Threaded (The Solstice Cycle, #1)

by Tay Rose

Not even if the stars winked out and the moons fell from the sky.

lol tell us how you really feel

“Why would I need a courtship if I could get whatever I wanted from a man by just walking into any tavern in Onita?”

Our girl said…I do what I want and get who I want

They mirrored the phrase that chased her from dreams and nightmares her entire life, said in a voice that whispered of shadows and starlight. Love is a weakness.

After all, it was rare for a woman to have magic. Most gifts, elemental in nature and almost always specific to fire or air, manifested in men around the time of puberty.

her father, for example, bore no gifts—but

To be told what to do by someone who wasn’t her, told who to be and how to act and to have her free will drained from her body until she was nothing more than a husk of herself.

So much Lisabel ached to tell her, but could not. Not without risking Mariah’s life, the life of her family, everything on this continent she held dear.

Babe I feel like keeping it a secret is actually gonna be the problem

For her, Ryenne would kneel without hesitation.

As the daughter of a soldier, I expect obedience will come to her naturally.”

So Ksee’s tryna fight

This fucking bitch.

Read my mind bestie

that every sword needs a shield, every great power must be grounded, and even the strongest need protecting.”

Love is weakness.

They could be her armor, but they could never have her heart.

lol yeahhhhh ok babe

“Old hag,” she grumbled into Mariah’s ear. “She obviously needs to get laid.”

Damn straight

“Sebastian, My Queen.”

but there was something strikingly familiar about him, like stepping back into a home that you had been away from for far too long.

And in that moment, he knew he hated her.

The beginning of a love story folks

her words spilling into the air like a liquid drug to which he was instantly addicted.

The shadows dwelling beneath his skin, magic that was unlike any other in Onita,

DO WE HAVE A SHADOW DADDY???

But when his eyes met hers, he forgot, for the most fleeting of moments, that he hated her.

to know exactly how good it would feel to wind his hands in the lengths and pull— Fuck. Not good.

No go ahead….keep the thought going

He thought he could save himself from those thoughts by moving his attention to her eyes. Gods, he had always been such a fucking idiot.

But he was fooling himself. He was nothing. Worthless. Things that were worthless couldn’t be protected, especially from assaults by wicked little females.

And even though it was the first order issued by his queen, Andrian vowed to never follow it.

Oh he’s gonna do it and I’m gonna kick my feet when he does

Repeated, over and over again across that page, was the phrase, “Love is my strength.”

“I’m also my own woman and am sitting at this table, just as Ryenne is. So please, do your future queen the simple courtesy of directing your questions to her, and not speaking of her as if she weren’t seated no more than ten feet from you.”

Go the fuck off queen

The room erupted in burning light, silencing the Lord of Kasia.

Hell yeah it did

“Mariah. My Queen. Come back to me. It’s over now; we’re safe.” He squeezed her hands tighter before he repeated, “Come back to me.”

Stop he’s so sweet

Especially since she’d killed someone earlier.

Its called duality babe

“There’s not a single doubt in my mind, Mariah. I waited twenty-one years to meet you, knowing you would be worth the wait, hoping beyond hope I would be offered the chance to bind myself to you forever.”

“And how many of those twenty-one years were spent rehearsing those lines?” He smiled. “Every single one.”

Quick pulse check

“That’s okay. I’ve got you.”

“Hey,” he said, voice calm as she met his gaze. “Stay with me. Do you trust me?”

“And by ‘bare,’ you mean lose our clothing, don’t you.” The

Oh darn sebastian has to get naked how sad

and remember that no matter what, I’ve got you.”

“I want you to do it,” she interrupted him suddenly, her voice husky. “I want you to undress me.” The hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

Atta girlll

She felt warm fingers grip her chin just as her gaze snagged on the blade, her attention pulled back to honeyed hazel eyes. “Remember, Mariah. With me.”

“I’m not sure if this is the only night you’ll give me. And since it very well may be, I intend to take this opportunity to worship you fully.”

We love a man who worships women

“Ugh! Alright, fine, bitch. Play coy with me. I will, however, expect a full debriefing with all the details that would make our ancestors roll over in their graves later this evening.”

I love her

nio.”

A NICKNAME

Andrian, I don’t actually care if you show up, but Sebastian and Quentin, I’ll need your help.”

Lmfao i love her

there wasn’t much in the world that terrified her more than a child did.

Lmfao relatable

“You have no idea how much your presence in this palace is driving me fucking crazy.”

“I wonder. How crazy, exactly, does me being here drive you?” She returned her eyes to his own, the wild blue blazing. “Crazy enough to show me?”

Ohhh our girls got game

Crazy enough, indeed.

he’d been overwhelmed with the feeling that she was his, that no one could touch her skin or see that blush except for him.

Eeeee!!!!

No. This was not a matter of pride. This was a matter of taking back power from men who never deserved to wield it.

PERIOD

He sat up with a jolt, sleep still heavy in his eyes, clutching his chest and his racing heart. His skin was slick with sweat, and his muscles trembled with adrenaline and fear. Something was very, very wrong.

Consort consort consort

All he knew was that she was his, and someone had hurt her.

SHE WAS HIS ASKDHDKSHSJ

It wasn’t as if Mariah would even want him to be the one to comfort her, anyway. Twisted self-loathing curled into his gut, pulling taut.