Chapter 63

Chapter 63

“ P lease. Please . I didn’t do anything?—”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched as a terrible cry of pain cut Ryland’s plea short. The tip of Mariah’s dagger dug deeper into the sensitive skin beneath the nail on his forefinger, a trickle of blood leaking onto his stained City Guard uniform.

It took Feran two days to find Ryland. The young captain was hiding in the market district, hoping to disappear into the constant movement and activity.

If someone other than Feran had searched for him, perhaps it would’ve worked. Perhaps Ryland would’ve vanished into the heart of the city or even boarded a ship heading south to Idrix.

But no one tracked their quarry quite like Feran. When he’d dragged Ryland from the seedy tavern, thrashing and angry, he’d worn only a look of grim satisfaction.

Feran stood somewhere behind Sebastian now, that same look still on his face, arms crossed, the black braids of his hair pulled back at the nape of his neck.

“I’m going to ask you. One more time.” Mariah's voice was low and vicious as she twirled her dagger in her hand. “Who ordered you to let the messenger past the palace gates on the night of my coronation?”

Ryland’s body shook. “I didn’t—I don’t?—"

Mariah paused the twirling of her dagger and pointed it at his next finger. Ryland’s eyes bulged, arms and legs struggling against the ropes of light and shadow binding him to the chair.

“W-wait.” His face flushed red, eyes fluttering closed, and he released a sob.

“Any day now, Captain.” Sebastian’s blood chilled at the coldness in Mariah’s voice.

“I’m so sorry,” Ryland whispered. “I didn’t want to, but it was such an innocent request. I figured … no real harm.”

Mariah tsked. “I need a bit more than that, Ryland.”

He took another shuddering breath. “The … the lords. Lord Hareth. He told me … told me that if a messenger ever came with an urgent message for the queen, I was to let him in, no matter what.”

Andrian stepped out of the shadows. “You spoke to one of the men who held your queen captive, and you kept that to yourself ?”

Ryland was shaking again. “Like I said, it … it seemed harmless. And …” He hung his head.

“And what ? Speak, Captain.” Mariah raised her dagger again.

Ryland winced as the binds around his body tightened. Sebastian shifted from one foot to the other, keeping his face a careful mask, even as the beat of fury thundered through him.

“And he promised me something I would never have anymore. Not as a Marked, non-Selected guard. He offered me recognition and value. He told me I could be someone important. And since that’s all he was asking for … I said I would.”

That frayed the last edges of Sebastian’s patience. “Someone important ? What about being a captain of the City Guard? Is having a seat at the queen’s counsel table not important enough for you?”

“It’s alright, Sebastian.” Mariah rose from her crouch, smoothly slipping her dagger into its sheath on her thigh. With the short chop to her hair, the padded and fitted dark clothing, and the short swords crossed behind her back, she looked the picture of a vengeful queen.

He understood. Gods, he understood; he was just as enraged. Could feel her rage sneaking across their bond whenever she forgot to fully close their connection.

But there was also something cold and dead behind her forest eyes. Something glimmering with otherworldly power, a magic like the silver and gold of her throne, but also … different. Wilder. More ancient.

He couldn’t deny that it terrified him.

“So that’s really all you wanted? Recognition?” Mariah leaned against the table, watching Ryland with a masked expression.

“Yes,” the captain said, his head still hung. “That’s all I wanted. I wanted to be more than just another captain. I wanted to be valued.” He lifted his chin, eyes flashing.

Sebastian took a step forward, as did Andrian, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons.

“You could’ve given me that, you know. First, you passed me over at the Selection. Which is fine; I could survive that. But then I tried to show you something that I thought would have value to you. Something that would make you appreciate me.” Despite his still flushed face, his bleeding hands, and the bindings that held him, Ryland’s lip lifted in a snarl. “I am permanently Marked because of you. Branded like cattle. The least you could do is give me a simple ‘thank you.’ Especially after I gave you exactly what you were searching for.”

Sebastian’s fury was hot in his veins. Andrian took another step forward.

“What do you mean,” Andrian said, voice deathly low, “that you gave her exactly what she was looking for?”

For the first time, something besides pitiful terror flashed in Ryland’s gaze. He fixed Andrian with a stare that was full of anger and hate and disgust.

“Gods, you were always such a dick. Do you know that? Always sulking around, thinking you were better than us because you had cursed reykr magic. As if that made you special .” He spat the last word, his face flushing red. “I knew what you’d find in that building. I was the one who had it boarded up after the Solstice.” His attention swung to Mariah, who stood still as a statue a few paces away. His expression turned pleading. “I just wanted to make a name for myself. To give you something that you were looking for. To make a difference—for you .”

The room was silent, so still that Sebastian could hear Ryland’s heavy breaths and the pounding of his own heart. His fingers twitched against the hilt of his sword. Ryland let out a sharp yelp as the shadows binding his arms and legs tightened, Andrian’s mouth parting in a snarl.

Sebastian rarely envied Andrian for his gift, but at that moment he would’ve traded anything for the ability to hurt Ryland, even in just some small way.

Andrian’s growl tore through the room.

“I am going to ki?—”

“Andrian.” Mariah’s command was sharp as she moved, resting a hand on Andrian’s arm. The man instantly relaxed, his face dropping all hints of his wrath and settling into his usual ambivalent mask. He shook his arms loose and rested back against the table. Sebastian blinked at his change, still touched by a hint of surprise.

He wasn’t sure he would ever grow used to that. To an Andrian who was still Andrian—still an ass, still insufferable—but was no longer … lost. An Andrian who was saved from himself and was learning how to trust.

An Andrian in love .

Sebastian’s fear and shameful regret had driven him to rash decisions after rescuing Andrian and Mariah. But now, seeing them, seeing the way he was to her … He couldn’t deny there was something between them that no one could understand. That not even the gods could touch.

Mariah chuckled lightly.

“My, my, Ryland. Is that really it? You just wanted my attention?” She took a step forward, cocking her head. “So, you’ve known about that apartment building ever since the Winter Solstice?”

Ryland nodded, keeping his eyes downcast.

“And correct me if I’m wrong, but it is now, what … the middle of spring? Early summer?” Mariah glanced around at her Armature and was answered by grim nods and dark chuckles. “If I’m understanding you, that means you knew about that building and what happened there for months before bringing it to someone’s attention.”

Ryland paled, his eyes going wide again. “I didn’t—you didn’t?—"

“What? I didn’t ask ?” Mariah surged forward, the tip of her family’s dagger appearing beneath Ryland’s jaw.

“Do you know what they did in that building? Do you know how many people were hurt, how many people were killed ? On the goddess’s most sacred night, do you know how many were there to pollute it?”

Ryland gasped like a fish, more terror flashing in his eyes.

“I should do it. Kill you for that, I mean.” Mariah’s voice was so flat, so emotionless, it raised the hairs on Sebastian’s arms. “It would be so easy. I’d only have to push, just a touch, just enough to hit an artery. That’s all it would take for you to choke on your blood.”

Ryland whimpered, his eyes closing as he panted, pulling against his bonds of light and shadow.

They stayed like that for a moment. Mariah, with her dagger against Ryland’s throat. Ryland, shaking with his fear. Andrian, Sebastian, and the rest of her Armature tense and alert, waiting with wide eyes and clenched fists.

After what felt like an eternity, Mariah released a breath.

“But I hardly think killing you will do any good. Not yet, anyways.” She dropped her dagger and took a step back.

Ryland sagged against his bindings, sweat dampening his hair.

“Trefor, Matheo,” Mariah called, turning on her heel. Trefor and Sebastian’s little brother stood a little taller.

“Take Ryland to the dungeons. He’ll wait there until we get back. If my family is found safe and we return here with them, then we can revisit his sentence and what exactly we’re going to do with him. And if we can’t …” Mariah glanced back over her shoulder. “Then I hope you give him a comfortable cell because he will rot down there.” Mariah strode for the door at the other end of the meeting room, Andrian following her. The bindings around Ryland fell away just as Trefor and Matheo reached him, securing him between the two of them.

“Wait,” Ryland croaked, lifting his head weakly from his chest.

Mariah paused, turning halfway. “Yes?”

Ryland swallowed. “What do you plan to do about them? About the lords? You can’t … You can’t beat them.” His head dropped again. “None of us can.”

“I don’t believe there are any men in this kingdom who are that powerful. Anyone can be beaten. And I assure you, Ryland.” Her voice dropped into a low, deadly promise. “They will meet their end. I will burn the entire kingdom down to see it done if I must.”

Sebastian lingered in the room as Mariah and Andrian continued out through the back door and Ryland was hauled away. Quentin, Drystan, and Feran traded low whispers as they slowly followed Mariah and Andrian, presumably back to their rooms to finish packing for their journey. They were set to leave tomorrow, just after daybreak.

Sebastian stayed in that room for many long minutes, alone. He stared at a swirl in the wood of the meeting table, the reds and golds of the mahogany gleaming.

And as he stood, he realized he was afraid.

Sebastian was also angry, of course. He wanted to rip the world apart by Mariah’s side as she searched for her family, wanted to burn the lords where they stood. Never once had he doubted his faith in her, to the world she wanted to build, to the future she could bring about during her reign. He’d already fought for her, had stood by her even when so many in the kingdom turned their backs.

But he was afraid of what might happen if they failed. If they couldn’t rescue her family. If the lords sprang whatever trap they’d laid.

He was afraid for Mariah. For what was happening to her. For who she might become.

He was afraid that if they failed, she might actually burn the kingdom down as her vengeance.

“ The moons are setting, and the sun will rise.”

He still hadn’t told her about that strange encounter he’d had in the city. And now, with everything happening, he was glad he hadn’t and wasn’t sure he ever would.

As Sebastian stared at that swirl in the wood, he wondered how far he could follow his queen.