Page 47 of Threaded

His answering smile was radiant. “Of course. I’m starving.”

They sat at the dining table, plates of food scattered around them. They chatted conversationally as they ate, something about it so natural and easy Mariah forgot for a moment that she’d only known this male for just over a week. He already felt so familiar, his presence grounding her like solid earth beneath her feet. Even her magic was quiet around him, for once, something that hardly happened anymore since the events of the meeting with the Royals. The silver threads stayed wound up like a sleeping cat, but those of gold peeked at him with pacified curiosity, content to watch through Mariah’s eyes.

She’d relaxed into her chair, her mind blessedly quiet, until a short lull in their conversation had her nerves waking and her mind racing as she suddenly remembered, with a slight jolt, why he was here tonight.

And she knew why she was suddenly nervous.

It had nothing to do with the ritual itself. She still had no idea what to expect, and truthfully, the mystery of what was to come only gave her a little excitement. She wasn’t even concerned about the possibility that this could turn into something intimate. The Goddess knows she’d never shied away from sex.

It was Sebastian, the person she’d picked to go through this with first, the person who always made her feel so at ease, who was suddenly making her nervous.

As she sat here, eating and chatting and enjoying dinner, she realized this was a man she could so easily fall in love with. And that alone terrified her more than anything.

She’d resolved to keep him at arms length. She was confident she could do that. But she was nervous, because she feared that regardless of what happened tonight, she would end up causing this too-decent man pain he didn’t deserve.

If she was a better woman, she would scrap these plans now. Would ask one of the other Armature who she didn’t know as well to do this first bond. But, of course, she was selfish, and because of how unsettled she’d felt this past week, she wanted—needed—it to be Sebastian. She needed the strength this bond could bring her. And if that made her a despicable woman, if knowing this night could end with her hurting him …

Then she could live with it. She had to.

“So,” Mariah said, her voice far stronger than she’d expected it to be. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Sebastian leveled his steady hazel gaze on hers. “There’s not a single doubt in my mind, Mariah. I waited twenty-one years to meet you, knowing you would be worth the wait, hoping beyond hope I would be offered the chance to bind myself to you forever.”

Her heart twisted.Well … fuck.

Mariah couldn’t stop the nervous giggle that escaped her. “And how many of those twenty-one years were spent rehearsing those lines?”

He smiled. “Every single one.”

Qhohena, give me strength.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and swallowed once. She shoved away all of those feelings of fear and nervous anxiety, focusing instead on this singular moment before her, what she had to gain. When she opened her eyes, she felt resolve settle over her like a blanket.

“I’m ready. But … I’m not entirely sure how to do this.”

His smile softened, and he stood from where he’d been seated beside her at the table. He then extended a hand to her, and she took it, rising as well.

“That’s okay. I’ve got you.”

* * *

When Sebastian led Mariah out onto the massive balcony of her suite, she was too stunned at the sight to speak. Distantly, she wondered who’d set this all up, andwhen.

And, of course, how she’d been too distracted to notice it.

In the center of the balcony, completely open to the night sky above and bathed in the bright silver and gold moonlight, was a large circle of lit candles, the flames flickering softly in the gentle night breeze. A large midnight-blue blanket laid flat in the center of that circle, and Mariah would’ve been enthralled by how truly romantic the whole setting appeared if she hadn’t glimpsed the wicked knife that also lay on the blanket, the reflection of both moons and the candlelight glimmering on the polished steel blade.

Sebastian, noticing her wary expression at the sight of the knife, halted and drew her attention back to him. “Hey,” he said, voice calm as she met his gaze. “Stay with me. Do you trust me?”

She nodded, and she meant it.

Shedidtrust him.

He smiled. “Good. You’ll understand after this first time. It’s all just a test, for both you and me—us. It’s imperative to the Goddess that if your Armature is with you, then there’s nothing for you to fear.” He moved again, his hand finding hers as they stepped closer to the ring. They paused right at the edge before Sebastian took a step over the candles, moving inside the fiery barrier. Mariah followed, feeling the heat of the flames kiss the soles of her bare feet.

Now standing within that circle of fire, the blanket on the ground in front of them, Sebastian turned back to her, his hazel eyes gleaming gold in the dancing firelight. Mariah glanced around, her curiosity washing over her as she took in the scene and looked back to Sebastian.

“So … what’s next?” She knew her question was blunt, but she couldn’t hold it in. The blanket, the candles, theknife… to say she was intrigued would be an understatement.

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