Page 102 of The Throne Seeker
He molded into her touch easily, his arms enveloping her waist, taking full advantage of her rare advance.
“I wish you weren’t just doing this to make him jealous,” he whispered, his cocky demeanor nowhere to be found. “You play with everyone’s hearts like an instrument—picking us up when itsuits you, putting us back when you’re done. But what’s worse is we know it, and we don’t care because we have no power to resist you. Because when you do pick us… we’re just glad to be held by you.”
Rose’s eyes fluttered, slowly raising her chin, surprised to find how close his lips were to hers.
Despite her best efforts, he was sneaking up on her defenses, dismantling her walls stone by stone until she hadn’t even realized there was a hole wide enough to let him slip through.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tristan striding towards them.
“I was wondering how long it would take him,” Grant drawled with a bored tone, his hands savoring the last few seconds he would have her like this. “Honestly, he lasted longer than I expected.”
Tristan stopped beside them, not bothering to hide his irritation as he said, “May I interrupt?” It wasn’t a question but a demand.
Grant looked to her for an answer, but she was too angry to speak.
“Perhaps she can come find you when she is ready,” Grant replied, a self-satisfied look plastered on his face.
Tristan glowered. “I wasn’t asking you.”
“I thought you were dancing with Princess Satin?” she asked with a roasting glare.
“I was obligated to,” Tristan said through gritted teeth.
“Well, luckily for you, you hold no such obligation to me,” she responded coldly. “I’m going to get a drink.”
Tristan reached out. “Rose?—”
She pulled her hand back. “Don’t.”
She could’ve felt Grant’s smug joy from a mile away as she retreated from them both, making her way off the dance floor.
She was nearly out of the danger zone when the music stopped, halting her exit. The court quieted almost immediately as all eyes looked to their king on the grand staircase.
“Good evening, everyone!” King Henrik’s thunderous voice rang out. “Tonight, we celebrate my son, Tristan Montague, and his attained succession. We commend his heroic acts during the challenges and the sacrifices Tristan has made to be Cathan’s next ruler.”
The king paused, scanning the crowd until his gaze finally settled on her. She was certain she saw a glimmer of pity in his eyes, as if he were reluctant about something, but without revealing anything else, the king looked away.
“I have more good news,” the king continued, more somber now despite his joyous words. “Today, we have a proposed finalization of the negotiations with Vertmere!”
The ballroom filled with cheers. During his pause for applause, the king’s gaze met hers once more. A flicker of pain crossed his face as if forewarning her of what was imminent.
The gaze terrified her.
King Henrik straightened his shoulders as the claps died down. “Never since the Dividing War have any two provinces been united. And ever since I became king, I have dreamed of making Vallor whole again, to return it to its former strength, not as separately ruled provinces, but as one strong people. Today, we are one step closer to that goal.” He paused hesitantly, making her throat bob. “The treaty they’ve proposed says that we will unite our provinces by joining both heirs to the throne through marriage to ensure our alliance will be sealed forever. Congratulations is in order for Prince Tristan of Cathan and Princess Satin of Vertmere.”
Gasps of shock ran through the audience, followed by a rumbling of murmurs that spread like wildfire as claps and cheers followed, growing into a loud thunder.
But their shock was no comparison to hers.
The world stopped orbiting. Time stood still. Those around her became a blur—a cruel reminder that she was nothing but a speck in this vast universe.
No, no, no.
Rose’s clasped hands fell limply to her sides as she slowly stepped back. She didn’t know where to look. She didn’t know what to do. She had seen the king’s sympathetic eyes, and it might have very well been out of his control, but it changed nothing.
How could she have been so blind? Queen Isleen and Princess Satin weren’t merely there for negotiations—they were there to secure a marriage with the next heir, waiting through these succession trials to see who would come out on top. But if that were true, why had the king led her to believe that she and Tristan could win and be together? Unless… unless the idea hadn’t been brought up until after the fact. Maybe once the council realized Tristan would win, they had to find a way to ensure that Rose wouldn’t be queen. And they had found one.
Rose’s feet were still planted to the ground when she realized that couples had begun to dance around her, jolting her from her daze.
