Page 23 of Threaded

“Your Majesty, my apologies. I didn’t hear you arrive. You are every bit as regal and powerful as I expected.” Ciana paused, rising from her curtsy, lifting her head just enough to look back at Mariah. “Truly, it’s this one who could use some work.”

Ryenne smiled broadly, flashing white teeth as she laughed quietly. “I beg to differ. She’s already far more impressive than I was after my own Choosing.” Both Ciana and Mariah snapped their attention to the queen, who only regarded them both with that same soft amusement. She stepped closer to Mariah’s friend, regarding her sharply.

“Ciana, is it?”

Mariah moved to stand beside Ciana, noticing her eyes had gone wide. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ryenne tilted her head to the side, her pale blonde hair shifting across the red velvet of her gown. After a moment, she moved her stare to Mariah, something like approval shimmering in her ocean-blue gaze.

“Good choice.”

Shock poked at Mariah’s skin before fizzling out into something close to … pride?

It felt good, she suddenly realized, to be praised by the queen. To know she’d done something right, passed this first test she hadn’t known she’d been taking.

She was still furious, still so angry and full of fear and confusion, but … maybe, just maybe, this would be okay. She was out of Andburgh, after all. She had a new friend who she could trust, someone to joke with and speak to. It also wasn’t lost on her that here, in this palace, she could havepower.

And power … power could bring anything. Even freedom.

Suddenly, a loud grumble ripped from Mariah’s stomach into the dead silence of the room, wrenching Mariah from her musings. Her smile instantly fell as she grimaced, a hand touching her stomach lightly. Her mind raced, and she realized that it was now likely near noon, and she hadn’t eaten anything since her dinner at Beva’s the night before.

The silence now shattered, Ciana burst out laughing, nearly doubling over in her hysterics, the sound like tinkling bells ringing through the room. Ryenne chuckled again and took a step forward, gesturing toward the table in the room.

“Come, let’s enjoy lunch,” said the queen. “I’ll have food brought up and we can eat here. Then we can focus on getting you—bothof you—settled into your new rooms.”

* * *

“This is … this ismine?”

Beside her, Ciana brusquely hit Mariah’s shoulder with her own. “Don’t question it, you idiot,” Ciana hissed. “If you don’t want to move in here, I’ll gladly take it instead.”

A chuckle came from behind them as Ryenne glided around the two young women. “Yes, Mariah, this is yours.” She paused, looking around the grand foyer. “These are the traditional quarters for the queen. Every queen since Xara has resided here.”

Mariah’s attention snapped to Ryenne. “If these are the queen’s quarters, then where are you living at the moment?”

“Don’t worry about me.” While the queen’s voice was commanding in a manner that didn’t invite further questions, she elaborated with a gentle glance back at Mariah. “There are dozens of expansive guest quarters in the palace for visiting lords, ambassadors, and other high-ranking members of the ruling class. My Armature and I will be residing there until your coronation.”

Mariah narrowed her gaze at Ryenne. “And what aboutaftermy coronation? What will happen to you all then?”

True sadness crept into Ryenne’s expression. “Don’t trouble yourself with that, Mariah. My Armature and I will be fine, and that is all you need to know.”

“Queen Ryenne … I can’t move in here knowing these were your quarters. I have no interest in kicking you all out of your home.”I have no interest in being here at all.

The words were there, on the tip of her tongue, ready to be spoken. But for some reason, Mariah held back. Swallowed them down. Pushed them away.

“Do not argue with me on this, Mariah.” Ryenne’s voice was firm. “These plans were made long before you arrived here today. These quarters will be yours, and your Armature, once selected, will take up residence in the seven other quarters in this hallway. That is final.”

Mariah stared into Ryenne’s hard, ocean eyes for a long moment before conceding, dipping her head to the queen. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Her gaze then wandered around the resplendent foyer, finally allowing herself to soak in the space she was now to callhome. “IsupposeI can tolerate living here,” she said, a smile ghosting her lips. Beside her, Ciana squealed in delight before taking off into the suite, a blur of lilac and gold.

They’d walked through a set of beautiful white double doors, gold detailing depicting a map of Onita, into a grand foyer of more white and gold. The left wall of the foyer ran straight into the open living space beyond, but to the right, behind a set of glass paneled doors, was what appeared to be a comfortable sitting room, filled with plush couches, chairs, and white fur rugs. A gilded fireplace was built into the far wall, and just to its right was a bar, stocked full of decanters of various shapes and sizes and colors.

“Oh, myGoddess, Mariah.” Ciana’s near-groan from the room beyond the foyer pulled Mariah’s attention away from the sitting room. She made a mental note to inspect those decanters and their contents later that evening.

No matter what else happened that day, she already knew she would need a drink.

She stepped forward, Ryenne by her side, until she passed through the great archway at the other end of the foyer hallway and sucked in her breath.

The room was magnificent and unlike anything she’d ever seen. Cavernous in size, the open living area perfectly combined regal luxury with livable comfort. The far wall consisted entirely of windows, the Attlehons beyond ancient and glorious. There were glass doors placed throughout the far wall leading out to what Mariah could see was a massive outdoor space, a patio with outdoor seating offering an even closer vantage of the magnificent view.

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