Page 92 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

A s cliché as it sounded, the next few days were something out of a romance novel.

Rose and Roman were inseparable, spending every waking moment together.

Each night was the same, sleeping intertwined.

An ever-constant thirst for him lived within her, and he was just as crazed—which, in turn, led to them making love whenever they got the chance.

The simplest of touches turned within an instant.

A brush of a hand. A peck on the cheek. A lingering stare.

Dangerous games.

One afternoon, their usual training session in the woods took an unexpected turn, evolving into a different kind of session. She’d never been so happy to be pinned to the ground.

Best lesson yet, in her opinion.

Gretta was ecstatic about the blossoming relationship, beaming every time she saw them.

She learned to leave food at the door in the mornings when they missed breakfast, knowing better than to enter.

Her spirits were so lifted that she’d hardly scolded them as they trailed lake water through the halls, barely making it back to the bedroom before they claimed each other.

Two weeks later, Roman decided to go hunt. Despite Rose pointing out the ominous dark-gray clouds overhead, it didn’t deter him as he muttered a complaint, something along the lines of not having fresh meat.

She was leaning in to kiss him goodbye when he grabbed her arm. “You think you’re not coming with me?” He brushed her nose with his, his lips slipping into a crooked smile as he handed her a bow and arrow. “Come on, we’ll see if I’ve taught you anything.”

Which was how they ended up roaming the woods that day. Onyx took them farther north than usual. Rose didn’t mind in the slightest as Roman stroked the inside of her thigh every so often from behind, just to make sure the ache for him never left.

The usual turquoise lake morphed into a deep indigo from the dark clouds blanketing the sky. Highland Haven appeared only as big as a single gold coin as they ventured forth deeper into the mountains.

Once they’d gone far enough to satisfy Roman, they left Onyx by a small creek to drink while they continued on foot. They decided to split up to cover more ground, agreeing to meet back at the creek in an hour.

It was embarrassing how she missed him from the moment he left. It had to have only been a few minutes, and she already wanted to go back and find him.

She pressed on, brushing the ever-present need for him aside.

The forest was quiet, the trees still—the calm before the storm.

A distant rumble of thunder from the west echoed off the mountains as she kept alert, looking for any signs of tracks or scat like Roman had told her to.

To her pleasant surprise, she found a peculiar set of tracks that was reasonably fresh but unfamiliar.

She bent down, running her fingers along its edges. The soil was soft and moist between her fingers. She’d never seen a track quite like this. It looked like a deer’s, but it was too large—much too large. Perhaps a moose?

She followed the trail. Its leg span was farther apart, much like Onyx’s. Its prints wound through the trees, and she took a mental note of random nibbles on the leaves and branches along the way.

The tracks led her to a large clearing. She continued cautiously, careful to keep her feet light.

A rustling sound came from up ahead.

She strained her ears. More rustling.

Slowly, she readied her bow, stepping out of the tree line. She stealthily cocked her arm, ready to strike.

She froze at what she saw.

In the clearing stood a pearl-colored creature, looking almost radiant against the natural hues of the forest. It resembled a deer, only much larger. Its antlers were intricately beautiful, graced with soft blooms, reminding her of plum branches blooming in early spring.

She recognized the creature from illustrations in her books.

A snawfus.

Based on what she’d read—which was but a mere few paragraphs—it was supposed to be extinct.

Said to hold depths of untold power. Arguably, the most powerful magical creature in the realm.

Throughout history, many humans had sought to kill them and harness the creatures’ power for themselves.

Even esteemed leaders from the past had done so, gaining their power and strength from the blood of the snawfus.

It was regarded as a tremendous honor. Undoubtedly why they went extinct.

But apparently, that fact didn’t hold true.

Rose took another step to get a better look, emerging out of the woods while keeping her arrow aimed at its heart, unsure of its nature. She must not have been paying enough attention to her foot placement because a twig snapped loudly beneath her.

The creature’s head whipped toward her.

Her arms strained, holding her ground as its light-gray eyes bored into her soul. She held her breath, adrenaline pounding through her veins.

If she wanted to, she could let go of the arrow. She was confident enough in her skills to know she wouldn’t miss. It wouldn’t have time to escape.

But what she saw in the snawfus’s eyes was nothing like she’d ever seen. It looked so innocent, so pure. No aggression or fear could be found in them, even as she kept the deadly weapon pointed at its heart. The fact made her heart soften, and she decided to put her faith in the magical creature.

Ever so slowly, she lowered her bow, placing it on the ground at her feet, sure to never take her eyes off the snawfus.

The creature’s misty eyes widened. Its body shifted toward her slowly, coming closer.

She almost wondered if she’d made a mistake by dropping her weapon. There was no way she could outrun it. It’d catch up to her with a few strides of its long legs. If it wanted, it could easily trample her to death. She could do nothing but hold her ground and pray it wouldn’t hurt her.

Its eyes never left hers as it neared, locking her in a trance.

It didn’t stop until it was face to face with her.

You didn’t kill me, the whimsical, feminine voice said in her mind.

Rose jumped, though she supposed she should’ve expected it. This was now the fourth magical creature to speak to her.

No, she replied.

Why? I sense you know what I am. The power I possess. Don’t you want it for yourself? the snawfus asked.

No. I have no need of it, she responded in all candor.

The snawfus looked at her with brighter eyes. Then you are a rarer creature than I—one with a pure heart. Especially rare for a siren, but then again, I’ve never met a half-breed.

Her blood ran cold. What did you just say?

The snawfus blinked, realizing she didn’t know. My dear, you are a siren.

A siren? The monsters that almost destroyed Vallor?

Rose stepped back, shaking her head in denial. That’s impossible.

You have a shield covering you, the snawfus observed. Powerful blood magic placed on you as a baby.

She shook her head with more vigor. No. No, that can’t be. Both of my parents are human.

If you don’t believe me, answer me this.

Aside from your obvious abilities to talk to another magical creature and your almost inhuman beauty, do you find men drawn to you?

Can you sing so well that it entrances anyone who hears?

Do you have enhanced physical capabilities?

Are you able to manipulate water? Even breathe in it?

Rose widened her eyes in realization. Her breaths became shallow, her mind racing.

Did she, at long last, have the answers to her questions? With the sea beast, the phoenix, Onyx, and now the snawfus.

Could she speak to them because she was one of them?

She looked back up at the snawfus in awe.

The snawfus gazed back knowingly. You are the one—the one I’ve been looking for.

I’ve been searching centuries for you. You are the first human or siren who has not tried to take my power for yourself—the first who has come with a pure heart.

Fate has brought you to me, Rosalie. To fulfill your destiny.

What destiny is that? Rose was almost afraid to hear the answer.

To defeat the Blood King, of course, the snawfus said.

There was that name again.

A frost-biting burn spread through her veins to her heart, stopping it mid-beat. Who is he?

A dark, powerful entity born centuries ago. He must be destroyed, or every human and creature that roam these lands will be nothing but ash. A whisper of a memory. He’s creating an army so strong and vast, no human will be able to stop it.

But what can I do? Rose asked, resentful of how everyone seemed to know the answers but her. I’m no one.

That is precisely why you are the one.

She grew frustrated. You’re speaking in riddles.

A sudden loud snap in the forest trees made the snawfus’s ears twitch, alerting it to something nearby.

We’re short on time. I can’t tell you everything.

You must seek the answers out for yourself.

Start with your mother. She’ll tell you what you need to know .

Next, finish your quest and find the men you were searching for.

You’ll meet your destiny with them. However, there’s one thing I can do to help.

I’m going to give you the most precious thing I can to help you defeat him.

What’s that?

Me, it said simply.

Her brow furrowed, not understanding.

The snawfus lowered its large head, resting its forehead against hers. I willingly give myself over. I live on in you.

The last thing Rose remembered was a flash of blinding white light as she crumpled to the forest floor.

The next thing Rose knew, she was waking up in Roman’s bedroom, her head pounding with a headache as she came to.

“Rose?” a worried voice said. She knew that voice as well as her own. “Rose? Dammit, Rose, can you hear me?” Roman’s panic-stricken voice rang out, jerking her body—bringing her back to the world.

But she wasn’t the same.