Page 25 of Scourged

Anger lit up Ciana’s chest, whipping through her blood. She straightened her spine, hands tightening into fists.

“You can’t tell me what is or isn’t safe. You don’t get to tell me what to do.” Her voice grew louder as she spoke, tears threatening behind her eyes. “No onegets to tell me what to do, not anymore. If I have to spend one more second in this palace, standing about like a helpless idiot, I … I …” Her hands shook, and she sniffed, a frustrated choke catching in her throat.

“You’re my best friend, Sebastian. You know how much I need to do this.Please.” Her voice cracked. “Please don’t lock me in here. Please let me help.”

Sebastian watched her, expression unreadable, the silence spreading between them thick and heavy. Ciana heaved her breaths, tears still running tracks down her cheeks. Sebastian released one long, tortured exhale, hanging his head, hair falling forward to hide his face.

“I’m not having this conversation again, Ciana. I’m not changing my mind.”

Ciana exploded.

“You havegiven up!” She stormed forward, shoving his chest. He took a stunned step back, nearly knocking over his glass. “At least let those of us who still care do somethinguseful, instead of locking us up just so you can feel better!”

The second those words left her lips, Ciana knew she was wrong to say them. She didn’t believe them, not really. But she was soangry, and by the gods, he needed to see it.

Sebastian’s stare hardened. “I know how hard all of this has been on you, so I’m going to forgive you for that. But don’t you ever dare accuse me of not caring. You know I’m doing everything I can with what I’m dealt.”

“Not everything. You’re being a coward.”

“I refuse to be reckless. That’s what they want.”

Ciana whirled away from him, marching to the door. She yanked open the heavy wood.

She couldn’t speak. Her words were clogged by her anger. She needed to leave.

“Don’t leave the palace, Ciana. Please.”

“Fuck you.” The door slammed behind her, rattling the walls.

Ciana stormed through the halls,her steps kept company by her fuming mutterings.

A part of her, deep down, knew she was being irrational and self-centered. They were all coping with an unimaginable loss and an impossible situation, and Sebastian was doing the best he could.

Unfortunately, Sebastian’s best was forcing Ciana into her worst. She felt trapped, scared, vulnerable. This anger, this selfishness … it was all she could do, too.

Her steps took her winding through the gilded halls. She'd meant to head to her rooms, but she'd only peered down the brightly lit hallway and strode past it without hesitation.

Stagnation would be the worst possible thing for her now.

Ciana wound down a spiraling staircase, brushing her hand along the gilded walls before reaching the bottom and bursting into a lower courtyard.

And freezing in her steps.

Queen Ryenne stood alone in the courtyard, none of her Armature or ladies in sight, staring at Ciana as if she’d been waiting for her.

“Queen Ryenne,” Ciana said slowly, chest still heaving from her panicked flee through the palace. “I … I’m sorry to intrude.”

The aging queen smiled, skin crinkling around her ocean-blue eyes. “You are not intruding, Lady Visseau.”

Ciana shifted awkwardly. “I will … I’ll leave you alone, forgive me?—”

“You misunderstand, Lady Visseau. I do not wish to be left alone. I was waiting for you.”

Ciana lifted a brow. “Waiting … for me? Here?” The courtyard was one of the ones with a domed glass ceiling, trapping in heat and moisture and keeping out the brisk late winter air. Plants and trees with great leaves in the shape of massive fronds arched and brushed the glass and stone, flowering vines crawling up their trunks. “I wasn’t … I didn’t even mean to come here.”

Ryenne smiled. “You might not have meant to come, but I knew you would, regardless.”

This is very strange. “I’m not sure I understand, Your Majesty.”

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