Page 19 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

A t dinner, Rose looked for Tristan, but with a multitude of unfamiliar faces swarming the grand hall, he was nowhere to be seen. She, her mother, and Zareb were confined to a cramped corner, far from where they normally sat.

Rose managed to steer clear of any social interaction by indulging in wild turkey and roasted asparagus, making sure to save room for the raspberry tart she’d been eyeing—so delectable that her taste buds demanded a second helping.

She was just about to retreat to her room when Grant appeared out of thin air.

“Rose.” His infamous handsome grin was plastered on his face. Didn’t he ever get sick of smiling all the time? “I’m glad I caught you. I saw that the gardens are lit tonight. What do you say about that tour?”

She wanted, with every fiber of her being, to say no, but before she could answer, her mother put a hand on her forearm, digging her fingers in to keep her from denying him. “Oh, I’m sure she would love that! She was just telling me how she needed to stretch her legs.”

Rose forced a smile. “Why not?”

She let Grant lead the way, weaving them through the crowd and out through the double doors.

The trees in the garden swayed in the soft breeze, rustling the leaves above.

The summer hydrangeas were now in full bloom, with freshwater trickling beneath them through small trenches.

The additional torches lit their path perfectly in the darkness, adding their light to the two moons.

Zareb and Grant’s guard followed quietly behind them in the shadows, giving the two space.

“You’ve made it a point to keep yourself scarce around the castle,” Grant noted as they strolled down the path. “I hope that it hasn’t been my doing.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, warding off the chill. “No. Of course not. I’ve just been keeping myself busy.”

“Busy from what, I wonder.” He tilted his head.

“More than you imagine,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m not the most popular guest in the castle at the moment.”

“It is strange that I don’t have more suitors to compete with,” he agreed.

“I suppose both you and my mother gave me more credit than I deserve.”

He smiled like a sly fox who knew something. “I suppose.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t agree?”

“Oh, come on, Rose. You must know.”

She stared at him, bewildered.

“Tristan has made sure no one else pursues you,” Grant said, confirming her mother’s theory. He plucked a leaf from a bush along the pathway. “He’s gone as far as threatening each and every suitor who has expressed interest in you.”

Rose immediately shook her head in denial. “You’re wrong. He wouldn’t do that.”

He inspected the leaf in his hands, twirling it with his fingers. “Go ask any of the men you danced with at the ball. I’m sure they’ll tell you the same.”

She fixed her eyes on the pathway ahead as something ugly twisted in her gut.

They stopped when they reached the central fountain. It towered over both of them, fanning water high out into the air, only for it to cascade down to the lower tiers and eventually gather at the base.

“I have to ask,” Grant said, lifting his clover eyes.

“You’ve made it clear you have no interest in me, but I can’t help but think you and your mother must have some reason to believe a marriage with Tristan is unobtainable.

Or your mother wouldn’t go to the trouble of pushing me onto you.

If I’m right, Tristan must think this so-called ‘reason’ is irrelevant because he has made it clear he’ll marry you anyway.

Or…” He dropped the leaf, watching it flutter down into the water and drift away.

“Or?” she prodded, curious to hear his other theory.

Grant snuck a side glance. “Or perhaps Tristan is much more attached to you than you are to him.”

Her eyes returned to the fountain. “That’s not true. The situation is… complicated.”

He flashed a smile. “Is that why you choose to tolerate me?”

Her eyes narrowed, not liking how he presumed to know so much. “Would you rather I didn’t?”

For the first time, Grant’s face turned somber, gazing at her sincerely.

He edged closer, his tall frame towering over hers.

“I’d rather you choose to do so because you want to, not because it’s what your mother or anyone else wants.

Look, I’m not asking you to marry me… I’m just asking for some time. ”

Her throat tightened as she slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Her first instinct was to say no, but she’d promised her mother she’d keep all avenues open, even if she thought them unnecessary.

So she gave him hope.

“I think I can do that.”

His large, handsome grin returned. “I can ask for no more.”

They made their way around the fountain, choosing the southern path this time. They passed a group of spectators who became silent as they passed, then began whispering amongst themselves as soon as they were out of earshot, showing no effort to hide their gossiping.

“It seems as though I’m the envy of the castle,” Grant observed.

She put a hand to her chest dramatically. “I’m sorry about that. I know how much you hate the attention,” she replied with sarcasm.

Grant smirked, his sparkly white teeth practically glowing in the dim light. “You know, you aren’t what I thought you’d be.”

She kept her eyes on the blooms, running her fingers over the velvety petals. “What do you mean?”

“I thought I’d have trouble liking a girl like you.”

Her eyebrows rose. “A girl like me?”

“Gorgeous girls with money, genes, and status like you are usually a bit more… pretentious. I admit that this is what I believed you to be from the first time I saw you. But you possess quite a charm about you. So much so that you’ve won over not only the king’s favor, but, dare I say, his affection as well.

That speech at the ball had everyone reeling.

You have all the cards laid out in your favor, and you still have a humble aura.

It’s quite the breath of fresh air. It’s as if you… ” He drifted off.

She cocked her head, curious. “If I what?”

His eyes hung onto hers. “It’s as if you’re too good to be true.”

She shifted, letting the shadows hide her face before he could see the flicker of shame. If only he knew she didn’t have two gold coins to rub together. He wouldn’t be so keen on her then.

Still, his flattering words chipped away at her defenses.

“You make me sound like a rare gem,” she teased, flipping her hair with a coy smile. “So tell me, do you think I’m a master manipulator like the rest of them?”

“No, though you have done extremely well for someone like yourself. Worming your way into the affection of the king was brilliant. But knowing your mother, I think the effort was more on her part than yours. Just look at you, an upper-middle-class House being nominated for the throne. So tell me, are you going to accept the nomination?”

She fiddled with her fingers. “I haven’t decided.”

Grant sidestepped, cutting her off mid-stride.

She looked up to find a fire burning in his eyes.

“If you are, I suggest you weigh your options before putting all your eggs in one basket. Tristan isn’t the only player in this game, and personally, I’d rather see you and I as allies than enemies.

I want you to wear the same colors as me at the rally. ”

His bold request took her by surprise. If she did what he asked, it would mean she’d be wearing the same colored dress as his tunic, implying an alliance, not only for the rally but for the entire succession.

Alliances in past successions weren’t common, but they had proven to be effective when made carefully.

The longer she searched his eyes, the more she began to piece together his true intentions. Grant knew that if she chose to enter, she and Tristan would become a force to be reckoned with, and he was looking for a way to stop it.

And getting under Tristan’s skin would be an added bonus.

She bit her lip to refrain from saying something she’d regret. “You know I can’t do that.”

He tilted his head, trying to catch her eye. “Why, pray tell?”

Her eyes sharpened in defiance. “I’m not going to be used as a pawn in this game by you or anyone else. If you want to win the succession, you’ll have to find another way.”

A dangerous smile crossed his lips. “I see. Well, it was worth a shot. Like I said, I can’t be mad at your loyalty. But soon, I think you might find yourself switching teams, especially when Tristan starts to crumble. It will happen sooner or later during this succession, I promise you.”

A molten fire grew inside her, but her etiquette kicked in as she managed to keep her mask on. All avenues open , her mother’s words rang in her mind. “I think you’re underestimating him.”

He didn’t look the least bit bothered. “Perhaps, but I’ve known Tristan his entire life.

He’s not level-headed like Xavier—well, the old Xavier.

He has more to lose, which means he has more weaknesses.

And he has one the whole province can see, and I’m staring at it right now…

He’d better tread carefully, or the throne won’t be the only thing he’ll lose. ”

She wanted to lash back and deny the claim, but she held her tongue, choosing not to take his bait.

Instead, she changed the subject, directing her attention to a large, closed bud. “Are you familiar with the lunar flower?”

The evasion didn’t faze Grant as he approached the flower with her. “No. Should I be?”

She shrugged. “You might want to be. It does have quite useful healing properties. It’s a moonflower.”

Grant lifted an eyebrow in question.

“It means it only blooms in darkness,” she explained, using the torch snuffer on the side of the path to extinguish the nearest torches. After a brief moment, as complete darkness crept upon the petals, the fist-sized bud opened, exposing its midnight-blue and purple petals.

She pointed to the whitish-yellow pistil at the center. “If you boil these with water and drink it, it will help reduce swelling around a wound and ease the pain. I used it a lot when I helped in the medical tents last summer.” She glanced up to find Grant wasn’t looking at the flower.

His eyes flickered with surprise. “You helped in the medical tents?”

“Yes. My mother was insistent last year that I learn more about the benefits of healing,” she lied.

In reality, it was her previous trainer, Warren, who had insisted that she learn.

He’d said that if he was going to teach her how to kill and destroy, she would have to learn how to heal and save as well.

He’d said life was a delicate balance, and she wouldn’t be able to understand one without the other.

Without that understanding, one would be led into darkness.

Though he had been too old physically to spar aggressively, he gave her a unique spiritual outlook that made a lasting impression on her.

She mourned deeply after his passing just a month ago.

“I had a nurse last year,” Grant said. She’d nearly forgotten, from all his lightheartedness, that he, too, had just returned from war. “Though she wasn’t nearly as pretty as you. I’m quite jealous.”

Her brow quirked. “Of what?”

“Of the men you helped.” He took a subtle step towards her in the darkness, all trace of humor gone. “To have you touch my bare skin is something I’ve only dreamed of, and they got to experience it.”

Her cheeks burned. She opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came out.

Grant’s cocky grin returned. “Where’s that cheekiness now, Rosalie Versalles?”

She clapped her mouth shut. A cold smile grew on her face. “I’d have to find you bleeding out on the floor before I touched your bare skin.”

Grant simply laughed into the cool air.

They explored the garden until she’d led him down each path. Throughout their walk, Grant tested her knowledge on the various flowers and herbs, making small talk.

After finishing the tour, Grant escorted her to the castle and wished her good night.

And to her utter surprise, she no longer found Grant as repulsive as before.