Page 60 of Threaded

Somehow, Mariah found her voice. “It’s an honor to meet you as well, Delaynie. And please, I hope I don’t offend anyone with this, but … how’s thatpossible?” Mariah turned to Ryenne. “I thought you told me it was impossible for the queen or her Armature to bear or father children. That the magic of the Goddess prevents it.”

“Normally, that’s true,” Ryenne responded. “And will always be true for us queens, since we carry the majority of that magic in our veins. However, Delaynie was … conceived”—a dark-haired woman who must’ve been Lady Briella flushed just as Delaynie herself suppressed a giggle—“after I’d abdicated my power. The magic in Steven must’ve weakened just enough after that to allow him and Briella to create a miracle.” The queen paused, her gaze frosting over with memory. “We were ecstatic for them. Briella was—is—Steven’s last love, and I thank Qhohena every day that they were able to create something lasting from it. Even if such a gift also means that mine and Steven’s time is nearing its end.” Ryenne nodded to Lady Briella, her flush now receded and replaced with happy tears rimming her eyes. Mariah relaxed markedly at the assurance as she watched the heavy emotion flow through the air between Ryenne and Briella.

The two women were silent for a moment, a queen and her Lady, sharing the joy of a gift they both never expected to receive before Ryenne shook her head slightly. “Anyway. Mariah, I wanted to make this introduction to Delaynie in the hopes that the two of you could spend some time together. She is only about a year younger than you, and with her lifetime spent here at court, she may one day make a valuable asset to you here in the palace—”

“There’s no need for that, Ryenne. If Delaynie wishes to serve me and join my court, the position as one of my Ladies is hers.” The sureness in Mariah’s voice was surprising, even to her. She’d recovered quickly from her moment of panic, and her instincts were now screaming at her to take this gift as it was offered, that this woman would be invaluable as she faced down whatever might lie ahead. Mariah still had no idea what she wanted out of this new life she’d been given, but she’d always leaned heavily on her instincts. She had no intentions of changing that today.

Mariah rose from her plush seat and walked through the circle of women. She stood before the auburn-haired girl, who met her gaze unflinchingly, the icy blue of her eyes sparkling.

“Lady Delaynie, daughter of Lady Briella, will you serve me and my court, from now until the day the Goddess calls us home?”

The girl smiled, but it wasn’t the practiced, pretty smile of a Lady of the court. It was a wide, toothy grin, the kind that had mischief glinting in her cerulean eyes.

Mariah’s answering smile was just as feral.

“The honor would be all mine … Mariah.”

The use of her name, and not her title, sent a murmur ripple around the circle of women, but Mariah knew immediately she’d made the right decision.

Delaynie would be trouble, but not for Mariah. And as Delaynie rose from her own chair to clasp Mariah’s hand in hers, to brace against a squealing hug from Ciana, Mariah sent up a wicked prayer to the Goddess.

Qhohena, save those who wish to challenge this new court. They’ll need all the help they can get.

Mariah could feel a storm brewing, and she intended to weather it.

CHAPTER28

All the gold in the palace was stifling.

Mariah wrapped the cream cardigan she wore tighter around her shoulders as she hurried through the halls, searching for something that didn’t glint with the color of her kingdom, her crown, her future. Gold was certainly beautiful, but the longer she spent in the palace, the more it began to grate against her senses.

She’d awoken that morning to a welcomed day off from following Ryenne around from training to meetings. The reprieve couldn’t come soon enough—she didn’t know how much more she could handle of the politics, the parlor tricks Ryenne showed her with her magic, the subtle glares Ksee always shot her way when she spoke out of turn. At least her morning workouts with her Armature and her evening dinners with Ciana and Delaynie were there to break up the rolling monotony of her days.

Goddess, there were so manyrules.

She wondered who she’d pissed off in a prior life to deserve such a rigid one now.

The only thing that made up for it was the ever-strengthening power that dwelled within her. As time progressed, and as she continued to work with her magic, the silver and gold threads slowly grew more and more intertwined. Each day, what had once been two separate balls of thread in her soul were slowly melding together, becoming one, and the feeling of power it brought her to wield them both at the same time was … incomparable.

Yeah. Those feelings of strength, feelings she was coming to crave far too much, made all the other ridiculous tasks she was forced to deal with worth it.

Mariah continued her steady stroll down the long corridor, still looking for something,anything, that promised an escape from all the gold. Finally, she spotted a dark, worn oak door near the end of the hallway. Not a hint of gilding covered its surface, and in comparison to every other doorway in this palace, it appeared rather … plain.

Perfect.

In Mariah’s experience, the most interesting of finds could be discovered behind the most unassuming of doorways. The simple door in Lord Donnet’s manor, a vision from a lifetime ago, flashed through her mind. So many stolen treasures behind that modest wood.

Her blood boiled at the thought, and she recalled another memory of a time a plain doorway opened so many interesting paths. Her favorite tavern had also been hidden behind a boring steel door. A place where she’d learned all the ways of pleasure, how her body could be used as a temporary distraction from how much she hated that town and the people who ran it.

Mariah quickened her steps toward the oak door, a sly grin on her face at the memories of that dark, ale-drenched bar. When she finally stood outside it, she placed her palms upon the cold, black door handles, twisting the metal and pushing against the wood with a soft grunt.

When she’d been given the news that she would have a day to herself, the first and only thing she’d wanted to do was explore this new, massive space she was now expected to call home. Her father would be disappointed if he knew just how little she’d gotten to wander those winding, gilded hallways. There was so much to be seen and found within those walls, and Wex had taught her long ago to never let stones go unturned or halls go unchecked. “The only way something can ever catch you off guard,” he would say, “is if you choose to let it stay hidden.”

If she truly hated anything, other than the shit-stain of the lord who’d driven her to run from her home, it was disappointing either of the two people who’d blessed her with both a life and more freedom than most other girls in this kingdom would ever know.

At least, until those threads of magic had stirred in her chest and claimed her before a throne room of people.

She shoved those thoughts from her head as she again threw her weight against the stubborn oak doors. Finally they budged, swinging open on possibly the only set of rusted, noisy hinges in the entire palace. Stale, dusty air greeted her, and she coughed once, waving a hand in front of her face to clear the debris tickling her throat. The room before her was pitch black, but she blindly stepped in, moving toward the wall at her right in search of the light source.

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