Page 85 of Threaded
However, as Sebastian quickly scanned the room, something caught his eye that made him suspect that maybe Mariah’s presence wouldn’t be as big a distraction here as he feared.
Seated at one of the long cafeteria tables, wavy golden hair pulled back from her face in a low, loose ponytail, was Ciana, her body hunched over her own plate of food as if she were worried someone might steal it from right in front of her.
Sebastian’s lips ticked up into a slight smirk just as he felt his feet move, carrying him to her table. She didn’t notice his presence until he’d set his bowl down across from her, the clatter of his spoon on the polished wood making her jolt.
“By the Goddess! Next time, tell a girl you’re coming before scaring her shitless.” She grabbed a napkin that must’ve been on her lap and wiped her mouth and hands with it—ever the lady, he thought with a chuckle—before leveling her amber stare at Sebastian.
Sebastian’s smirk broke out into a full-blown grin. “Oh, come on, Cee. What have we all been trying to teach you? Always be on your guard.” He slumped gracelessly into the seat across from her before promptly picking up his spoon and, without waiting to check the temperature, took a bite of the stew.
It was hot, but not enough to scald his tongue.
It was also delicious.
He was nearly shoveling the food into his mouth, using the bread to soak up the flavorful broth around the bites of mutton and vegetables. He could feel Ciana’s eyes on him, but he ignored her.
If there was anyone in that palace who saw his true, unmasked self, it was her.
The two of them had spent a lot of time together in those early days after the Choosing. Ciana was appointed as the first Lady of Mariah’s court, and Sebastian had similarly stepped forward as the first bonded Armature. It had almost been like an unspoken covenant between them, to be there for Mariah as she adjusted to life in the palace and as a queen. In that time, friendship had blossomed, and he knew without a doubt there was no one in the palace who would be willing to do more for her queen than Ciana.
She’d already given up so much to be here.
She’d been saved from so much, too.
Sebastian often wondered how much of her story she’d shared with Mariah. One drunken night, she’d confessed it to him, spilling her secrets and the ghosts that still haunted her even in the palace’s hallowed halls.
She hadn’t spoken of the night since, and Sebastian hadn’t brought any of it up. After all, they weren’t his stories to tell.
“You’re eating like you haven’t eaten in a day.” Her tone was dry, yet teasing, in the way only Ciana could muster.
“That’s probably because I haven’t,” he answered between bites, his voice muffled. He watched her golden eyes widen with concern.
“Sebastian,” she said. “You’re not still punishing yourself, are you? You have to stop this. It wasn’t your fault.”
He continued to devour the stew, pretending to be unbothered by her question. Finally, when the bowl was empty, every last drop of the broth soaked up by that delicious fresh bread, he set his spoon down and raised his gaze to meet hers.
“I’m not punishing myself. I was just in the library all day and lost track of time. That’s all.”
Her concern-widened eyes narrowed with suspicion. “And why were you in the library all day?”
Sebastian pursed his lips. There was no point in responding to her; she knew the answer already, anyway.
Ciana huffed a sigh. “Fine. Well, I’m glad to see you managed your way down here to eat something.” She glanced around the cafeteria, her sharp gaze missing nothing. “You know, I’ve never actually been down here before. I like it. Smells incredible. I think Mariah would love it down here, too.” She paused and looked back at Sebastian, who now wore a sad smile on his face. “But …”
“But you worry about what the servants' reaction might be if their queen apparent suddenly decided to dine with them. I know.” She grimaced slightly at his words, and then nodded, just once.
“I just think she would love the feeling down here. The … normalness of it all. I know she misses it.” She paused again, her expression pondering. “Feran told me that she went to the stables before she met Ryenne today. All she wanted to do was spend time with her horse. I think that with everything that has happened and just the fact that she’s, well,Mariah, it’s easy to forget that so much has changed for her in such a short time. And with her spending so much time with Andrian lately, I feel like I hardly ever get to see her.” A wide grin spread across her face then. “Not that I think that’s a bad thing. Honestly, good for her. Andrian isgorgeous.”
“Great to have your opinion onthatmatter. I was dying to know,” Sebastian said dryly, eliciting an even wider grin from Ciana. “But … I agree with you. On everything else. I think it’s easy to forget that, despitewhatshe is, she’s still … her. The first-born daughter of a soldier and a healer from the Crossroad City.”
They were silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. Sebastian re-broke the silence first.
“I’m actually glad I came down here, and that I found you in the process. I’m assuming you realized as soon as you walked in what all the chaos was about?”
Ciana nodded. “ThePorofirat. I’d completely forgotten.”
“As had I.” Sebastian leaned back on the bench, straightening his arms and breathing deeply. “So … does Mariah know?”
She pursed her lips. “I haven’t spoken to her about it. Like I said, I haven’t really seen much of her in a week. Unless Ryenne orhetold her, then I wouldn’t care to guess how much she knows about what is coming later this week.”