Page 132 of Scourged
Chapter 47
The palace was quiet.
It was always quiet that late—or early. Mariah didn’t often make it a habit of roaming the halls during the deepest part of the night, during those early morning hours over which the stars and moons claimed ownership. Though she’d found herself out during this time more in recent days, whether due to sleeplessness wrought by nightmares or just too many wandering thoughts.
This night felt different. As she passed beneath an archway in the hallways leading into a courtyard, the open sky visible above, as she stepped through a pool of waxing silver-gold moonlight, something rubbed against her skin, tickling her senses with awareness and energy.
Mariah was positive it had nothing to do with what she’d just done. Her fingers twitched against the hem of her tunic as she quickened her steps, eager to vanish back into the comfort of her rooms.
She tried to keep her mind from wandering back down those hallways. Back to the man she’d just left.
To the words he’d said.
To the bitter fear she’d felt, but also the energy to squash it.
She knew, without a doubt, that she still loved him. Didn’t think it was possible for her to stop loving him despite everything that happened in Khento. A piece of him belonged to her, something that was made even more apparent by the shimmering bond bridging their souls.
Mariah shivered, hurrying down the smooth marble hall. At least tonight had dulled the sharp bite of that bond, if only a little. She felt a bit more like herself, not like she was about to burst through her own skin.
And as much as it had hurt, it felt good to confess the things she’d been forced to endure in Khento. Not the physical wounds, but the ones that cut deeper than her skin.
Her mind snapped away from her musings as she rounded the final corner, senses flickering to alertness.
A figure leaned against the wall beside her door. But when it moved, stepping into the light, she relaxed, releasing her grip on her dagger.
“Drystan,” she murmured, rubbing her face. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Drystan chuckled. “Sorry,” he said quietly. He stopped a few paces from her, a pensive look on his already-stoic face.
Mariah raised an eyebrow. “What?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. I was on guard duty tonight. Just doing my job.” His golden eyes glinted in the paleallumelight. “Noticed you sneaking out of your rooms not long after you went to bed. Had to make sure you were okay.”
Blood rushed to her face. If he saw her sneaking out … “Did you … um … follow me?”
The slight twitch at the sides of his lips was all the answer she needed. She groaned, running another hand down her face.
“If it matters, I left and came back here once I realized you were … cared for.”
She peered at him from between her fingers, warmth blooming across her face. “Don’t tell Sebastian, okay?” she grumbled. “Let me talk to him first.”
Drystan’s lips pulled into a full grin. “Don’t worry, Mariah. As long as you’re safe, it’s not my business.” More amusement flashed in his eyes. “Besides, I like to think I was a facilitator here.”
Her hands dropped from her face as she eyed him. “What do you mean?”
He winked at her, and she couldn’t stop her mouth from popping open with shock. “Someone had to break him out of his little pity party. Wasn’t doing anyone any favors. I’m just glad he listened.”
What?
“What pity party?”
“Oh, don’t worry about it, My Queen. But do tell him to send me a new bottle of whiskey as a thank you. It’ll piss him off, but he’ll do it.”
Bewildered, Mariah only blinked at Drystan, shocked at her usually serious Armature. He chuckled again, a soft, low sound, before turning back to her doors.
“It’s late, Mariah. Go get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
She nodded, a bit dazed, and brushed past him to her rooms. She swung open the heavy wood door, hinges silent as always.