Page 104 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Marietta

“ W e’re going to be late,” Keyain said for the fifth time as they walked down the steps toward Elyse. In tow were a handful of guards, including Amryth, who looked like she wished to be anywhere else. Marietta hated that she worked while they enjoyed themselves.

“Do you wish to be down there during that?” Marietta gestured to Elyse, locking faces with the dreamy Lord Brynden.

Gods, even from afar, she could see how attractive the elven man was, a bit boyish for her taste, but the cheekbones and cocky demeanor worked for her.

To think such a male wrote filthy letters as well. Elyse was a lucky lady.

Keyain bristled at her arm. “I wasn’t expecting them to drag out their reunion this long. If I did, then I wouldn’t have waited at the gate. I’d rather them be uncomfortable with no privacy than late to dinner.”

Marietta patted his bicep. “Perhaps you’re feeling cranky because you wore a jacket when it’s the middle of summer.” The day’s heat was near stifling, even as the sun dipped low over Satiros. His green jacket with gold embroidery looked sharp on him, but at what cost?

“I thought having a thinner undershirt would help, okay?” he snapped, followed by a sigh.

Her gaze drifted to his dress shirt—again. Tight to his body, the thin white silk hid nothing underneath. “Well, at least I’m enjoying it. All the Satiroan women will swoon on the streets for Satiros’s greatest warrior and his abs,” she said with a flick of her brow.

“Quit mocking me.”

Marietta looked up at him with furrowed brows, her hand reaching to rest over his heart. “I’m not mocking—the shirt is making me swoon as well.” Her hand drifted down his chest and onto his hard stomach.

“Mar,” he warned, though a smile lined his lips, “not in public, okay?”

Marietta pulled her hand back. “You’re going to make me wait until tonight?

” she said with a mocking pout. It became clear to Marietta that Keyain hadn’t had sex with anyone after they broke up, which was surprising.

Even before his betrothal to Elyse, she had thought a war-hero-turned-minister could sleep with whoever he wanted.

“Get this out of your system now, please,” he said with a sigh. “I just want a nice dinner—no dirty comments or innuendos.”

Marietta thought back to the filthy letter riddled with innuendos and laughed to herself. Keyain was in for a treat. “There you go, taking away all my talking points before we even get to dinner,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “Always a pain in my ass.”

He smiled with his gaze fixed on her, at the phrase often said to him when they traveled around Enomenos together. “I already can’t wait to take that dress off you, so any dirty reminders might tempt me to end the night early,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to her ear.

Marietta batted him away, yet she liked the attention.

Sure, Keyain was an ass, but she forgot how fun he could be.

The banter and teasing were the basis of their relationship, and it had been easy to slip back into both.

Though, during sex with Keyain, she still thought of the King or imagined they were Enomenos.

What was the harm of pretending when she’d get the information to help the Exisotis?

“If that’s supposed to dissuade me, then find a better reason. Perhaps we skip the dinner altogether and you can strip this dress off me right now,” Marietta answered with a wink. Keyain rolled his eyes, his smile growing broader.

As they approached Elyse and Brynden, she couldn’t hide her smile.

That morning, Keyain surprised her with the stunning gown.

Lavender chiffon with a sweetheart neckline emphasized her chest, with sleeves that hung off her shoulders and pearls studded along the length of the dress.

Heavy? Yes. Uncomfortable to sit in? Most likely.

Was the dress worth it? Absolutely. Keyain had outdone himself.

“Satiros’s Greatest Warrior and the First Half-Elven Lady,” Brynden said, pulling away from Elyse.

Marietta bit back her surprise, not realizing she had her own moniker.

With a deep bow, he added, “A pleasure to share this evening with you both.” The lord stood back up, his arm hooking around Elyse’s waist.

“And you,” Marietta said, cutting Keyain off, causing him to bristle. “Glad to meet such a supplicatory male in the flesh.”

Brynden’s brows rose, his smirk deepening as he turned to Elyse. “I see you have shared my sacred texts with a friend.”

Elyse’s face turned a shade similar to her dress. “She was with me when Sylas delivered the second letter.”

Keyain sighed, his patience running thin. “Brynden,” he said, holding out his hand. “We can talk about this on the way to the restaurant. If we don’t leave now, we’re going—”

“To be late,” Marietta said with a wave of a hand. “If I hear you say that one more time, I will purposely make us late.” Keyain shot her a warning look before she continued. “Come, Brynden, tell me all about yourself. I’ve been dying to meet you.”

After Keyain ushered them into the carriage, his guards taking their posts outside, Marietta finally got to see the man who held Elyse’s heart.

To call Brynden charming would have been an understatement.

The Chorys Dasian captivated her within moments; his ability to engage with strangers rivaled her own.

Even Keyain was smiling. He lowered his guard as Brynden spoke of his military days, talking with grandeur, every line poetic, gesturing with his hands. In many ways, he embodied how a royal would act.

The entire ride, Elyse’s smile didn’t fade. With Brynden’s hand clamped in her own, sitting with hips and knees touching, Marietta could read the attraction they had for one another. Elyse even seemed at ease, her eyes glittering when Brynden gazed down at her.

In stark contrast, Keyain’s only contact was his grip on her knee, opting for space between them. How funny she forgot his aversion to public displays of affection, even when alone with friends. She was his wife, and he still couldn’t hold her hand.

Sylas’s warning from the garden stuck with Marietta as she searched Brynden’s mannerisms and words. None of his actions fit that of an obsessive person, though who would pursue a lady after an ended betrothal? Was it love or obsession? Where did that line get drawn?

Pondering that distinction, Marietta gazed outside the window to the city beyond. Curious onlookers stared into the carriage. Mostly elven, though she glimpsed a few half-elven people.

Having seen the white buildings that lined the cobblestone streets a few times now, she decided they were, in her opinion, boring. Only those with plants growing up the facades had any color. In Olkia, the buildings were anything but white.

Last summer, Marietta had convinced Tilan to paint their own a bright shade of golden yellow. Tilan hated it. At least she hadn’t painted it pink or teal, like the buildings flanking the bakery. Her heart ached at the memory of Tilan’s dislike, then acceptance, because it made her smile.

As the carriage turned onto a side street, Marietta gasped.

Thick bloomed wisteria covered the corner building facade from foundation to roof.

Containers flanked the wide oak door, flowers spilling out onto the cobblestone sidewalk.

More blooms sat on tables outside, elven folk chatting with pastries and tea.

Above the door, in clear lettering, was the business’ name.

“Stop the carriage!” Marietta said, her hand flying behind her to Keyain’s arm.

“What is it?” Keyain asked, his tone laced with annoyance.

“The Flour Shop!” Marietta turned to him with a smile. “We have to go.”

“We’re already behind schedule—”

“Keyain,” she said exasperated, “you don’t understand—stop the carriage.” Her friend, it was her shop.

With a curious smirk, Brynden hit the carriage wall, and they came to a stop

Keyain glared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Your lady wished to stop,” Brynden said, standing and offering his hand to Elyse. “So we stop. I’m always one for a spontaneous adventure. Unless Elyse wouldn’t like to go?”

She hesitated, looking from Keyain to Brynden. “Well, I’ve heard the ladies talk about The Flour Shop during teatime, and I’ve always been curious.”

Marietta could’ve kissed her.

Keyain sighed, giving in. “Alright, but make it quick. We shouldn’t be too late for dinner. And stay close to the guards.”

As they stepped out of the carriage, the guards flanked their party.

Excitement bubbled in Marietta’s gut. Grysella had visited her bakery in Olkia just a year prior, waltzing into Rise Above and ordering one of everything.

Marietta watched in awe as she proceeded to sit and sample them all right there.

The Flour Shop was more impressive than Grysella had led her to believe.

Tall glass cases lined the walls, filled with loaves of bread, cookies, pastries, and more, all shaped to look like flowers.

From the ceiling hung more wisteria, vines, and blooms. Marietta remembered questioning about how she kept bugs from the food, her answer being magic.

Her hand grazed the dark-stained wooden border on the glass cases, ones enchanted like her own back in Olkia.

The Flour Shop had higher quality cabinets with fine wood that matched the countertop by the register, though Marietta paid a similar price for her basic ones.

The extra cost for magical items in Enomenos was ridiculous.

A door from the back opened, revealing a spindly elven woman whose curly black hair fought against its tie. “Hello, welcome—” A look of confusion crossed her face, then her eyes grew wide with recognition. She stopped mid-step, dropping the rag from her hands. “Marietta Reid?”

Marietta winced at the name, hearing Keyain exhale beside her. That would be a later problem.