busy to think of me.”

“You can’t be serious,” he said in a sharp whisper. “Ever since you left, there hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought about you. When you didn’t respond to my letters… I was afraid you’d moved on.” He stepped forward, standing so close, his heavenly scent filled her lungs while his hand slid smoothly into hers.

She gazed at their entwined hands. How she could still feel so strongly for him was strange. After such a long time apart, she thought maybe her feelings would fizzle out. But they hadn’t. It was like they’d lost no time at all—nothing had changed. An invisible thread pulled at her, bringing her closer to him.

Tristan lifted her chin so she had to look him in the eye. “I keep thinking about our last conversation before you left. I know you chose to leave because of the present circumstances, but we have to have it out, Rose. After all this time, you being here in front of me solidifies that I’m still in love with you. I never stopped loving you.”

Her heart ached. The hope that he felt the same way had seemed slim to none. She’d told herself it would be foolish to believe he could still feel the same—that it was only wishful thinking. But here he was, standing before her as if none of that mattered.

It was enough to make the veins in her body burn to ash.

“I was afraid after I left… I wasn’t sure if you hated me,” she admitted softly.

“Are you mad?” He looked at her as if she were insane. “Did you not readanythingI said in my letters?Beggingyou to come back?” His lips hovered close to hers, so close she was sure he would kiss her. Instead, the breath of his words brushed her skin. “You couldn’t push me away even if you wanted to.”

She looked back at him as longing poured out from her soul. She wasn’t prepared for this—for the tug at her heart to be stronger than when she’d left, for the aching hole to be just as deep as before.

“Please.” His hands slid up the back of her neck into her hair. “Promise me you won’t leave again.”

She wrapped her hand around his wrist. “I wish I could, but you know things still haven’t changed.”

“But don’t you see? This could changeeverything.” Hope gleamed in his eye. “It won’t matter if Xavier is married or not. And if I do become king, I willneedto marry. My father will want it done quickly. He adores you. He’d approve the match, I’m sure of it. I could be the strongest leader this province has ever seen with you by my side.”