Page 268 of The Throne Seeker
But the arrow never reached him. Another body flew out in front of it, blocking its way and it hit?—
Rose’s mother.
“No!” she screamed, escaping Tristan’s grasp and immediately running to her mother’s side.
Lord Barron nocked another arrow, ready to shoot another.
“Seize him!” Tristan shouted the order, withdrawing his sword.
The guards rushed to restrain Lord Barron.
Rose was hardly paying attention. She flung herself down beside her mother, sprawled on the ground. It had hit her shoulder. She gently pulled her mother’s head into her lap, cradling her as she examined the wound. She pulled the arrow out immediately, pressing her hand down to stop the bleeding. But something wasn’t right. She was bleeding badly, even for an arrow wound. Her mother was already gasping for air, shaking. Her body grew hot as her pupils dilated.
Rose gazed at the arrow lying next to her with fear. Gripping it with her bloodied hands, almost too slippery to grip, she wiped it with her cloak, recognizing the poison on its tip.
Dragonshade.
Her heart hardened into stone. Her eyes shot up, searching for Lord Barron, but he was nowhere to be found.
Behind her, Roman struggled. “Rose!” he shouted, freeing himself from the gag. “He’s getting away!”
At last, she saw Lord Barron’s fleeing figure heading towards the woods.
This was her chance. She couldn’t lose him. There was too much at stake.
Rose looked hesitantly down at her mother.
“Go,” her mother insisted. “I’ll be fine.”
She didn’t have much time. She had to make a choice.
“Keep pressure on this. I’ll come back for you,” she promised.
Her mother waved her off. “Yes, yes, I know. They won’t let me die. Now go.Go!”
Rose stood with the arrow still in hand and sprinted like the wind.
“No! Rose, don’t!” Tristan yelled after her. “Don’t put yourself in danger!”
She ignored the calls behind her, sprinting with inhuman speed. Leaving the party behind, she bolted for the woods where Lord Barron had vanished. Onyx was already on his way, galloping beside her until she managed to mount him mid-run, adrenaline pumping overtime.
Because, by the sky and sea gods, she was going to kill the bastard.
CHAPTER 90
Onyx flew at incredible speed. Rose was convinced they would reach Lord Barron within a mere minute. However, to her shock, he was nowhere in sight when they broke the tree line.
Where’d he go?Onyx asked, jerking his head in irritation.We can’t be far behind.
Rose peered down to find Lord Barron’s footprints, but she did not see nor hear him over the howling wind. How could that be?
Her siren eyes focused in the darkness, aiding her to see better. Finally, she spotted his silhouette in the distance—he wasn’t alone. Another hooded and masked figure on horseback reached down to take something from Lord Barron. She caught a glint of a red ruby.
The talisman.
As soon as the masked man had it in his possession, he took off, disappearing from sight. She had no idea which direction he had gone.
Lord Barron, however, continued on foot in the opposite direction. He was moving fast—too fast.
