Page 186 of Scourged
But now … she couldn’t be sure. Something settled in her soul, that beast calming with her, as if it, too, watched the butterfly’s delicate dance through the sky. It floated across her vision, her head following it from left to right.
She lost it when she turned all the way, but not because it vanished from sight.
A golden Attlehon eagle was perched beside her on the balcony railing. So close that if she wanted, she could reach out and touch those gold and white feathers, the filaments still shifting as they refracted the morning light.
The eagle was massive, nearly three feet tall. Mariah met its unblinking golden gaze, its stare intense and probing as it watched her.
As she watched it back.
Mariah didn’t know how long it lasted. How long she watched the eagle, unsure which of them was the beast, and which was the queen.
Perhaps, Mariah thought,it’s one and the same.
Her fingers twitched and she lifted her hand. With a massive gust of air, stirred by powerful wings, the eagle launched itself into the sky, shooting over the edge of the balcony. Mariah only caught the barest glimpse of her black wingtips before her feathers opened fully, blending into the sky above and the valley below, vanishing her from sight.
She didn’t search for the eagle after that. It was futile.
But she did tilt her head to the sky, past the rising sun. She stretched her awareness up to the moons disappearing behind the light of day, to the two goddesses who frustrated her beyond belief, but she still knew, without a doubt, were with her. Always.
“Thank you,” she whispered into the morning wind, just as a tear laced with silver-gold light fell from her eye and splashed on the railing, rolling off and falling to the valley below.
Chapter 66
Ciana twisted her hands, her nerves like the brush of hot coals beneath her skin.
The main palace courtyard was a frenzy of movement—stable hands ran to and fro, lugging tack and bags and food to the line of waiting horses. Mariah’s Armature, expressions tense, weaved amongst the horses and stable hands, tightening cinches and securing weapons. Sebastian was in a quiet, strained conversation with Drystan and Feran while Delaynie stood to Ciana’s left, her friend even more quiet and pale than usual.
Something had happened between Delaynie and Mariah during Ryenne’s vigil. Not wanting to overwhelm Delaynie, Ciana had left before Mariah had arrived, giving her friend and her queen time together alone. Delaynie had looked like a ghost ever since and even now clutched her arms across her chest as though she might float away if she let herself go. Every so often, Delaynie’s fingers would brush across her throat as if seeking something that was no longer there.
Ciana’s face tightened into a scowl. She opened her mouth, about to ask what was wrong, when a presence yanked her attention away.
“Hey, Cee.”
Mariah wore all black—leather-lined leggings for the ride, a sleeveless tunic, a reinforced jerkin fitted snugly across her chest. Her twin short-swords crisscrossed behind her back, dragon-winged dagger holstered at her thigh, her dark, shoulder-length hair tucked behind her ears.
She looked more like a warrior than a queen. But Ciana supposed she was. Queens didn’t always need to wear their crowns.
Especially not on missions to rescue their families.
Ciana answered Mariah’s greeting with a forced grin, pushing aside her fear and frustration. “Hi, M.”
Mariah’s mouth lifted into a hesitant smile. “Are you … Do you have everything you need? For while we’re gone.”
Ciana waved her off. “Yes, yes. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry about me.” She scanned Mariah. “But you, though … How are you?” She whispered at the end, unable to hide her worry.
Mariah glanced away, looking across the courtyard toward the movement by the stables. Feran now stood beside Kodie, checking over the tack and Mariah’s bags.
“I’m ready.” Mariah’s answer was terse and short. There was a tightness to Mariah’s jaw, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. Light danced around her fingertips, the way it always did when she was feeling something so strongly, she couldn’t contain it beneath her skin.
Someone else stepped around Mariah’s shoulder. The one person still missing from the courtyard, appearing out of nowhere like the annoying shadow he was.
Ciana focused on Andrian. He, too, was dressed in all black, a longsword slung across his back. He watched Ciana with a disinterested mask, eyes darting between her and Mariah.
Despite the ambivalent facade, he couldn’t hide the emotion in his eyes. Not when he looked at their queen.
Ciana’s hands tightened into fists. Mariah took a surprised step back as Ciana stomped around her, not halting until she was chest to chest with Andrian.
Except … she was so much shorter; the top of her head barely reached his chest.