Page 22 of Threaded

Mariah’s gaze hardened. “Yeah, we discussed that already. And I’m not entirely sure why it matters.”Especially since I’m not supposed to be here.

Ryenne suddenly leaned forward, grabbed Mariah’s hands in her own, and pulled her close. “Mariah,” she began, her blue eyes urgent and insistent. “Listen to me. If you take nothing else from me, take this. Your ascension to the throne will not be easy. Much of what is in this kingdom is not as it seems. You must select and bond with your Armature—allof your Armature—as quickly as possible to protect yourself and Qhohena’s magic. I can do nothing to stop the politics of this kingdom from seeking its own agendas. You must rely upon those Qhohena gifts you with to protect yourself.”

Mariah blinked, her blood rushing cold at the urgency in the queen’s voice. “What … I’m confused. I don’t understand. I don’twantthis. It can’t be—”

At that moment, a sharp rap sounded on the study doors. Ryenne released Mariah’s hands and sat back, the cool mask of the powerful queen slipping back into place over her features. Kalen reentered the room first, his eyes immediately glancing between his queen and Mariah. There was something shadowed glinting in their warm brown, a shadow so like what had passed through Ryenne’s eyes just a few moments earlier. Behind him, the High Priestess strode into the room, an imperious look on her face. Her tarnished gold gaze also darted between Mariah and Ryenne, but ultimately rested on Mariah with a look of bland, subtle interest.

“I apologize for the interruption, Your Majesty, but we must discuss the plan for our new … guest.” Mariah bristled at the pause in Ksee’s words, as if the priestess couldn’t settle on what to call her.

She might not want to be there, but after what had happened, she knew she was more than just someguest. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ryenne responded first.

“It’s quite alright, Ksee.” The queen’s voice sounded different as she spoke to the Priestess, her tone older, firmer. “Mariah and I were just finishing up. We needed a few moments alone, just queen to queen apparent.”

Ksee turned her attention back to Mariah, a sneering smile twisting her face. “It is indeed such a special day. The tenth queen apparent to our great kingdom, and soon to be the eleventh queen. Your family must be so proud.”

Something hidden in Ksee’s words made Mariah’s skin crawl, and her tongue again loosened before she could clamp down on her self-control. “Yes, my healer mother and soldier father will be so thrilled to learn of our newblessing.”

More like a curse.

Ksee went eerily still, her gaze boring into Mariah with such unequivocal intensity before shooting to Ryenne. “She is not Royal?” Ksee paused, taking in Ryenne’s stony expression. “You already knew.”

Ryenne looked at Mariah with thinly controlled frustration. “Yes, Mariah and I were just discussing her family when you came in. They hail from Andburgh, the Crossroad City.”

Ksee’s glittering, cold mask didn’t falter as she nodded, only once, those piercing eyes still watching Mariah. She looked ready to speak on the subject further, but ultimately decided to hold her tongue. Ignoring Ksee and her cold, curious response, Ryenne spoke again.

“And we were also discussing Mariah’s Armature selection. It is one of the most important steps a new queen apparent must take. The sooner we can arrange it, the better.” Pausing again, Ryenne turned her gaze from Mariah to Ksee. “As long as our training goes smoothly tomorrow, I would like to see if it can take place tomorrow evening. Can you ensure it is so?”

Ksee blanched slightly, but merely bowed her head. “That is a rather quick timeline, Your Majesty, but her Marked have trained years for this. I am sure we can have what we need ready in time.”

Ryenne nodded once. “See that it is.” Ksee bowed her head to the queen, then turned on her heel and slipped back out of the office, all but ignoring Mariah as she left. Once the priestess departed, the queen returned her attention to Mariah, the mask of the Queen slipped slightly as she beheld the dark-haired young woman. Mariah met her stare, unflinching, wondering what more could possibly be thrown at her today.

“There is one more thing, Mariah, that we must discuss.”

Unsurprised, Mariah sat still, waiting, trying to hide the heavy beat of her heart.

Unexpectedly, Ryenne’s face broke into a smile. “Every queen, and queen apparent, is permitted to appoint up to six Ladies to serve in her court. I would like to see you make that first appointment now, if possible. Is there anyone who you would like to be the first to join your new court?”

There was not a single moment of hesitation for Mariah. She’d only known the girl for a few hours, but there was no one else she wanted by her side.

If she would be stuck in an impossible situation, then at least she could bring the first female friend she’d ever had along with her.

Plus, this would be much better than serving as a life-sized cake-topper.

“There was a blonde girl who stood next to me at the Choosing. Gold hair, amber eyes, lilac gown. Her name is Ciana. I appoint her.”

CHAPTER10

Somehow, Ryenne’s staff managed to locate Ciana. Whether she hadn’t yet left the palace, or if they knew where to look for her in the city, no one said, and Mariah didn’t ask when the blonde-haired woman, still dressed in that massive, lilac gown, finally rushed into Ryenne’s study and swept Mariah up into a hug.

Mariah clenched the other girl tight, Ciana’s embrace grounding her, a reminder that there was still some sense ofnormalto be found in her new prison. There was something about Ciana, so full of bubbling and sparkling personality that allowed Mariah to momentarily forget about what had happened and what was coming and justbe.

With a final squeeze, Ciana pulled away slowly from Mariah. She met her friend’s stare, scrutinizing Mariah as if she were an ant under a magnifying glass. Her gaze was sharp when she finally spoke.

“I always expected to be more impressed when meeting a queen.”

Mariah froze, for just a heartbeat, before a slow grin spread across her face.

“Good thing I’m most definitely not a queen. Still plenty of time for you to become impressed.” Just as Mariah said those words, Ryenne, who’d stepped into the room shortly after Ciana, softly cleared her throat. Ciana went rigid, and Mariah huffed a soft laugh as her friend hastily twisted herself to face the queen. The golden-haired girl immediately bowed her head, gathering her lilac skirts as she curtsied low to Ryenne.

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