Chapter 61

Chapter 61

M ariah’s rooms belonged to a stranger.

These rooms belonged to a girl whose family was safe, enjoying a night by the fire in a quaint cabin nestled in the Ivory Forest.

To a girl who thought she might see that family again one day. Would visit them there in that cabin and enjoy a night of peace and smiles and cold whiskey. Would watch the man she loved meet them, would watch her father shake his hand, watch her mother wrap him in an embrace, watch her brother pester him about his strange, foreign magic.

What a fool she’d always been.

Mariah sat on one of the many couches, slumped against the cushions. Empty. So empty. Even the press of Andrian’s thigh against her own wasn’t enough to shake the numbness.

She’d cried as they’d walked through the halls to her rooms. The tears slowed as she tossed her bloodied dagger on the bed, stopping completely as she changed out of her coronation gown and into her familiar leggings and tunic.

She emerged from her bathroom to Andrian, waiting, her dagger cleaned and polished in his hands. He offered it to her without question, and she took it without a word.

It was back against her thigh, her fingers toying with the hilt.

Mariah would slit Shawth’s throat with this dagger, would ensure she did not leave this world until she felt his life drain out from beneath the blade.

There were murmurs around her living room. The rest of her Armature—besides Matheo and Feran, who had dragged Finn away—were perched around her, exchanging tight whispers and shooting her concerned stares. Sebastian, especially, sat close, brows pulled tight as his concern stretched across his face.

She didn’t bother getting their attention before speaking. They’d all hear her, anyway. “I need to get them back.”

“We will, Mariah. We promise, we’ll get them out.” Sebastian leaned forward, reaching for her hand.

Mariah didn’t offer it to him but didn’t pull away, either. She simply remained motionless, devoid. An empty shell of vengeance and anger.

More lurked beneath the husk of her rage. But she was too afraid of it, of the way it looked back at her with slitted eyes and burning death in its maw.

“You misunderstand me, Sebastian.” Her voice was biting. “I don’t want to get them out, eventually . I want to get them out now . They can’t spend a single second more in that miserable pit.” She shivered, the scars on her back itching.

Mariah remembered all too well what they did to visitors in that castle.

Andrian tensed beside her. Sebastian’s jaw worked, frustration in his hazel eyes.

“I know, Mariah. We understand. But we can’t just go now?—”

“Of course we can,” she interrupted. “I’ll go alone if I must. But I will not sit here, waiting in safety and comfort, while my family rots in a cell in that fucking castle.”

Silence answered her. A hand rested gently on her thigh, warm and familiar.

“ Nio . Look at me.”

She slowly turned to Andrian. Shadows danced in his blue eyes, twined down his shoulders, brushed against her cheeks. She leaned into them, just for a moment, before snapping herself back.

“We will get them back. As soon as we fucking can. But we can’t take down a whole castle without a plan.”

He was right, even though the beast in her gnashed its teeth and raked its claws across her soul.

Matheo and Feran burst into her rooms, followed closely by Ciana, Kiira, and Rylla. Their footsteps were tense and clipped as they strode through the foyer. Ciana pushed and shoved past Quentin and Drystan until she stood by Sebastian, her normally bright face tight. She dropped to her knees, resting a hand on Mariah’s forearm, amber eyes flickering.

Mariah hardly recognized the feeling of her friend’s hand on her arm, but she met Ciana’s gaze. Did her best to acknowledge her, to feel something other than her rage.

A memory tickled at the back of her mind, a reminder of something else that had happened that night.

“How is Delaynie?” Mariah croaked as her mind filled with images of her friend bent over the body of her father. Of her sobs echoing through the throne room.

Her rage greeted her guilt like an old friend, both settling in her chest.

Ciana’s hand tightened on Mariah’s arm. “She’ll be alright. They always knew this day would come.”

Mariah grimaced. “Knowing something is going to happen doesn’t make it any easier.”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t.” Ciana shook her head and inhaled a deep breath. “She’s going to stand vigil with her mother and Liliane. She hoped that would be okay with you.”

That guilt twisted tighter, wrapping around Mariah’s throat. Her anger suffocated, still itching and raging to leave for Khento. But she wasn’t the only one to lose someone tonight.

She didn’t even know if she had lost anyone. Her family was only taken, if Finn’s message was to be believed. They were not dead.

Not like Steven, Delaynie’s father.

“Of course it’s okay.” Mariah felt tired. So very, very tired. She hung her head, her chin meeting her chest. “I’m sorry. I was selfish.”

“No, Mariah.” Andrian’s hand brushed her hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re not selfish, and nobody here thinks you are.” There were nods around the room, but Mariah’s attention remained focused on him. On his tanzanite eyes and the bond of light and shadow stretching between them. “Your family was taken. And we’re going to figure out a way to get them back. All of them.” He growled the last few words, shadows dancing between his eyes.

Mariah drew in a breath and let it out slowly between her teeth. She curled her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms.

“I need to get them back.” She turned to Ciana, still kneeling on the rug. “But … I also need to be here for Delaynie. For Ryenne. She deserves as much.”

Ciana nodded, tears forming behind her amber eyes as she gave Mariah a sad, heartbroken smile.

Mariah turned to Sebastian. “Is three days enough time?”

Hesitation flashed across Sebastian’s eyes, but he wasn’t who answered her.

“Yes, nio . Three days is more than enough.” Mariah nodded but kept her attention on Sebastian.

“Do you disagree, Sebastian?”

He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “No. I don’t. I just don’t want you going with us.”

Mariah’s rage came roaring back.

“I would rather die,” she whispered, venom on her tongue, “than stay here, in the comfort of this ridiculous fucking palace, while my family is held captive in an enemy’s castle. I will never let someone else fight my battles for me, especially when the fight is for people I love.”

She caught Andrian’s subtle smirk out of the corner of her eye, something close to pride shimmering in his gaze and down their bond.

Sebastian shook his head, lips tight. “It’s just …” He breathed a heavy sigh. “It feels like a trap. You must see that.”

“Of course it’s a trap.” He blinked with shock. “But that’s not a good enough reason to stay behind. To not do what I can for them. They were taken because of me .”

Sebastian’s jaw still worked, but he said nothing.

“I have a question.” Drystan’s clear voice rang through the room as he leaned his hands on the back of the couch. “Did anyone else catch that the messenger boy said that a City Guard named Ryland is who let him into the palace tonight?”

“Yes,” Andrian responded, his eyes flashing. “And I’m going to fucking kill him.”

Mariah didn’t object. She only met his stare, feeling his anger.

This was a man Andrian had grown up with. Had regarded as a brother for over twenty-one years. Mariah didn’t know Ryland—not beyond the few meetings they’d had and the trip they’d made into the market district. His deceit stung, but the pain of it was mild, inconsequential. For Andrian, though, and the rest of her Armature, this betrayal meant something else entirely.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he has left the city. Regardless, we need to find him and talk to him.” Everyone around the room murmured their agreement to Mariah’s words.

“I’ll find him.” Feran crossed his arms across his chest. “Tracking down animals is something I’m good at.”

Mariah nodded. “Good. Can you do it in two days?”

Feran’s answering grin was savage. “Respectfully, M, I think I’ll have him back by nightfall tomorrow.” He chuckled. “Ryland is many things, but the smartest of us … he is not.”

“Then it’s settled.” Sebastian rose to his feet. Ciana watched him stand, her brows twisted together. “We’ll leave in three days, in the morning.” He glanced down at Mariah. “Who all is to go with you, My Queen?”

His rigidity would have bothered her had it not been for her numbness—her anger and guilt.

“All of you. I need you all close. We’re stronger when we’re all together.” It was the truth; everything felt whole like all the pieces of her soul finally fit together when they were near. The thought of going into a place like Khento, a place haunted by the darkest of her memories, without them … She couldn’t stomach it.

She turned her attention to the women of her court. “Kiira and Rylla, you’ll both remain here in Verith. As will you, Ciana. Stay with Delaynie and her mother. Keep the palace safe until we return.”

All three women nodded. Kiira and Rylla’s eyes hardened and flashed, reflective like a cat.

Mariah turned to her first friend, the golden girl who had taught her that a life of responsibility and power might not be so bad after all. Ciana’s amber eyes were rimmed with tears, her lips quivering as she held back a sob.

Mariah gave her a gentle smile and felt something other than the emptiness of anger and guilt. She extended her hand to Ciana. Gripped her friend’s fingers with her own. “I need you to promise me something, Cee.”

Ciana sniffed, a single tear falling from her eye. It landed on their clasped hands, rolling off their skin.

“Anything, Mariah. You know that.”

Mariah drew in a breath, raising her chin. “If things go poorly—if you get word that things have gone poorly—you need to get out of here. If I’m gone, and the allume fails again … the wards will fall, and you won’t be protected here. You need to promise me that you’ll get everyone out—Delaynie, Mikael, Brie, Ryenne’s ladies, Liliane. Everyone who might have sympathy for me. Get them out and get them somewhere safe.”

Ciana’s eyes widened. “That won’t happen. I know it won’t.”

“Of course it won’t. But …” Mariah’s voice turned pleading. “Just promise me, Ciana. Take care of them. Get them out.”

Ciana opened her mouth as if she had more to say, but snapped it closed. It took a few moments, the mind behind her eyes working, before she nodded.

“I will. I promise,” Ciana said, her voice nearly a whisper. She cleared her throat. “If I do, where should I go?”

Mariah stared blankly.

She hadn’t thought that far.

“To Kreah.” Kiira stepped forward. She still wore her silver-gold gown, styled after Mariah’s own. Her deep brown eyes glowed behind gold dusting on her eyelids, her skin warm against the lightness of her dress. “If we have to flee, we should go to Kreah.”

Mariah straightened. “Kreah is a long way away.”

“It is.” Kiira nodded, folding her hands. “But it would be safe. I know you—and all those in this room—would be welcomed there without question.” Kiira’s gaze sharpened on Mariah, a hint of the predator beneath shining through. “Rulene has always been a friend to Qhohena—and to Zadione.”

Something stirred in Mariah at the mention of the Kreah Goddess. Confused glances were shared between her Armature, but she ignored them as she stood, extracting herself from Andrian’s hold. It only took a few steps before she stood before Kiira, searching her friend’s fierce expression.

“I trust your people more than I trust my own. If it comes to that, please keep them safe.”

Kiira regarded Mariah with a curious, unreadable look. She slowly bowed her head, dark braids shifting around her shoulders.

“With my life, My Queen.”