Page 95 of Threaded

That is,ifshe even survived this evening. She’d read enough about balls to know they were the perfect opportunity for scandal or betrayal.

Mariah heaved another breath and took in the rest of the appearance Brie had so artfully crafted.

Her dark hair hung down her back in long, gentle waves, each side pinned off her shoulders with golden clips crafted to resemble the same snowbell blossoms adorning the Onitan crown. A simple gold necklace in the shape of a crescent moon hung around her neck, resting between her breasts. Her eyes were shadowed with subtle grays and golds, the forest green of her irises stark against her tan skin. Rouge had been swept across her full lips, soft golden powder dusted across her cheekbones.

She looked like a fallen star, adorned in darkness yet still shining with light and power.

Movement behind her in the mirror drew her attention away from her reflection. Sebastian stepped into the room, dressed in fitted black pants and a matching jacket, the lapels adorned with gold and silver threading similar to that on her gown. His eyes widened slightly as he took her in before he bowed his head, his hand immediately going to his chest in a fist.

“My Queen. You are … stunning.”

Mariah smiled at him. “Stop that, Seb.” She eyed him appreciatively as he raised his gaze back to hers. “You clean up nice yourself.” His lips curved into a smile as she threw him a wink. Mariah grinned back and turned to address Brie one last time before they left her chambers.

“I would like to get to know you better, Brie. I hope this will not be the last time I see you around the palace.”

Brie answered with another one of those brilliant smiles. “Of course, Your Majesty. It would be my honor.”

“Mariah,” she answered softly. “My name is Mariah.”

The girl’s eyes widened, but she didn’t argue. Only dipped her head once to Mariah, her gray eyes shining.

With that, Mariah turned to Sebastian and placed her hand on his forearm, feeling the flex of his corded muscle through his jacket. He met her gaze again, an eyebrow lifting in silent question.

She only grinned wickedly in return.

“Let’s go give them a show, Armature.”

CHAPTER41

“Royals and lords of Onita, esteemed guests, people of Verith. It is my absolute privilege to introduce Qhohena’s Chosen, our next Queen of Onita, Mariah Salis.”

The answering applause from the throne room thundered at Ryenne’s words from behind the gilded doors, rattling Mariah’s heart in her chest. She tightened her grip on Sebastian’s arm, sucking in a deep breath as she steeled herself against the onslaught waiting for her beyond that solid white oak.

As the great doors swung open to reveal the cavernous, glass-ceilinged room beyond, Mariah’s subconscious guided her feet forward, moving her out onto the dais behind the golden throne. A smaller, less auspicious twin was placed beside it, and she focused her attention on the back of that chair, pushing out the ringing of the room. The faces of all the gathered people faded away, the sounds of their applause distant as her heart pounded louder in her chest.

She recalled a time when she’d been one of those people, watching a woman walk through those same doors onto this very dais. Recalled a time when she’d thought she still had a chance at a normal, free life, that she would be able to board a ship and flee for the Kizar Islands with a satchel of stolen coin.

What a joke that had been.

The weight of the crowd’s gazes pushed against her skin, clawing and scraping like thousands of hungry mouths eager for a morsel of her attention.

Don’t focus on them. Focus on those you know, those you trust.

The words in her mind, not quite sounding like her own, dragged her away from the heaviness burning in her lungs and back to the others standing with her on the dais, dressed in the finery of the queens’ courts. There was Ryenne, poised and elegant beside the larger throne, resplendent in a gown of shimmering gold. Kalen and the rest of Ryenne’s Armature stood to her left, watchful but smiling softly at Mariah, their gazes lit with compassion and encouragement. She didn’t know many of them, was too preoccupied trying to keep her head above water with her own new life, but she nodded once to them all the same, a silentthank you.

Mariah continued to walk toward the second, smaller throne, her eyes darting down the dais to where her own court stood. Her Armature stood closest: Quentin, Drystan, Matheo, Trefor, and Feran, all dressed in the same fine, tailored suits as Sebastian, all smiling at her with grins of varying degrees of wickedness and pride.

And standing at the bottom of the dais, as far as was acceptable for a member of a queen apparent’s Armature to be from her, was Andrian, his attention fixed on the wall beside the door behind her.

She refused to look at him, too.

Further to the side of the dais stood the Ladies of her and Ryenne’s courts, and it was there that Mariah let her attention wander. Ciana and Delaynie stood, shoulder to shoulder, eyes shining with joy and pride at their friend. Despite the situation, and the nerves still clawing through her belly, Mariah had to hold back an elated giggle when she saw Ciana’s dress: an incredible, form-fitting gown of crushed maroon velvet, the skirts clinging tightly to her slender curves.

She deserved far more than being a cake-topper, anyway.

Pulling her attention from her friends, Mariah looked back to the two thrones, meeting the queen’s sterling blue gaze. Ryenne’s blonde hair was coiled high atop her head, the thick strands now streaked thoroughly with gray, her snowdrop blossom crown resplendent on her brow. A gentle smile spread across her lips, her eyes darting briefly to Sebastian before returning to Mariah.

There was a warning hidden behind the Queen’s eyes as Ryenne hardened her stare at Mariah, glancing away to another corner of the dais, drawing Mariah’s attention with it. Mariah schooled her face into neutrality as her eyes clashed with Ksee’s burning, tarnished glare.

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