Page 93 of Threaded

Mariah twisted on her stool, blinking in surprise as she was greeted by hazel eyes watching her from the couch, Sebastian’s expression carefully masked yet still amused.

“How long have you been here?”

Sebastian shrugged, shifting slightly. “Most of the day. I wanted to make sure you eventually got up and ate something before tonight.” He paused, concern filling his face. “Plus, I was worried about you after you left the library yesterday.”

Mariah felt her own expression steel over as she nodded to him curtly, just once.

After Andrian had said his …words, and she’d taken more than a few minutes to compose herself, she’d marched her way out of the library without a further word to anyone. Sebastian had tried to call after her, reaching out to her through their bond, but she’d closed herself off from him and all the others and had run to the one place she felt she could have a chance at pulling herself together.

She’d saddled Kodie and ridden into the game park, urging him deeper into the thick forest than she’d ever ventured on foot. She’d lost herself in the feel of her horse moving beneath her and the sound of his hooves on the soft dirt and fallen leaves underfoot, his breaths and heartbeat slowly bringing her back to earth. She’d returned well after dark and had found Feran waiting for her in the quiet of the stables, leaning patiently against Kodie’s stall door. Without a word, he’d followed her back to her suite, where Sebastian and Drystan were standing guard outside of her door. She didn’t say a word to any of them, striding into her suites and closing the doors behind her with a click, that door directly across the hall from her own burning a hole in her chest.

Mariah cleared her throat. “Yeah, well, thanks for checking on me, but I’m fine. Really.”

The look on Sebastian’s face told her he wasn’t at all convinced.

Behind her, she heard Mikael shuffle to the island, the sound of a dish being set down on the marble drawing her away from Sebastian’s concerned hazel stare. “Here ya go, lass. Eat up.”

The savory smells wafting up from the dish were beyond decadent. Her mouth instantly salivated, her stomach rumbling a third time. Grabbing the spoon Mikael placed on the counter beside the bowl, she picked up the steaming dish and stood up from the island.

“I think I’m going to go eat outside on the terrace. Thank you for dinner, Mikael. It smells absolutely delicious.”

Mikael smiled warmly back at her. “My pleasure, lassie.”

With her food in hand, Mariah strode out to the glass table on the terrace, the view of the mountains beyond thawing the numbness in her heart just a touch.

She could live here for five hundred years, could live out the remainder of her now near-immortal existence, and never grow tired of that view.

Mariah heard quiet footsteps and knew Sebastian had followed her out onto the terrace. Once she was seated, spoon poised over the bowl of stew, he sat in the chair across from her, watching her closely. His bright gaze sifted through all her omissions and half-truths, peeling her back until he saw exactly what was driving her out of her mind. She chose to ignore him, taking a bite of her stew, the tender beef melting in her mouth as the flavors exploded across her tongue.

She groaned and then proceeded to devour the entire bowl in a far-from-queen-like manner. Sebastian watched her for a few minutes as she ate before he finally spoke.

“I don’t know what he said to you, but … he does care for you, you know. In his … own way.”

Mariah froze, her eyes meeting Sebastian’s, before she scoffed and set her spoon down next to her nearly empty bowl.

“I highly doubt that.”

Sebastian only held her gaze. “Andrian had a difficult upbringing. Being Marked is not always a … joyous occasion, as it was for Matheo and I. Andrian had a lot to gain as the heir to a Royal house, and that Mark—yourMark—stole it all away.”

Mariah’s gaze shifted into a glare. “Trust me, if I could give it all back and wipe that Mark from his chest, I would. I would also remind you, and him for that matter, that I didn’t choose any of this; not for you, not for him, not for any of the other Armature, andespeciallynot for myself.”

Sebastian’s expression softened at that. “I know, Mariah. I know. Weallknow that. And deep down, Andrian knows it, too. His relationship with his father, though … it’s complicated.” Mariah averted her eyes from Sebastian and turned her gaze back to the stunning view of the mountains beyond.

Her next words were a grumble. “I shouldn’t have slept with him.”

To her surprise, Sebastian laughed, his deep chuckle rumbling in the afternoon air. “You were always bound to do that, Mariah. While I certainly enjoyed our one night together and would be lying if I didn’t say I quite often hoped for more”—Mariah snapped her eyes to his, finding them twinkling with amusement—“it has also been more than apparent to me, toallof us in your court, that there is somethingelsebetween you two. Call it chemistry, hatred, anger … whatever. But ever since you stepped out of that carriage on the day of the Choosing and your eyes found his, weallfelt it. We’re just thankful you gave in before you ripped each other’s throats out.”

Mariah could only stare at him, slack-jawed, which only made him chuckle again.

“Yes, I know he’s a dick. And like I said, I don’t know what he said to you yesterday, but based on the emotions I felt down the bond and your disappearance into the woods afterwards, it probably wasn’t anything you wanted to hear. Not to mention, that shadow magic of his makes him a scary motherfucker. But … don’t give up on him just yet. He was an asshole before you arrived, and believe it or not, has become somewhat more tolerable since his Selection, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.”

After a few pounding heartbeats, Mariah finally found her words. “Where in all the gods’ stars did you come from? How are you so … perfect? Why couldn’t I have been drawn to you?”

Sebastian just kept that sad, knowing smile on his face. “The gods had other plans for you, My Queen.”

The conversation died out after that, but they continued to sit in silence as Mariah finished the last of her meal. At some point, Mikael stepped out onto the balcony to deliver some fresh-baked bread, and Mariah used the warm loaf to soak up every last drop of the stew. Once she was done, not a single bit of broth left in the dish, she put her spoon down, sighing contentedly before meeting Sebastian’s gaze.

“Let’s talk about the ball tonight.”

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