Page 130 of The Throne Seeker
She swore she caught a wisp of triumph in his eyes, clouded with pride as they drifted to her mouth. He shook his head, snapping himself out of his daze.
Without a word, he carried her to the bed, lowering her onto the sheets smoothly, still cradling her as he lay next to her. She kept her arms locked around his neck, her fingers spreading onto the base of his neck and into his hair.
His eyes closed and emitted a loud sigh of contentment as though he was reveling in her touch. When his eyes opened again, they were covered with a haze she’d never witnessed in them before.
Her blood pulsed as he slowly leaned in closer, close enough she was sure he’d kiss her. She didn’t move, by the gods, she may have even let him, but instead, he stayed hovering there—his nose brushing hers. Her mouth dried. She memorized every crevice of his lips, the perfect shade of pink, the slope they made.
His large body stiffened like he was preventing it from doing something he didn’t want it to. He pulled his head back to get a proper look at her. “Do you want me to stay?”
She swore his eyes pleaded for her to say yes.
But he didn’t need to ask.
“Yes.” Her hands grabbed a handful of his hair again, being so bold as to bring his forehead down to rest against hers.
Roman’s eyes rolled back from the small contact.
“Roman?” she whispered.
His eyes opened with barely restrained hunger as his arm tightened around her back. “Hmm?” he hummed, the deep vibrations rumbling against her chest.
“Would you take me there one day? To Eristan?” she asked softly. Timidly. As if her soul would crack if he said no.
His eyes brightened, almost as if the question amused him. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, Roe.”
And with his words, she heard the whisper of a hallowed promise. Stronger than any shout or declaration made to the sky and sea gods.
“I’ve missed you calling me that,” she admitted in a small voice.
He drew her body closer, if it was even possible. “Me, too.”
She laid her head on his chest, intertwining her long legs with his as her eyes drooped from exhaustion.
“Sleep,” he commanded into her ear, then added in a whisper, “I’m not going anywhere.”
He caressed her hair, relaxing her scalp as she surrendered to his touch. She thought she would stay awake for hours, but the gentle strokes of his hands and his steady heartbeat pulled her into a calm state.
And that night, she found sleep faster than she ever had before.
PART III
THE AWAKENING
CHAPTER 55
Rose woke to the song of a robin perched on her open window. Her eyes fluttered open, the sheets warmed from the morning rays strewn across her duvet. She’d almost forgotten who slept next to her until she saw Roman already awake, still dutifully beside her, not noticing she’d woken. Both hands lay lazily behind his head, cradling it in his large palms in a relaxed pose, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
He was the same Roman, but she still couldn’t believe how much older he looked. He was now bigger than both of his brothers. His clean-shaven face was bronzed from exposure to the elements during the war. His eyes were easily her favorite thing about him—a beautiful blend of amber and gold specks that glittered in the light like the traces of gold found in the soil in Semaria. His thick, straight eyebrows gave him a far more mature appearance, looking like he could be older than her—many would probably assume so at a glance.
She had the urge to reach out and run her fingers along his jaw, but instead, she shifted her body toward him.
Roman snapped out of his trance. Unlike her, he didn’t hesitate, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. He hadthat look again—the look that made the foundation of her walls crack.
“How do you feel?” he whispered.
“Better.” And she meant it.
He gave a satisfied nod. “Good… Your mother and Thea came in earlier this morning. I think I about gave your mother a heart attack.”
