Chapter 42

Chapter 42

M ariah sat in the conference room alone, staring at the walls, twisting a single thread of silver-gold light around her fingers.

Two weeks had passed since the allume snuffed out in the early hours of the morning. Two weeks since Mariah had plummeted inside the lunestair pillars and chased away whatever evilness dwelled inside.

And still she didn’t know how, exactly, it had gotten there. She only had a few clues, fed to her from a smattering of conversations and her own thrumming instincts. One thing was certain, though.

Something had happened on the Winter Solstice. Something that corrupted the magic she’d brought into their world.

Which after too many sleepless nights, watching the stars from her balcony, had led to her calling this meeting.

The conference room doors swung open.

“Quentin, how anyone puts up with your obscene behavior is beyond me.”

“Oh, c’mon, little wolf. It was just a joke.”

“I told you.” Delaynie glared imperiously at Quentin as she strolled in beside Ciana. “Do not call me that.”

“Sure, alright. Whatever you say.” Quentin drifted away, heading to the other side of the table, a devilish grin on his face. “Little wolf,” he murmured, just loud enough for the room to hear.

Mariah couldn’t help her smile as Delaynie flushed a furious shade of pink, ice blue glare biting. Behind them came Sebastian, Trefor, and Matheo, all speaking quietly amongst each other. They were followed closely by Kiira and Rylla, who’d changed back into their Kreah fashioned garb, long paneled skirts fastened by solid breastplates. The last from her court to enter was Drystan and Feran, who shared a lingering look before taking a seat at the table.

Mariah certainly wanted to hear more about that look later.

The captains and commanders of the Royal Infantry and City Guard entered next. She hadn’t had a chance to formally meet many of them yet, despite so many being her own non-Selected Marked. Sebastian had told her how vital they’d been to the defense of the city, and Mariah figured it was time to bring them into the fold.

They knew the most about the city, anyways. Who better to help her puzzle out their latest threat?

“It’s an honor to finally meet you, My Queen.”

A young captain had circled the table to stand before Mariah, bowing his head and placing his fist over his heart.

Mariah turned to him and smiled. “You as well, Captain …?”

“Orryn, my queen. Call me Orryn.”

“Orryn,” she repeated, flattening her hand on the table. “You were one of my Marked.”

Orryn nodded. “I like to think I still am, even if I wasn’t Selected.”

Mariah tapped a finger. “I like to think that, too.” She glanced at the rest of the table, the group watching her expectantly. “Please, everyone, sit.”

Everyone slowly settled themselves, chairs scraping across marble floors, when a final shadow lingered in the doorway. The room fell silent as attentions whipped toward the newest arrival.

Mariah slowly stood from her chair, meeting his tanzanite gaze, and nodded, the hint of an assuring smile on her lips. And to her shock, not an ounce of fear or dread filled her veins, although her magic did snap to attention and twist in her gut.

Mariah knew, in her soul, that the person who’d hurt her was not the same man who now stared at her with a glimmer of shadowy hope in his brilliant blue eyes.

So she’d asked Drystan to make sure Andrian knew about the meeting. To tell him that he was welcome to attend, if he desired.

That his queen would appreciate his presence and his counsel.

Qhohena had asked her to learn to trust him again. Zadione had told her to make love her retribution.

So she would try.

A wooden chair creaked as Sebastian shifted uncomfortably. He gripped the arms with white-knuckled fingers but, to Mariah’s relief, remained seated. Ciana pinned him with a glare before shooting an encouraging look at Mariah.

Mariah turned back to Andrian, holding his stare. After a heavy pause, she glanced at the last open seat opposite her at the rectangular table.

He exhaled heavily, still warily watching the room as he sank into the polished wood, shadows trailing his steps.

At last, Mariah relaxed and reseated herself.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said, doing her best to meet every set of eyes. Murmurs of greeting touched her ears, and she settled further into her seat.

My court , she thought. My court, and I am their queen .

“First, I wish to thank you for everything you did to keep this city safe. I know it wasn’t easy, but Verithians are alive and safe because of each of you.”

Murmured acknowledgments swept the room, followed by more nods and bowed heads.

Andrian, though, was still and silent, thoughts carefully hidden behind his familiar mask.

She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I also wanted to thank you all for … bringing me home. You risked your lives for me, and I don’t think I can ever repay you for that.”

“You are our queen,” Sebastian said, his voice warm. “Every one of us would give up our lives for you.”

More murmurs of agreement.

Across the table, blue eyes watched her.

Mariah smiled. “While I hope that’s never necessary … thank you.”

More nods.

She shifted in her seat. Be a queen .

“I called this meeting to discuss what’s next. I don’t intend to sit here, cloistered in my palace, for the pirates to regroup and return to our shores or for the Royals to decide they want me back.”

Brows furrowed and hands clenched into fists. Someone grumbled, a noise like a stifled growl.

She could’ve sworn shadows brushed her skin.

Drumming her fingers on the table, she continued, “Does anyone know why, exactly, the Kizar pirates attacked in the first place??”

A young commander, dressed in the white of the Royal Infantry, sat forward.

“The Infantry’s network of spies has heard nothing, Your Majesty. We never heard they were coming until they appeared in the Bay, and their disappearance has been just as mysterious.”

Mariah frowned. “I didn’t know the Royal Infantry had a spy network.”

The commander grinned. “Not many do. If they did, it would be a pretty shitty spy network.” There were low chuckles around the room at that, and even Mariah grinned. The commander shifted, his face turning serious. “I am Commander Luan, Your Majesty. My troops are at your disposal.”

Mariah nodded, her smile widening. “Thank you, Commander Luan.” She turned back to the rest of the gathered captains and commanders. “So … if we don’t have information on the pirates, then what of the Royals? I don’t intend to allow them to capture a queen and get away with it.”

Rumbles of agreement came from her court, and an actual snarl may have slipped from between Rylla’s teeth. They fell silent when an older Infantry commander sat forward, his armor clinking.

“My queen,” he began, gruff voice scratching against her skin. “I fear I may bear an unpopular opinion, but I owe it to the kingdom to speak.”

Mariah’s spine stiffened. Across the table, shadows danced.

“The Royals are fixtures in Onita,” the older commander continued. “Their families are old, and their power runs deep. Too much of the country relies upon them—for food, for employment, for safety. We have already seen the issues they can cause with the latest merchant disputes, as I’m sure your ladies know all too well. If you propose to deal with them by uprooting them, then we could face disastrous upheaval.”

Silence fell over the conference room. Wisely, no one from her court dared to speak, their eyes darting between her and the aged commander with wariness and apprehension.

Coolness slid across Mariah’s skin as she continued to drum a steady beat on the wood. She laid her hand flat and met the commander’s gaze.

“Bullshit.” Her tone was icy. Magic danced between the fingers of the hand splayed on the table, silver and gold licking across her skin.

Opposite her, shadows did the same.

The commander paled beneath his beard, his brown eyes widening. “I meant no offense, Your Majesty; I only mean to offer counsel?—”

“I know you mean no offense, Commander. But I’m telling you that your counsel is bullshit.” Her magic filled her, and she reveled in the strength it offered as a part of her remembered what it was like to be a queen.

“I’ve spoken to my ladies. Those disputes with the merchants were caused by the Kizar presence in the Bay, not because of the Royals’ interference. This country does not need the Royals to survive. The dependency we have on them is a crutch. Our people are stronger than the Royals—and you—give them credit for.” Mariah lifted her chin. “I don’t intend to allow Onitan citizens to be crushed beneath the weight of that aristocracy any longer. Our people will find their strength and their voice, and we as a nation will become better for it.”

The commander snapped his mouth closed as he sat back down. Defeat and anger warred in his expression, but he didn’t push the matter further.

Mariah supposed soldiers—even commanders—knew how to take orders and when to stop.

Her attention snagged on the man across from her. Andrian had relaxed in his chair, his shadows still dancing subtly around his shoulders. The barest, faintest touch of a grin tugged at his lips, and when she met his stare, her chest tightened at the pride dancing in his tanzanite eyes.

She almost jolted when she felt that same pride inside , tugging on a brilliantly woven bond.

How the fuck had he learned how to do that?

Mariah wrenched her gaze away, turning to her court.

“If we can’t decide what to do about the Royals quite yet, then perhaps you all can help me with something a bit more … personal.”

Everyone sat up, instantly attentive.

“When I was … in Khento, I had a very interesting conversation with our beloved High Priestess Ksee.”

Quentin’s lips pulled back from his teeth, and Feran and Trefor both clenched their hands into fists.

“She seemed to suggest that she—and the Royals—had interfered with my Solstice. I’m not sure how, or what, they might have done, but there are other reasons that lead me to believe she was telling the truth. Which is where I need your help.”

The room awaited her next words.

“Was there anything … unusual reported on the night of the Winter Solstice? Either across Onita or even here in Verith itself?”

Silence answered her, each person glancing at each other, confusion and intrigue on their faces.

Mariah deflated slightly, slumping forward. Why had she been so hopeful that there was something out there she could learn, something she could do?

Until someone cleared their throat.

“Your Majesty.” A young City Guard captain rose from his seat, golden cloak swishing. “I … I might know of something worth looking into.”

The captain appeared nervous, almost unsure of himself, as he fidgeted with the pommel of his sword and the edge of his cloak. His light brown hair and hazel eyes reminding her so much of her brother, Ellan, even though this man was at least a decade older.

She nodded, telling him to continue.

“On the night of the Winter Solstice, the Guard received a … complaint,” he said. “Of a disturbance down in the market district.”

Mariah straightened. “What kind of disturbance?”

The captain twisted his hands in his cloak again. “They said they heard … screaming. Women screaming. But when a detachment of the Guard reported to the building, they found nothing—for all purposes, it looked abandoned.”

“Did the Guard go in?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Well … no, Your Majesty. Like I said, it looked abandoned. They reported it as a false alarm and returned home to celebrate the Solstice.”

Mariah’s mind was whirring, a thousand thoughts lighting and flashing behind her eyes. Her magic whipped and roiled excitedly in response, and she pushed out of her seat in a rush.

“I’m going to look at that building. Inside, this time.”

Right on cue, Sebastian shot to his feet.

“Not alone. Please.”

She slid her gaze to him, smiling sweetly. His expression turned wary. “Of course not, Sebastian. The good captain will accompany me as he knows where to go.” She paused for effect. “And you’re coming too.” Sebastian relaxed markedly but still held a tightness in his posture.

He knew she wasn’t done.

She hesitated, just for a moment. A slimy sliver of fear and apprehension twisted around her heart. But the words of the goddess wound through her thoughts.

“You need to learn to trust him again.”

Pushing down all her fear, every conflicted feeling she harbored deep within, Mariah turned to Andrian. His face was a careful mask, watching her with predatory stillness.

“And Andrian. You’ll come with us.” His name fell like honey from her lips. She hadn’t said it aloud, not in weeks.

She surprised herself at how right it felt.

The inhalations she heard across the room told her she wasn’t the only one feeling that surprise. She looked back at Sebastian, daring him to challenge her.

To her shock, he stayed silent, although his jaw flexed with the words he forced himself not to say.

She loosened her breath and pulled her magic beneath her skin.

“Ready your horses. We leave in an hour.”