Page 187 of Scourged

Swallowing her grumble of annoyance, Ciana twisted her brow into a scowl, tilting her chin up to meet Andrian’s stare. He regarded her with mild curiosity as she crossed her arms over her chest.

They glared at each other for a few heartbeats as Ciana organized her thoughts. Long enough for Mariah to shift uncomfortably from foot to foot.

“You know,” Ciana began, staring hard into his bright blue eyes, “I never really liked you much. You’ve always been a bit of an asshole and a dick, and grumpy whenever there was no reason to be. You’re rude and stand-offish and sometimes say things just to hurt other people. Plus, the shadow wielding has always kind of freaked me out.”

Andrian arched a single brow, the corner of his lip twitching.

“But,” Ciana continued, her tone settling into something more serious. Just a little sadder. “I’ve also watched you change. You’re still all those things, but it’s more tolerable now. And I don’t blame you, either. I think it’s something we have in common.”

Andrian still didn’t speak. Only shot a quick glance at Mariah before returning his gaze to Ciana, blinking once.

Ciana smiled and nodded. “I, too, came to this palace broken and in need of saving. And I get it. I know the way she can heal someone. The way she healed me. And I think … the way she healed you, too.”

“Hey, wait—I’m not some healer, I didn’t?—”

Ciana held up a hand to her queen. Mariah let out a soft yelp of surprise but fell silent.

“Listen to me, Andrian Laurent. I know you don’t value much in this world; I sure didn’t. Not before I met our queen. But I know you treasure her. This kingdom needs her—more than either of us knows. So if you don’t bring her home to us, I swear to all the gods that I will chop off your balls and feed them to you. Do I make myself clear?”

“Ciana, calm down. Don’t be dramatic?—”

Mariah’s protest was cut short when Andrian moved.

He took a step back from Ciana. Without ever breaking eye contact, he lifted his right hand, curling it into a fist and resting it over his heart. Over his Mark.

In a slow, measured movement, Andrian lowered his knee to the ground, still not looking away.

“Ciana Visseau,” he said, voice low and darker than his shadows. “I swear to you, by all the gods of this world—and of the worlds beyond—that I will bring our queen home. I will give my life for hers. Not just because she is my queen, but because she is more precious to me than the moons and stars themselves. You have my word; her reign will not end with this journey.”

All movement in the courtyard halted at the dark Armature kneeling before the golden lady. The final words of his vow echoed off the cobblestones, falling like stars.

Ciana swallowed thickly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mariah standing, mouth agape, a single tear tracking down her cheek. Locking her stare back on Andrian, Ciana nodded.

“I accept your vow, Armature. And I intend to hold you to it.”

Andrian dipped his head before rising to his feet. He closed the gap between himself and Ciana, and with an almost-hesitant movement, rested his hand on her shoulder.

“I know you never liked me much, Ciana,” he said, his words just for her. “But I always admired you. And I’ve always been grateful to you for being there for her when I wasn’t ready to be.”

Tears pricked behind Ciana’s eyes. She nodded again, a short, sharp movement.

She understood now what Mariah saw in him. She hadn’t fully comprehended it before, but with that honesty, she got it.

With a smile cast her way, Andrian stepped back from her, rejoining his queen. Ciana turned as he went, and with her tears choking her throat, hurtled herself into Mariah’s arms, nearly knocking her off balance.

“I’m sorry,” Ciana whispered as she gripped her friend tight. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene. I just … We all need you to come back to us.”

Mariah pulled back from her embrace and smiled. “I know, Cee. Don’t worry. I’ll come back. And I’ll have my family with me, and we’ll be ready to take on whatever else those fuckers try to throw our way.”

Ciana chuckled, the sound thick with her tears. “Good.”

They were quiet for a moment, two friends watching each other.

Mariah’s face fell slowly. Shifted into something more serious, more masked and composed.

“Cee,” she began, her voice measured. “Do you … Were you ever given a piece of jewelry with a black and gold stone in it? Maybe around the time of your firstdebutante?”

Ciana started. Of all the questions, that was not one she’d been expecting.

---