She should tell Mariah. She trusted her queen; she would protect her. But her gut still twisted with fear at the thought of putting words to all this newness.
“The journey itself was fine,” Sebastian responded. Priam watched the dragon circling above them with a frown. “But we need to speak with our queen. Immediately.”
“Funny,” Priam said, finally turning to them. His quicksilver eyes swirled beneath his thick brows. “She has much to speak to you about as well.”
Ciana narrowed her eyes at the god. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sebastian winced. “Ciana…”
Priam chuckled. “I will give the young queen this much: she is not afraid to surround herself with strong women.” He moved past Ciana. “Thank you for escorting my people here. I will not forget this kindness.” Before she could respond, he leaped forward, and with a flash of smokey light, he was replaced by his silver-blue dragon, sands stirring as he lifted into the sky.
“I’m really not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” Amasis murmured, their blue eyes wide.
“I’d have to agree,” Sebastian muttered.
“I don’t know; I’m getting quite bored of watching them. I’d rather figure out how to be one of them again.”
The feminine voice was serious, laced with a touch of irreverence, and delightfully familiar. Ciana whirled to Mariah. Her queen stood a few paces away, her arms folded across her chest and a tight smile tugging at her lips.
Ciana’s feet were flying across the sands before she could stop them. She threw herself into her best friend’s arms, thanking the moons that she’d come.
“Hey, Cee.” Mariah chuckled, squeezing Ciana back. She slowly extricated herself from Ciana’s embrace, staring her down with searching green eyes. “Everything okay?”
Ciana opened her mouth, about to say that yes, everything was fine, let’s just get everyone settled first?—
“No. Everything is very muchnotokay.”
Mariah’s gaze shot up, over Ciana’s head. Sebastian strode to Ciana’s side, that same strange hard set to his brow contorting his handsome face. The first hints of a beard shadowed his normally shaved skin, and there was a darkness in his hazel eyes that was unlike him.
It made her warm inside knowing it was all for her.
Mariah didn’t miss the change in his appearance, either. She scoured him, her brow pinching as she pursed her lips. “Good to see you, too, Seb.”
He snarled at his queen. Ciana’s mouth popped open with shock. “Did you know Ciana’s family was traveling with the refugees?”
Ciana’s breath caught in her throat. Mariah’s lips parted, light flickering in her eyes.
Was her magic coming back?
“What did you say?” Mariah no longer spoke with the voice of Ciana’s best friend. Her posture had straightened, fury flashing across her face.
Even if she wore no crown, even when her power was silent,thiswas the Queen of Onita.
“It’s not that big of a deal.” Ciana tried to step between Mariah and Sebastian. “It was handled?—”
“Ciana.” Mariah’s voice was cold. “Is your family traveling with that caravan?”
Ciana swallowed.Shit. “Well, we technically have different family names, so?—”
“Heranimalof a stepbrother found her the first night. Followed her back to our tent even after being told to stay away.”
Sebastian’s voice was foreign to her. Ciana faced him, tilting up her chin to meet his gaze. He lowered his, expression softening again.
What had gotten into him?Thiswas the Sebastian she’d found covered in blood in the woods. He’d slipped back into his usual self since then, but it seemed Mariah’s presence had dragged it all back to the surface.
Was this who he really was, or just who he became for her?
She almost shook her head. What a silly thought. He’d made it clear; he was her friend. He was just protecting her, that’s all.
