Page 104 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

I t didn’t take much to convince the king of their plan.

Whether it was the loss of his wife or the growing urgency to uncover who the insurgents were, King Henrik was prepared to take the risk if Rose was.

They implemented every possible precaution. The king commanded double the guards to ensure the castle would be secured twice over. Once the ball commenced, no one would be allowed to enter or leave the grounds. Every attendee would be accounted for, leaving no stone unturned.

They did all this if only to reassure Rose’s mother, who despised the idea—taking Xavier’s side.

They argued back and forth, but Rose emerged victorious with the king’s added reassurance that nothing would happen to Rose under his protection.

As for the funeral preparations, the king ordered the passing ceremony to be the following night, allowing the servants enough time to prepare.

High emotions shadowed Rose at every turn, the ache in each member of the royal family draining her reserves.

It was as if the god of death hovered over her shoulder, sapping the happiness out of her.

At times, it became so unbearable that it forced her to flee the room entirely.

She was afraid she’d be driven to madness if it stayed like this for much longer.

After having brunch with her mother and taking a long, well-needed nap, Rose stepped out onto her balcony, savoring the moment of solitude.

She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. The sound of the sea waves quieted her mind as she soaked in the beating sunlight.

She dropped her gaze down to the sword strapped to her hips.

She brushed her fingers along the intricate design of roses and vines.

It made her think of Zareb. She missed him terribly.

She wondered where he was now, if he’d found safety in Semaria.

He’d given his life to serve Cathan, and with one trespass, one mistake, he’d lost it all. All because he chose to help her.

Her heart hardened. She wished she could write to him, if only to ease her mind.

A knock came at the door, and before she could even answer, they let themselves in.

Rose didn’t need to look to recognize who those footsteps belonged to, sensing it in the dangerous way he shifted his weight—the commanding strides of a general. Only when Roman was standing beside her did she lift her eyes to meet his.

A weight lifted off both of them at the same time. The ache of his absence faded, but she could still sense the haunting sadness even as relief filled his eyes.

A smile slipped onto her lips to cheer him up. His mouth tugged upward in response as he leaned down to claim her smile, parting her lips with his. She opened without resistance, her hands gliding up his chest to encircle his neck.

“Damn, this ring does nothing,” he rumbled against her lips. “I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“You were gone a lot longer than a few hours,” she said pointedly.

“I know. I’m sorry.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “But there’s something I want to show you. Something you need to see.” He took her hand and urged her to follow him.

His face was all too somber, so she agreed without question.

With her hood up, Roman led her to the castle’s lower levels she’d seldom been to. The winding staircase led down… down, passing the dungeons that had held Xavier earlier that summer—a lifetime ago.

Still, they descended as the air turned cooler. Damp. Ancient.

Rose hadn’t even known the castle extended this far down.

At last, they reached the end of the staircase leading to a stretched hallway. At the end stood a weathered wooden door, beckoning them into a shadowy tunnel. Roman grasped the large torch next to the hole before entering.

A twinge of claustrophobia crept in as they pressed on. While the tunnel could easily accommodate five grown men, its curved ceilings felt uncomfortably low. Rose fought the urge to turn back, forcing one foot in front of the other, unconsciously squeezing Roman’s hand tighter.

Roman gently pressed her hand to his chest, pulling her closer. He kissed her knuckles, spreading a tingling sensation up her arm.

“Where are we going?” she asked, not knowing exactly why she whispered the question.

“The oldest structure within the castle, and maybe even Vallor itself… the royal tombs,” Roman answered.

Rose crouched to avoid a long spiderweb hanging from the ceiling. “And why would we be doing that?”

He gazed down at her. “Because the past may just help us understand the future.”

Rose wasn’t sure how long they’d been walking, until she noticed roots hanging between the stones above, indicating they were no longer beneath the castle. “Where are we exactly?”

“An underground tunnel that leads to the old ruins underneath the original castle,” Roman explained.

When they finally came to the end of the tunnel, Roman took the initiative by opening another large, creaky door. Its hinges squeaked in a high pitch as it swung open.

They entered a vast, oval-shaped chamber constructed from light-gray limestone. It was well lit compared to the dreary tunnel they’d just trudged through, with torches placed every ten feet or so along the walls. The flames emitted a subtle white flame, different from the torch Roman was carrying.

She gawked at the flame. Magic. Those flames were kindled by ancient magic. Eternal flames that would never go out.

Numerous tombs surrounded her, filling every inch of the curved walls. Four arched hallways stretched between them, branching out in every direction toward what she presumed were even more tombs. Cathan’s sun symbol was carved on the archways and each tomb.

At the center stood a life-sized statue of a stout older man with an exceptionally long beard and sunken eyes. He, too, bore Cathan’s sun symbol around his neck.

“This is where they buried the kings and queens of old. Back when Cathan was first settled,” Roman said as he approached the statue in the center of the room. “This is the first king, Argarion Atticus.”

The founder of Cathan. An eerie breeze grazed her skin. “Will your parents be placed to rest here?”

He shook his head. “No, they prefer to have a boat ceremony… Something about not wanting to spend eternity in a hole,” he added with a saddened smile.

Her thumb stroked the back of his hand. “I’m sorry.” The pathetic phrase spewed out of her on repeat.

“To be honest, it hasn’t hit me yet.” Roman looked away down the halls. “There’s been so much going on, I haven’t been able to stop and think about it.”

“She loved you, you know. I know how proud she was of you… How you led the war for us.”

“Being good at killing isn’t what she was proud of… The only reason I have for her to be proud is standing right in front of me.” He kissed her temple. “I do regret she won’t get to see us married… or meet our children.” His gaze dropped to her stomach as he gently brushed it with his thumbs.

Her cheeks flushed with the heat of eternal flames. The thought of carrying his child aroused her more than she’d care to admit.

She took those thoughts and buried them deeper than this tomb. Now was not the time for that.

But one day… she’d allow herself to dream.

“If we aren’t here for your mother, what are we doing?” she asked, surveying the chilling chambers.

His eyes conveyed a hidden burden. “What I’m about to show you is an ancient secret that’s been kept since the founding of Cathan. You cannot tell a soul what you’re about to see. You must promise.”

Rose’s curiosity was piqued. “I promise.”

He switched his torch for one of the eternal flames, stretching out his free hand again. “This way.” He gestured to one of the hallways.

She accepted his hand, clutching it like she was being led into a dragon’s lair, secretly cringing on the inside that there were still more tunnels to be explored.

A small smile played on his lips. “You’re looking at me like the first time I made you swim at Highland Haven. I’m not trying to kill you.”

She shrugged. “It’s always a possibility.”

“You and I both know it’s quite the opposite.”

Rose gave him a dangerous smile. “I suppose it’s a good thing I like you, then,” she mused. She glanced down at his lips, gaining a sudden hunger for them. But if they started, she’d never stop, and she refused to be down here any longer than necessary.

Roman let out a harsh laugh that echoed off the walls. “An incredibly good thing,” he concurred, pressing a kiss to her temple.

They trudged through one passage after another, their footsteps carrying down the silent tunnels. Turn after turn, she followed him. She counted one…two… seven… twelve.

These passages weren’t just a maze—it was a labyrinth.

She prayed Roman knew where he was going because she was lost. Each turn looked the same as the one before. No doubt the purpose of it all.

She frowned as they reached a dead end.

Without hesitation, Roman approached the stone wall. His fingertips glided over the dusty grooves, searching for something. He stopped on a singular stone, blowing the dust away, uncovering a small sun symbol in the upper corner. Ever so gently, he pressed the stone inward.

The wall shifted, triggering a chain reaction that shook the ground. Rose steadied herself as the wall slid to the side. Dust settled to reveal an ancient wooden door covered with runes, so old it had to have been created long before the castle was built.

Roman retrieved a key tucked away in his pocket, holding it out so she could see Cathan’s emblem on its head. With it, he unlocked the door, producing over a dozen clicks ricocheting into the ground beneath their feet.

Before he opened the door, he glanced at the bronze key in his hand. “Do you know why Cathan’s symbol is the sun?”

Rose paused, not knowing why it was pertinent, but she still responded. “The sun signifies life itself. It sustains us by bringing energy, power, and light to our world.”

“It does… but there is a little more to it than that.”