Page 66 of Threaded

A shape dressed in pale gold robes and graying blonde hair piled atop her head.

“High Priestess Ksee. What a surprise.” Mariah’s voice was tight as she plastered another fake smile upon her face.

The priestess smiled coldly back at her before beckoning with a pale hand for Mariah to take a seat at the table. Mariah’s stomach roiled in disgust, her magic revolting with her, but she didn’t argue as she sat. Shawth and Ksee followed, seating themselves across from Mariah. Once settled, Shawth leaned back, taking a deep breath as he looked at Mariah, his eyes shining with dark glee and his mouth twisted into a smirk.

“I do believe, Mariah, that we got off on the wrong foot, so to speak. It is my hope, and the hope of our High Priestess, that a meeting between us would help to … bridge the gap. Ensure we are all on the same page.”

“On the same page about what, exactly, My Lord?” Mariah’s voice was far colder than she’d intended, but something in Shawth’s voice had her trusting none of what he said. He spoke with the cool, too casual grace of a politician, his tone that of a man bred and raised for using words to manipulate and achieve exactly what he wanted.

“My, you are astute, my dear,” Shawth said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, it’s my desire to make sure you are well-informed as to my role in this court, in Verith, and throughout Onita. And, of course, to ensure you are well-informed of your own role, as well. And how the Royals and the Crown have long worked together to ensure future peace and stability throughout the kingdom.”

Shawth’s cold gaze locked on Mariah. She refused to flinch, refused to break, refused to let this man gain any ounce of traction over her. “Then by all means, My Lord, I’m listening. Please continue with your elaboration.”

His sneer morphed into a cold smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “As I’m sure you’re aware, our lovely Queen Ryenne is of my own house. A great aunt, actually, although a few generations removed. And her reign has been lauded by many as one of the most peaceful and prosperous in all of Onita’s history. Do you happen to know why, Mariah?”

Mariah ground her teeth at the casual use of her name but didn’t deign to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.Yet. “Because she’s an intelligent, fair queen who has long put the interests of her people and her kingdom before her own?”

His smile only grew colder. “That is correct, in a way. Sheissmart and puts the needs of herpeoplefirst. Do you know how she does that?”

Mariah watched him, waiting for him to continue.

“When she first came into power and ascended the throne, she recognized that she, as a young woman, didn’t know the first thing about running a kingdom, about ruling a people. So, she relinquished much of her control to her uncle, my great-grandfather, then the head of our house and Lord of Khento.Hebecame the true wielder of power behind the guise of the throne. Ryenne became, and has been since, a beloved figurehead to the people, a symbol of the might and power of their kingdom, a beautiful rose without any of its thorns. And when my great-grandfather aged and passed from this earth, and was replaced by his son, and then his son, and then me, Ryenne never sought to take back any of that power. Because she knew allowing us to rule, while she oversaw the more trivial matters of the kingdom, was ineveryone’sbest interests.

“And now, Mariah, her time as queen is coming to an end. And she’s to be replaced by you. The arrangement she negotiated with her family—withmyfamily—when she first ascended … it was always her smartest move. The way of Qhohena’s queens was great, long ago, but as our nation has grown and developed, it has come time for the monarchy to do so as well. We’ve evolved, adapted, and it’s crucial that we not regress on that progression simply because the crown is now destined to pass to another.”

Finally, the lord finished his speech, his blue gaze drilling into Mariah like twin ice picks.

Stunnedwas too simple a word to describe what lanced through her. She felt her magic again begin to unspool, both the silver and gold threads unwinding, curling together, spilling into her veins, responding to the building fury coursing through her. She couldn’t,wouldn’tbelieve it. This lord was lying, hehadto be …

… but deep down, somehow, she knew he wasn’t. That the words he’d spoken were the truth. She’d been watching Ryenne over the past four weeks, observing the queen as she’d dealt with palace business, and notoncehad she ever witnessed the queen handle or address a real issue that truly mattered to Onita or the ruling of the kingdom.

Mariah let all the ancient power in her veins seep into her voice as she spoke.

“That may be how my predecessor chose to rule, Lord Shawth. And I respect her decision to do so. But as even you pointed out, it will soon be me to sit upon that throne. And while I certainly intend to hear your sagecounsel”—she drew out the word into a snarl—“I intend to rule in the way Xara did, the way Qhohena intended. I intend to be the one in power. I’m thequeen.”

And as she spoke the words, she knew them to be true. She’d spent this past month wondering what, exactly, she wanted in this new place. But as she let her magic ripple through her, letting it fill her with an intoxicating thrum, she knew there was one thing she now craved far more than the freedom she’d once thought she wanted.

She wantedpower.

A sharp voice suddenly interjected itself into the room. “Queenapparent.”

Mariah’s head whipped to Ksee, seated beside Shawth, cold flames licking in her stare. “You are the queen apparent.Notthe queen. That title will not be yours until you bond with all your Armature and ascend the throne. As usual, you forget your place,Mariah.”

Mariah snarled at the priestess, the untamed part of her slipping free, just a bit more.

Shawth chose that moment to speak again. “You’re young, My Lady. Not yet ready for the business of leadership and all that the throne truly entails. You don’t know what you speak. By the Goddess, you don’t even know the true weight of your own crown. But I do. You were never raised to sit upon that throne. What I’m offering you is a lifetime of luxury, of comfort, without the burdens of power. I urge you—make therightchoice here.”

The silver magic suddenly forced itself up, slipping through her control, pushing out from under her skin and into the air around her, crackling like whips of wild lightning. The air felt static, pulsing in time with her hammering heartbeat, a caged beast growing closer to finding its true freedom and devouring those that sought to lock it away.

Mariah’s display of power flashed and reflected in Shawth’s eyes, his expression hardening into true disdain.

“You may have learned some circus tricks, my dear, but you don’t frighten me. And until you are fully bonded, you would do well to remember that you arereplaceable.”

“Is that a threat?” The silver light around her began to form into physical threads, into solid-looking ropes, cords that begged to choke out the vile stare of the man who sat across from her.

Shawth only rose from his chair, thoroughly dismissing her and the power raging in the air. “But of course not, Your Highness. However, you forget—you’re not in the Crossroad City anymore. Here in Verith, we deal in strength and power. As strong as you think yourself to be, with little bits of light magic and the indecent training with your Armature, you’re naught but a mere speck on our chessboard. I encourage you totreadlightly.”

Mariah shot to her feet, the screeching sound of her chair echoing in the room as it was shoved back with the force of her movement. That silver magic finally lashed out—not at the Lord, but at the table between them. And that light, that power that wasn’t supposed to take any physical form, slashed across the wood, leaving a thin, smoking crevice in its place.

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