Page 140 of Threaded
Mariah knew sheshouldbe nervous as she stood before the mighty golden oak doors leading to the palace throne room. The same doors she’d walked through, no more than a few months ago, completely unaware of what the room beyond had waiting for her.
She knew if she were sane, she would feel scared for what this night could bring, for the enemies she would only be further creating. The kingdom hung balanced on the edge of a knife, hinged on whether this would all actually work.
By the Goddess, she hoped it worked. And not just because Mariah wanted to prove Ksee and the Royals wrong.
But because the girls like Ciana, who were desperate for a notion that the way things were wasn’t the way they always had to be. Those lives could be better,hadto be better, and this was the first step to taking back just a morsel of their power.
Her blood heated as she thought of what she needed to do tonight. And as her blood heated, her magic sang.
Oh, this would work, alright.
She glanced back over her right shoulder at Ciana, who stood looking every bit the golden right-hand Lady of the Queen of Onita. She was resplendent in a sheer, gossamer gown, the corset ribbed with gold, strappy gold sandals snaking up her calves. Ciana caught Mariah’s gaze and cracked a half-grin before darting her eyes quickly to the left, an unmistakably heated look in her gaze.
Mariah turned her head to look at the target of Ciana’s stare, the same figure who stood on her left, a tall, dark, quiet shape, always steady and present.
Sebastian.Interesting.
He’d taken the news of his substitution like a saint. He’d simply wrapped Mariah into a tight embrace, squeezing her once before releasing her and leveling Andrian with a meaningful look.
She couldn’t even begin to speculate everything behind that look.
Tonight, Sebastian was dressed like a dark knight: soft, black leathers, a black tunic that opened at the collar, his hair unruffled and his face clean-shaven. His eyes, though, were also locked on Ciana, but once he felt Mariah’s stare he whipped his gaze away to meet hers. He smiled softly at her, his expression almost … sheepish?
Even more interesting.
Mariah curled her lips slightly at the corners before she broke Sebastian’s stare, turning back to face the door just as she snuck a quick, final glance down at her own appearance.
Her gown—if it could be called that—was almost entirely sheer, the paneling tight and opaque across only her most intimate parts. Her olive skin was bare beneath swaths of fine lace, patterned in intricate swirls mirroring the golden snowdrop blossom tiara she wore upon her brow, a gift from Ryenne she’d received earlier that day. Her skirt was tied around her waist, and a length of black satin hung around her legs and brushed against the floor. The material of the skirt didn’t wrap all the way around her body, instead leaving a two-inch swatch of her upper thigh and leg bared, a more dramatic version of a slit in the skirt. On her feet were simple, black and gold heeled sandals, and her hair fell in waves around her shoulders, loose and unstructured and wild.
Mariah felt just like that painting she’d found that day in the abandoned gallery. The one depicting the dragons, in full color, so wild and fierce and feral. Something about that thought had the darkest part of herself roaring awake, setting her magic twisting through her veins. Those threads seeped to the surface of her skin, washing her skin in a subtle golden glow, the only light or color adorning her outfit. Setting her face into a wicked grin, she pushed open the throne room doors and strode through, Ciana and Sebastian on her heels.
* * *
The second Mariah walked through those doors, her attention instantly fixed on what awaited her at the other end of the hall.
She ignored the gathered crowds seated on the couches she’d spent the past two weeks arranging in the cavernous room, all of them residents of the city who were invited to attend the Solstice at the special request of their queen. She ignored the hush that washed over them as she stepped forward, a goddess of the night sent down to the earth beneath the light of the burning moons hanging low in the sky above.
She ignored all of it.
Mariah’s entire being was focused on the dark prince lounging in the golden throne of Onita as if he owned it.
Thathadn’t been part of her plan. But by the Goddess, she fucking loved it.
A smirk played across her lips as she continued her walk down the long pathway through the throne room. The closer she moved, the more details came into her vision: the too casual posture, the leg propped out straight in front of him, the elbow on the armrest with his chin in his hand, the indifferent expression. She could make out the details of his clothing, the same ensemble Sebastian wore—that all her Armature wore. The only difference was the circlet atop his black hair, the masculine, silver twin to her own.
He looked like a conquering king, content upon his captured throne.
And she’d never in her life been more attracted to him.
Mariah reached the foot of the dais and paused for just a moment, staring up at Andrian. Sebastian and Ciana shifted away from where they’d followed behind her, moving to join the other members of her court already gathered to the right of the dais. Her attention prickled slightly, a temptation to turn and observe the group of people who’d become like family to her, to see who each had chosen to pair with for the night.
But she clamped down on that urge.Not now.
First, she had to confront her usurper.
Then, she had to take her first step down the long path of saving her kingdom.
Mariah gathered her black satin skirts in her hands and took a single step up the dais, her leg baring even further. Andrian remained still as stone, but she didn’t miss how his pupils dilated and his nostrils flared.