Page 229 of The Throne Seeker
“And whose fault is that?” he retorted, coming closer, his ocean-blue eyes attempting to drag her back out to sea.
Rose dropped her arms, her heart grinding into dust as she said, “Mine… completely and utterly mine.”
Before he could say another word, she fled, retreating so quickly that she barely heard him call out her name. She avoided eye contact with the onlookers as she weaved through the couples.
But as she did, she was struck by a surge of energy so consuming her feet skidded to a stop. It was the most powerful aura she’d ever encountered.
And she’d felt it before.
CHAPTER 81
Rose spun to the source of the energy, following its trail.
A hooded figure loomed overhead on the balcony, concealed like a monster in the shadows. Two guards lay sprawled at his feet, arrows embedded in their chests, as he, like a predator, prowled to the railing. His arm was cocked, ready to send an arrow through her heart.
This was it.
She stayed exactly where she was, ready for him.Come on.Take the shot, she urged.
But at the last second, the hooded figure’s aim shifted. Panic seized every organ as he pointed his arrow at his true target. Her eyes followed his aim.
Utter dread consumed her soul.
“Roman!” she screamed.
Even with her inhuman speed, she didn’t have time to stop what would happen next.
Roman’s head whipped toward her scream. But her cry had only distracted him. The arrow was already airborne.
No. Not again. To the everlasting gods, please—please!
In a twist of fate, the king was making rounds and was close enough to break free from his circle of guards. He reached out, yanking Roman back—just as the arrow pierced the king’s heart.
“No!” Rose cried, reaching out.
Chaos ensued.
Screams and shouts of alarm spread through the crowd like a tornado. Bodies ran in every direction to reach cover. The guards sprang to action, fortifying the room. But she was hardly paying attention as she ran against the current, trying to reach the king crumpled on the floor.
Roman was already on his hands and knees beside his father. His golden eyes lifted up to hers. “Help him,” he begged.
A pool of blood was already oozing from the king’s chest and mouth, gurgling as he struggled to cough it out.
Rose knelt down, scrambling to tilt him to the side to keep him from choking, but more blood just kept replacing what pooled on the floor. She pressed her palm around his gushing wound, blood staining her hands. But it was a fool’s errand. It was too much. There was nothing she could do to stop it now.
So instead, her bloodied hands reached for his. She was immediately hit with his internal panic. “It’s okay,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes. “It’s okay. You’re not alone. It’s okay.”
King Henrik’s wide, fearful eyes relaxed at her voice as she squeezed his hand. He knew what she meant.
She kissed his hand. “It’s okay,” she repeated. “Go. Be with Lenna. It’s okay. You can let go. Don’t be afraid.”
The king’s eyes twinkled for the last time as he gulped another pool of blood and?—
His grip went limp.
Her swimming gaze lifted to Roman standing overhead.
He took a staggered step back. Despair threatened to consume him, but as soon as her siren detected it, his eyeshardened, spinning into a dark rage. “Barricade the doors!” he bellowed, prowling in a fury. He drew his sword with a quick whip. “No one leaves! No one!”
