Page 96 of Threaded

The high priestess stood behind Ryenne’s Armature, her face twisted with contempt and disapproval as her glare soaked in the dark gown that clung to Mariah’s body. Anger washed over Mariah as the priestess picked her apart, her skin warming with eager silver-gold magic that sought to snap free from her skin. Instead, Mariah inhaled deeply, settling herself for just a moment before she wrenched her gaze from Ksee and lifted her chin in the air, forcing the most regality she could muster into her posture. She removed her hand from Sebastian’s arm before striding forward and joining Ryenne beside those two golden thrones.

Distantly, as if from underwater, Mariah could hear the crowd below her cheering. The realization snapped her back into the present, to the exuberance filling the air and dragging greedy fingers down her skin. Despite the cacophony, a sickly sweetness clung to the cheers, as if it were tinged with something … manufactured. Synthetic. False.

They didn’t want her, but curiosity drove them all here just the same.

Fine. She’d never cared much about the opinions of others.

As long as they didn’t wish to harm her where she slept.

Mariah’s gaze darted to Ryenne, only to find the queen watching Mariah closely, her ocean blue eyes still carefully guarded. Ryenne then turned to face the gathered crowd beneath them, her hands raised just as they’d been at the Choosing. The mass of people fell instantly silent, eager and greedy for more.

“May Queen Apparent Mariah’s reign be long and prosperous! Now, let us revel in this divine night before the shine of the golden moon and celebrate Qhohena’s Chosen beneath her blessed light!”

There were more cheers as glasses were raised, toasts to the queen’s words ringing out, soft echoes of “To Qhohena!” echoing through the cavernous throne room. On Mariah’s right, a band began to play, and her attention wandered for a moment to watch the semi-circle of six musicians—three men, three women—as their instruments began spinning rolling melodies through the room. The music was traditional Onitan, and it pulled at her feet in a way that made it near impossible to resist the urge to stand and dance, to lose herself in the crescendos and diminuendos of the strings and percussions.

“My queen?” said a soft, deep male voice from Mariah’s side. She turned her head further to meet Sebastian’s steady hazel gaze, his firm presence a rock in the flowing din of the room.

Goddess, she wished—more than anything—that she could give him the love he deserved.

Seb extended a hand to her, bowing slightly at the waist, his other hand held lightly behind his back.

“Would you honor me with this dance?”

Mariah smiled at him, the warmth of his solid presence wrapping itself around her skin. “The honor would be all mine, Armature.”

With that, she placed her hand in his and let him pull her from the dais, down the steps, and toward the empty, polished dancefloor.

CHAPTER42

“We wish you a long and blessed reign, Your Highness.”

The reedy man standing before Mariah and Ryenne bowed deeply as he stepped back from the dais, the queen and her successor nodding to him respectfully in return.

“Thank you, Lord Fraser. It has been an honor to make your acquaintance. I pray that Qhohena’s grace shines down on you in the coming years, and that you always feel welcome to petition my court for assistance, should you ever need it.” The words, repeated over and over again by Mariah as she met lord after lord, Ambassador after Ambassador, had long since lost their candor, but she forced them past her teeth, regardless.

Mostly because she didn’t want Ksee to ruin her night more than her incessant glaring already had.

The Lord of Tolona, a small southern town close to the Onitan border with Idrix and Vatha, flashed her a slightly haphazard smile. “I shall always do just that, Your Highness.” And with that, he retreated fully from the space before them.

In his place, a group of six ascended the dais steps next—two dressed in finery, flanked by four guards. The two in the center wore a familiar white fabric pinned at the shoulders, a style instantly reminding Mariah of the two Kreah women she’d met in the stables. One was a man, thickly built, heavy silver chains hanging around his throat and resting against his broad chest. Beside him stood a woman, an elaborate headpiece woven into her thick, black hair, her kohl-lined eyes glittering with a fierceness Mariah recognized.

Reaching the top of the dais, the man dropped to his knee, his hand forming a fist that he rested against his chest. The woman beside him did the same, and their guards who’d remained at the base of the dais mimicked their actions.

“Queen Ryenne.” The man’s voice was deep, rumpling. “It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance.”

Ryenne stood up straighter, taking a small step forward. “And you as well, Ambassador Enoch. I am deeply grateful to you for making the journey here to Verith. Please, rise.”

At her words, the entire party rose to their feet. Ryenne presented her practiced, diplomatic smile before forging on.

“Ambassador, it is with great honor that I present to you the Queen Apparent of Onita, Mariah Salis.”

Ambassador Enoch swung his head to Mariah, dark brown gaze meeting hers briefly before dropping again into a deep bow. “Queen Apparent Mariah. It is my greatest privilege to meet you. It is a rare occurrence indeed when Onita gains a new queen. We are blessed beyond measure to be here, witnessing your ascent.”

“The honor is all mine, Ambassador.” A genuine smile touched Mariah’s lips. There was something about this man and the woman beside him that was so different from all the others she’d met that night. Something real, and authentic, not smothered with a layer of sticky superiority. “Forgive my question, but … you are Kreah, correct?”

Enoch flashed a smile, his teeth brilliantly white against his dark skin. “Yes, Your Majesty. I am the Kreah Ambassador to Onita.” He turned to the woman beside him, her eyes a brilliant jade green that contrasted beautifully with her similarly dark skin. “I would like to introduce you to my wife, Satya.”

Mariah dipped her head in greeting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Satya.”

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