Page 94 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

“ R ose, don’t,” Roman pleaded, following her outside as she called for Onyx in her mind, but she sensed he was already coming to her.

“It’s too dangerous. Think about what you’re doing.

To hell with the castle. You’re walking into an entire city.

A very dangerous one at that. What if you’re discovered?

What if Moretti hands you over for money—or worse?

It could be like the tavern all over again. ”

She ignored him.

He grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. “Look at me. It’s not worth it.”

“No one will be watching for me like at the castle.” She pulled her arm out of his grip.

“The crowd will be to my advantage. Besides, I’m a siren.

I don’t know exactly what that means, but I do know I possess powers.

I know I can persuade him to tell me where these men are.

The snawfus said finding them would help lead me to my destiny, and this is the only lead I have. I have to try.”

“This is madness.”

“Maybe,” she admitted, watching Onyx approach them warily. “But if I can prevent more lives from being lost, I must. I have to know more. I’m tired of being in the dark. It’s time I get answers.”

Roman gave a frustrated grunt. “I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?”

“Nope.”

“Fine,” he said in submission, “but I’m coming with, and we aren’t taking Onyx. He’ll draw too much attention. I’ll stay far away. You won’t even know I’m there—but I’m coming.”

She didn’t try to argue.

The winds lashed Rose’s cloak, while heavy rain loomed within the dark, cloud-covered sky.

She did her best to keep her hood from flying off in the wind, keeping her face hidden from the few who walked the city streets.

They hardly noticed her, preoccupied with securing their belongings against the impending storm.

While riding through the streets, she caught sight of a flyer fluttering in the wind. Her gaze fixed on the piece of parchment nailed to the wooden post as her eyes widened.

It was a missing person poster with a sketch of herself, though her name was listed as Draya Santres.

A sizable reward was promised to anyone who could provide information.

To her shock, this wasn’t the only one. Posters were plastered across almost every window, lamp post, and door, with some even fluttering through the streets, scraping against the cobblestones.

“You sure made an impression on Moretti, didn’t you?” Roman drawled beside her. “What the hell happened between you two anyway?”

Her guilty eyes met his. “We kissed… more than once… maybe a lot.”

His eyes bulged out of his sockets, an ugly aura expelling from him in a powerful wave. “What?” he hissed.

“I couldn’t get a chance to put it in his drink, so I put it in my mouth and got him to take it that way.” She paused, as Roman still glared. “I was helping, remember?”

His glower didn’t falter. “I don’t like this. The whole city will be looking for you, thanks to these damn flyers.”

On the contrary, the storm may just work in their favor. “This is the perfect time. The streets are practically empty. I’m not wasting the chance. I may not get another one.”

She steered her steed forward, navigating through the streets to the front gates of Moretti’s estate without any complications, Roman doing as promised and hanging back. Although she couldn’t see him, she knew he was well within eye range.

The guards came to attention as she approached, careful to keep her face hidden under her large hood.

“I’m here to see Moretti,” she stated, keeping her voice silky and smooth.

The guard on the right was the first to speak. “Who asks?”

“Draya.”

They recognized the name in an instant, their backs straightening.

“He’s not at home at the moment, Ms. Santres. He has business in town,” the other guard said. “But upon your return, we were ordered to tell you to wait here, or we can take you to him.”

“Then take me to him,” she ordered.

With a nod, the guard led her through the city, northward down the cobblestoned street. The trip was quick since there was no heavy traffic. Even the canals, always full of boats, flowed peacefully empty beneath them.

To her pleasant surprise, he led her straight to the Central Library, said to be one of the most beautiful libraries in all of Vallor.

And that it was.

A shallow multi-level staircase led up to the moody building.

It looked nothing like what she had imagined, its black exterior lined with a golden trim and gutters that framed the edges and doors.

The most impressive thing had to be the enormous glass dome sitting directly on top of the massive building, providing a beautiful skylight for those within.

The interior proved to be just as elegant. She couldn’t help but crane her neck to gaze at the gigantic domed glass ceiling that hovered overhead, the tinted ceiling so tall she swore the top entered the clouds.

Her shoes tapped across the black-and-white-checkered floor as she followed the guard across the lobby, her gaze drawn to the line of black wooden bookshelves, each bearing a single brass letter, keeping the books in an orderly alphabetical fashion.

The colorful spines of the hardbacks popped out strikingly against the dark wood.

She didn’t have long to admire the lobby as the guard led her directly up the black spiral staircase, down the hall, and to the right, stopping at a double door.

He knocked in a precise pattern.

“Come in,” a sharp, familiar voice called.

The guard entered as she waited just outside. “I have someone to see you.”

“Not now,” Moretti retorted, irritated.

“It’s someone you’ll want to see,” the guard pressed.

“Whoever it is can wait. Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?”

Rose took a deep breath as she walked into the room, keeping her face hidden.

Moretti was in a meeting, surrounded by men, sitting at a large rectangular table cluttered by parchment and maps.

Their quills halted the moment she walked in. A wall of windows behind them offered a sweeping view of the city, though the gloomy weather prevented the sunlight from brightening the room, forcing them to light the candles on the table.

“I can come back another time,” she said in a smooth voice that didn’t sound like her own.

Moretti’s head flew up sharply from the parchment in front of him, his dazzling blue eyes sparkling at the sight of her.

“Gentlemen, could you give us a moment,” Moretti said, his tone letting them know it wasn’t a question.

One by one, they shuffled out, each of them trying to peer under her hood, but she kept her face hidden. Once they were alone, she returned her attention back to Moretti. He hadn’t moved from the head of the table.

“I was afraid I’d never see you again,” he said, looking at her with unadulterated relief. “When I didn’t hear from you, I thought something might have happened to you.”

“I know. I’m sorry,” she said, walking around the table toward him. “But I’m here now.”

He looked her over. “You don’t sound pleased to be.”

“I am… I’m just nervous.” Which was true.

“It’s hard to tell with that hood on,” he teased, tilting his head to the side to get a better look.

She took a mental breath as she pulled the hood back, revealing her face.

He took a step backward as his eyes widened in awe, examining her from head to toe. It took him a long moment to recover from the shock. She could see his internal wheels turning, trying to piece together what he was seeing.

“How?” he whispered, his eyes still drinking her in.

“It’s a long story,” she said simply, clasping her hands together.

“You’re… you’re a siren?” He looked her over again, both amazed and intrigued.

She took a small step toward him. “Yes. But you don’t need to be scared of me.”

His eyes never left hers as he came closer. His aura was different than Roman’s—more smooth and refined. “I’m not scared of you. It’s just—you were beautiful then, but now… now you’re the most glorious creature I’ve ever seen.” Moretti leaned unconsciously closer to her lips.

Her siren reveled in his praise. “Thank you.”

Moretti’s mouth spread into a wide grin. “You have no idea how powerful or beautiful you actually are, do you? You act as though you couldn’t hurt a fly. Damn you.” He tucked her silky white hair behind her ear. “The fact only makes you even more attractive.”

She gave a dangerous smile despite herself—her siren’s doing.

His eyes shifted to her lips. He swore. “Look at that smile… and that smell .” He drew a deep breath as his eyes glazed over. “It’s addicting.”

Her siren craved more praise, yearned for it—to be complimented, desired, and adored.

She stopped it before it escalated. “I came because I need your help.”

He snapped out of his daze slightly. “Help?”

“I need to find those men,” she stated, not beating around the bush. “I can’t leave without an answer this time.”

He straightened as his expression hardened. “That’s the only reason you came back, isn’t it?”

Rose’s eyes shifted with guilt. “It’s important.”

“I told you I couldn’t tell you, even if I wanted to,” he said, his voice cold yet hurt at the same time.

“I think you could if you let me in,” she said, intertwining her hand with his. “Please, I have no idea what’s happening to me, what it all means. These men could give me answers. Answers I need. Answers that could save thousands of lives.”

She struggled to locate the magic she knew had to be lingering somewhere inside of her, fumbling for it like she’d lost something small hidden in the shadows. It took her a moment to find the source, wrangling it into something useful. Her siren, in kind, prodded her to let it take over.

Cautiously, she let the magic fill her. She dragged him down into her sea-green eyes, her siren reaching out to his subconscious, comforting him—easing him into a false sense of security. The walls protecting his mind cracked as her siren’s claws snaked their way around his mind, gripping it.

“Where are they?” she asked.