Page 31 of Threaded

She had a sudden desire to not let the queen fight all her battles for her.

“There is always a need for seduction, High Priestess,” she said, her voice dripping with a mockery of tantalization. “Nothing quite inspires men and brings them to their knees before you like the promise of somethingmore.” She stole Ciana’s words from earlier, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the smile that tugged at her friend’s lips.

That burnt gaze turned back to Mariah. “Indeed. Let us hope, however, that you learn to use more than sex to inspire your people,Queen Apparent.” And with that, the priestess turned on her heel, striding away down the hallway with the clear expectation that they would follow.

Ciana stepped to Mariah’s side, looping her arm through Mariah’s, much like she had just yesterday in the palace courtyard. Right before both of their lives changed forever. “Old hag,” she grumbled into Mariah’s ear. “Sheobviouslyneeds to get laid.”

Mariah let a giggle bubble out of her, earning her a look from Ryenne. It was clear from the shadow in her ocean-blue eyes that Ryenne was troubled by the rising strife between Mariah and Ksee. Mariah tucked the look away, curious as to why Ryenne bothered to keep Ksee around when the two clearly didn’t see eye to eye on much. She shook her head, not interested in dwelling on that for now, and took a step forward. Arm in arm, the two young women followed after the priestess, the queen and her consort close behind.

CHAPTER15

Qhohena’s temple sat at the far side of the palace, closer to the city and the citizens who dwelt there, the one part of the sprawling castle freely accessible by the residents of Verith. It was a place those in the city could seek comfort from their gods, a place of refuge to the Goddess’s people.

The closer Mariah drew to it, the more her heart began to race.

She could feel those two orbs of power within her, now fully awake after her earlier training with Ryenne. They twisted and wound their way around her gut, mixing with her nerves until it felt like worms had settled in her stomach and crawled into her chest. She tried to focus, tried to whisper to those threads,Soon,just wait,just a few more moments, but it was still so foreign. They all but ignored her pleas, continuing their writhing as if amused by her discomfort.

Eventually, they approached yet another set of great, gold-plated doors. So much gold in this palace, in this entire city. It was absolutely beautiful, but Mariah could already feel it beginning to grate against her like rough wool. Maybe it was the stress of the past day, the pastweek, but she suddenly wanted nothing more than to see a room in a color thatwasn’tgold.

I should paint a few walls black after my coronation. I’m sure Ksee would love that.The thought made her smile, just slightly, a welcome reprieve to distract her from the turmoil beneath her skin.

So welcome that she didn’t even pause to think about how easily she’d just contemplated her coronation. How natural it had felt.

The group came to a halt just outside the gilded double doors. Ksee turned to face Mariah and Ryenne, the queen standing quietly at Mariah’s side. Ciana released her friend’s arm, falling back to join Kalen. The two of them would remain outside the temple for this particular ceremony.

This was a night for the queen, the high priestess, the queen apparent, and the Marked. No others—not even consorts—were permitted to join.

Mariah had to do this task alone, with only those touched by the Goddess herself to bear witness.

She turned her head to Ryenne, the queen as regal and composed as ever in her golden gown and gilded snowdrop blossom crown. Ocean eyes met those of forest green, and Mariah took a steadying breath, calmed by Ryenne’s presence.

“Are you ready?” Ryenne’s voice was soft but expectant, excited.

Mariah nodded her head in a single dipped movement. With the affirmation, Ksee turned her dark gold glare away from Mariah and the queen, whirled on her heel, pushed the temple doors open, and the three women strode through.

The temple was dark, so dark that Mariah could hardly discern the shape and size of the space itself, lit only by candlelight placed throughout its depths. The flickering light those candles afforded was only enough to make out the shape of the twenty-one tall figures standing in the room, their forms cloaked and hooded but clearly male. They stood with their backs to the door through which Mariah entered, and in the dim light she could see that they faced a raised dais, a smaller replica of the one in the throne room. Atop the dais was what looked to be an altar, something large resting atop it.

Mariah followed behind Ksee and Ryenne as they moved down a pathway around the gathered figures, Mariah’s heart pounding heavily in her ears, forcing inhales and exhales through her lungs. The room was so quiet, so tense, and she could almost feel every other emotion rolling through the air.

So much anticipation and excitement and a tinge of fear that it nearly choked her.

But she kept forcing those breaths, and kept following after the queen and the high priestess.

They approached the dais and climbed the steps. As she’d been instructed, her mind somehow remembering her task despite the revolt happening in her body, Mariah went to stand before the altar, situated so she now looked out at the group of men before her. Even from this new angle, their deep hoods were still drawn, none of their features visible to her in the flickering candlelight.

She looked down at what she’d seen atop the altar from the doorway. It was a book, and with a flash of annoyance at herself, she remembered her instructions from Ryenne on this part. The tome was Qhohena’s ancient texts, a collection of entries from the High Priestesses of Qhohena dating back to the days of Xara herself. The book was already opened to a page, the delicate writing containing the words to be spoken over this particular ritual.

Mariah drew one last shaky inhale, sending up a silent prayer to Qhohena for strength. She carried the Goddess’s own power in her, after all; maybe now, for the first time in her life, she would be listening.

She looked back down to the open page, at the words she’d memorized earlier that day, and began to speak.

“I am Mariah Salis, Chosen by the Golden Goddess as the Queen Apparent to the Onitan throne.” Even though the words were still foreign to her, Mariah’s voice came out far stronger than she’d expected, and with a swift exhale of relief, she continued.

“You were all Marked with a symbol of my reign by the Consort God, tied to my life by the powers that created this world. You have trained to become my armor against the world, the permanent shield around my throne, and tonight seven of you will be selected by the Goddess to forever bind your life to mine.” Mariah glanced up and imagined, for a moment, that she was making eye contact with every man in that room, even though their faces were still completely concealed from her view. Then she did something she’d told no one about, not even Ryenne.

She deviated from the ancient words on that page, instead voicing something that suddenly bubbled out of her with wild urgency.

“If you are Selected, and if you don’t wish for this to be your life, you may refuse. I will understand. You didn’t ask for this, something I’m intimately aware of. I’m giving you the choice that I never had. I don’t want anyone serving in my court who doesn’t wish to be there.” Behind her, fiery anger boiled off Ksee, cool shock emanating from Ryenne. Neither of them spoke, however; this night was Mariah’s show, and these were her Marked. It was her right to do with them as she wished.

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