Page 127 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

R elief washed over Rose as the grand estate appeared, sheltered by the dark mountains. Neera’s excitement flooded through her fingertips at the sight of the crystal lake, not to mention Onyx’s relief to be back on solid ground.

They landed at the manor swiftly. The sudden arrival of the small group nearly gave Gretta a heart attack, especially since Rose’s mother was still unconscious in Roman’s arms with Neera lingering in the background.

Nonetheless, Gretta overcame her shock and ushered them inside, helping Rose prepare a spot for her mother.

Although the circumstances were hurried, Gretta’s aura shone bright at the sight of Xavier, even if she couldn’t fully show it.

Rose couldn’t help but gravitate towards Gretta’s happiness.

It was more than a welcome feeling, seeing how her own sorrows, along with Roman’s and Xavier’s, were enough to drive her to insanity.

They disinfected her mother’s shoulder and helped her into a fresh dress. Rose tried to tend to Roman next, but he brushed her off, acting as though he deserved to endure his pain for a little longer.

She did her best not to melt into a puddle of tears when her mother finally woke. Rose threw her arms around her in pure relief. It had worked. The antidote had saved her life.

Darkness still filled the sky by the time she made her way out to the patio for a breath of fresh air. The bright stars were twinkling above, offering a pure, innocent comfort. From here, she could even see the giant ripples of water in the lake from Neera’s exploration.

Rose brushed her matted hair back. Gretta had insisted she bathe, but she was so exhausted, she had hardly been able to summon the energy.

As she gazed at the night sky, tears began to form in her eyes.

She attempted to hold them back, but it was futile.

The silent tears overflowed, streaming down her cheeks, Tristan’s screams haunting her.

He had done so many things to deserve this fate, and yet she knew her siren had driven him to darkness. She had driven him to darkness.

She sniffed. Her heart ached so much she wished to be rid of it altogether. If only to be free of the weight pressing harder and harder into her chest.

Rose barely noticed Xavier coming up behind her.

“I’m so sorry,” Xavier spoke softly, his eyes full of despair. “I should have taken that arrow.”

She sniffed again, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve. “No, my mother knew what she was doing. She understands better than anyone what it’s like to lose the love of your life. She was trying to save me from the same fate…”

She hadn’t realized what her words would mean for him until Xavier clenched his jaw.

His eyes faltered, doing an outstanding job of hiding his bruised heart. “Just be glad you have no regrets, Rose. You’ve always been there for her, always. You’ll never have to wish you chose something different, wish you’d done more.”

She knew he was speaking from a place of regret for his own mother.

Her gaze went to Roman, who sat on the stone steps leading into the water, staring out into the night, soaking his swollen ankle from sprinting in his condition. His bloodied eye had become so swollen it was almost sealed shut. Stubborn git. She could have healed it by now.

Her attention shifted back to Xavier as he said through his teeth, “I’m their older brother. I’m supposed to protect them, even Tristan .” He spat his name. “Roman was right. I should’ve done better by them. I should have never made Tristan take the burden of the crown.”

Rose pressed her lips together as a tear slipped out. “A burden you and I both share.”

Xavier paused. “You should know it was Tristan that beat Roman.”

Her eyes snapped to him in disbelief. “Tell me that’s not true,” she whispered.

Xavier nodded, his eyes cast down. His aura was so conflicted she didn’t know if he was more angry or sad about the fact.

“I’ve never seen him like that, Rose. The look in his eye…

it was like he wasn’t even himself. He nearly killed Roman with his bare hands.

” Xavier’s icy eyes flashed to her. “He won’t stop until he finds you.

We can’t stay here long. It’ll be the first place he looks. ”

Her heavy eyes faltered. “I know.”

A brief pause fell, the sound of the small waves from the lake filling the silence. Rose tried to take a deep breath, but her heart and lungs contracted.

Xavier hesitated before his arms wrapped around her.

She returned the gesture, taking another deep breath, and this time, her body didn’t miss a beat. She dug her fingers into his cloak. “Thank you for staying... for being willing to make more mistakes,” she whispered. She pulled back to look at him.

Xavier leaned in closer, his eyes falling to her lips for a short breath. But then he clenched his jaw, changing course, giving her a restrained kiss on the temple.

Her shoulders relaxed in relief.

He gazed at her a little too tenderly as he brushed her crusted hair from her face. “I told you, smart-ass. I’m not leaving you again… not until you command me to.”

She could only muster a weak smile in response. A part of her knew he wished she could offer him more but she couldn’t.

With that, he gave her hand a small squeeze and returned to the manor to find Gretta, leaving Rose and Roman alone on the patio.

She turned her attention to Roman, who was already walking out of the lake, his frame shaking with every step as excess water ran down his muscular legs. She walked to meet him halfway.

She was about to speak when she saw tears of blood leaking out of his swollen eye.

He looked like he’d just escaped from hell.

“It should’ve been me,” he grieved, his deep voice breaking. “My father and Evelyn… it was supposed to be me.”

Her eyes filled with tears again as she shook her head. “Don’t do that.” Rose took his face into her hands. “They loved you. They’d do anything for you.”

Roman shook his head in self-loathing. “It’s different with Evelyn.

I always knew my mother wouldn’t stay with us long, and my father would’ve been in agony if he had to live without her, but Evelyn…

she’s like you—such a force… You’d never think it was even possible for someone like her to be capable of dying. ”

Rose wrapped her arms around him, finding her favorite spot in the crook of his neck as their hearts bled together.

“None of this is your fault… It’s mine. He was never after me,” she whispered.

“He was after all of you—the people I love… I should’ve never been so selfish to stay, to think I could handle it. ”

Roman pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “We were all fooled. The siren must’ve killed Lord Barron long ago and took his place,” he theorized. “I only wonder how long he had been pretending… how long he’d been waiting.”

A realization set in. “He must have pretended to be Satin to lure you and me out to distract everyone while he stole the talisman.”

Roman nodded in agreement. “And pretend to be me when he did so I’d be blamed.”

“He said he was bound… I think he was working for someone—someone who didn’t want me to know why he was truly there.”

Both of them knew who that someone might be.

Roman thought, looking out at the water as his golden eyes mulled it over.

A wave of pain ran over him, but this time, it was a different kind of pain, more cutting.

“What is it?” Rose asked, her eyes searching his.

Roman shook his head, dismissing it. “It’s not a conversation for tonight. This night is about Evelyn.”

“Tell me,” she insisted.

Roman gave a loud sigh, shifting his swollen eye. “What happened in that room with Tristan…”

“It should’ve never happened,” she said.

Roman nodded generously before his honey eyes met hers. “I just need to know. How much of what happened was your siren… and how much of it was you?”

She knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if she had gone to that room because she, Rose , still wanted Tristan, siren aside. To see if she had gone to that room because she still wasn’t ready to let him go.

Her mouth dried as she tried to swallow. “Roman, I swear on the gods above and below I didn’t want it.” Another tear ran down her face as her eyes fell to her feet in shame. “But my siren… it wanted me to, and it makes me sick to have that darkness be a part of me.”

Roman didn’t so much as breathe.

Her hands shook as she looked back up at him with hesitant eyes. “If you don’t want me… if you can’t do this, I underst?—”

Roman cut her off, grabbing her arm, drawing her in with a sharp movement. “Don’t,” he breathed as he leaned down to press his forehead to hers. “Don’t you dare even think losing you is something I could survive.”

Tears poured out onto her cheeks. She hated being like this. She hated herself—that sick, wet, slimy thing living in her.

She choked back a sob as his gaze gently held hers. “You don’t need to be jealous of anyone, ever.”

He wiped her tears with his calloused fingers.

“I’m not jealous. I’m territorial. If I were jealous, it would mean I want something I don’t have…

and I have you, Roe. I know it. I can feel it.

Every time our eyes meet, I see the same fireworks in your eyes that are in mine.

I feel your body relax into a state that happens only when I’m around.

I see the smile that is reserved for me, and only me, and I know there is no one else you’d give that to. ”

She sniffed as more tears poured out.

He caught a tear with his lips as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “I know men are going to want you. I knew it going into this. Hell, I knew it before you were a siren. I know I will always have to continue to fight for you. The challenge doesn’t sway me.

I fight for what I want. And I want you… To the gods, I’ll always want you.”

Rose let out a shaky breath of relief. Her voice cracked as she declared, “I love you more than anything in this world. More than the starlit sky, more than the books I read, more than I’ve ever loved anyone… I am yours.”

Roman’s eyes filled with moisture as a bloody tear spilled out. “And you are mine,” he whispered back, lightly pressing his lips against hers.

She kissed him back, then moved to the bruises on his face. Her lips lingered softly over each mark before she returned to his lips again, kissing him tenderly, trying not to hurt the swollen cut on his lower lip.

“The next move is yours, Rose,” Roman murmured. “What do you want to do?”

Her gaze shifted to the sky, looking to the burning stars floating in the heavens above them.

“We go into hiding and do what the snawfus told me to,” she proclaimed, still searching the stars.

“I’m going to learn everything I can, and then we’re going to find these men… I fear the game is barely afoot.”