Page 106 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

A s the sun dipped below the horizon, twilight wrapped the world in a warm glow, casting a tangerine blanket over Rose’s room as she got ready for the ball.

She’d opted for a dress made of a light sea-green, form-fitting fabric. The elegant trumpet gown hugged her hips, cascading down to the floor. It went perfectly with the golden mask Thea had designed, interwoven with a green ribbon around its edges.

Thea had achieved the wet hair look Rose had requested by applying some sort of unique mixture to her wild mane, infusing it with a deliciously fragrant jasmine scent.

She let her wavy pearl-white hair flow freely beyond her shoulders, forgoing the usual court updo.

She looked like she’d returned straight from a swim.

It was perfect.

Looking into the floor-length mirror still took her by surprise. The lethal beauty she now possessed was like a honed weapon, poised to strike any unsuspecting bystander.

Definitely not the worst fate imaginable.

Her gaze lowered to the mask in her hands. An idea came.

She had Thea fetch her some shimmery gold paint, similar to what she wore for her coming out ball. She stuck her fingers into the cool, thick liquid and went to work, drawing the bindrune symbol on her chest, just as the seer had during the second succession trial.

The seer had said that it would give her strength.

And tonight, she was determined to harness whatever strength she could find.

Rose stood atop the magnificent marble staircase in the same spot as she had earlier that summer, her siren eyes peering through her golden mask at the dancing couples below.

The girl who had stood here before… was gone. Forever. Pain gripped her heart to know she wouldn’t be coming back.

But that was a death to mourn another day.

Taking a deep breath, Rose stepped down the smooth marble stairs, keeping her head held high.

With each step, heads turned. Whispers circulated.

Jaws dropped. Their eyes fixated on the shimmering symbol on her chest. Her shaky knees threatened to buckle, but she pushed through the insecurity.

She scoured the crowd, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

The court stopped dancing altogether as the music faded into silence. She had captured the entire room’s attention. Good.

She was halfway down the staircase when she stopped, taking another steady breath.

Her hands lifted to untie the ribbon securing her mask, sliding it off her face inch by inch. She lifted her chin, flashing her sea-green eyes upward to the crowd.

Gasps of shock spread like wildfire. A mixture of emotions slammed her from all directions—some curious and eager, others blazing with hostility.

Before, she would have cowered under the scrutinizing eyes, but not tonight.

Tonight, she had to fake confidence until she bled it.

With that thought, Rose let a menacing smile ensnare her lips as she straightened her back and shoulders. She continued descending the stairs until she was walking among them.

The crowd parted like the Meridian Sea as she strutted through them, scanning each person as if judging to see if any of them could meet her high standards.

And there was one that surpassed them all.

Roman stood in the middle of the parted sea, just as besotted as the rest. His soft lips parted in awe as his gold eyes fell prey to hers. His thick brown hair spilled in natural waves, hovering above the golden shoulder pads of his tunic.

Those dangerous muscles shifted to face her.

Her feet faltered as her world went quiet, her vision fogging from the steam boiling within her.

She fell into him like the rain fell into the sea. Stretched for him like the trees stretched for the sun. Burned for him like a wildfire devoured a dry forest.

She was still standing there as he stalked to her, his strides solid. Bold. Unafraid.

He held his arm out to her.

Without hesitation, she took it.

And with one graceful motion, he whisked her across the dance floor, and got lost in a realm entirely their own.