Page 128 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

“We know,” Deania answered. “Amryth told us already. But to give you asylum from the crown, we need to ensure you have broken no laws.” She hesitated, fidgeting with her long braid.

“Grysella told us you’re working with the Exisotis, that you’re stealing information.

So, when Amryth also shared that you’re under the ministers’ suspicion for treason…

.” She didn’t finish the sentence, looking at Marietta with wide, hopeful eyes.

Marietta took a steadying breath. “Grysella is correct; their investigation is justified.”

Coryn swore, wiping his face. “Then we need a new plan.” He paced, eyes darting in thought. “Why do they think you’re pregnant?”

Marietta clenched her jaw. “I was trying to listen in on a council meeting after I heard the Exisotis made a move. When Keyain’s guards hassled me, it sort of slipped out.”

Coryn turned back toward her. “How does that just slip out?”

Marietta sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know—I just wanted to listen in on the meeting, not this. At least it was a good lie. Keyain has always wanted one thing from me.”

Coryn whipped his head to Amryth, then back to Marietta. “I’m guessing it’s believable because you have been having sex with him?”

Marietta felt the heat flood her face. “Who are you to judge me?”

Coryn shook his head. “The goddess chose you, Marietta. Did you think we wouldn’t protect you? They could have caught you listening, and even if you gave no excuse, the temple could claim custody. You didn’t need to have this added layer of lies.”

“ I already had decided that I was going to leave. Keyain planned to end our marriage when the war ended, and I needed to get away before King Wyltam did something else.”

“Funny that you bring up the King. Do those rumors hold any merit? Coryn asked.

“Why does that matter?”

“Because some people think you’re carrying the King’s child.” Coryn’s lips tugged into a frown.

Marietta looked him dead in the eye. “He and I kissed, but the last time I checked, you can’t get pregnant from kissing someone.”

Coryn sighed, shaking his head as he looked away. “Why would you even kiss him in the first place?”

She hated the shame that burnt into her cheeks. “I thought he was different,” she said, remembering Wyltam’s sweet words. “I guess I was wrong.”

“Different how?”

“Why are you giving me such a hard time about this?” she snapped.

His expression softened. “Because I care.”

Marietta shook her head, hating the truth. “Wyltam said he wanted a different future for pilinos in Satiros, and that I was his hope.”

Coryn laughed, the sound filling her with dread. “Don’t tell us you believed him.”

She glared at him, cheeks burning. “Not anymore.” Even as she said it, she felt the lie for what it was.

“And now some people believe that you carry his child.” Coryn laughed again. He scrubbed his face, planting his hands on his hips as he turned. “Would you like to know what the Exisotis did?”

“Of course, that was the whole point of listening, besides gleaning information.”

“When you stopped at The Flour Shop, the Exisotis attempted to secure you,” he said. “That’s why Deania and I went to the Snapdragon. Grysella contacted us after you left, asking if we knew you were giving information to the Exisotis. It seems we can confirm it now.”

“That was the news?” Marietta closed her eyes with a sigh. “But how would King Wyltam know? It was just Grysella and me in the back of the kitchen—”

“That’s what you were doing?” hissed Amryth. “Keyain knew it—he knew something was wrong. You told the baker you’re the one leaking information to the Exisotis.” She swore, turning her back to Marietta.

“After you refused their help, a few Exisotis members formed a secondary plan for recapturing you later that night,” Coryn added. “But someone walked to a tavern instead of taking their carriage. That’s the plan King Wyltam and his guards discovered.”

“Why didn’t they stop when I told Grysella I was helping the Exisotis, though?” Marietta asked.

Coryn and Deania exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Deania hesitated, then said, “Pelok insisted on saving you, to keep trying since that was the first time you were outside the palace and not at the temple.”

Marietta blinked, unable to hold back her surprise. Tilan’s friend—her friend—was in Satiros? “Pelok wouldn’t keep trying like that.”

“Believe us, he was,” said Coryn, raising his brows. “He threatened to take you at The Snapdragon as well. That’s why Deania and I were there, in case he was stupid enough to walk in and let Keyain see his face.”

“We have a few more questions for you,” Deania said, hesitating. “Like who was Tilan Reid to you?”

Marietta’s heart stopped at the name. “Tilan was my husband, the one I married by choice.”

“Pelok didn’t lie,” Deania said with a sigh. “And who is your contact in the Exisotis? The temple has been communicating with the organization since we claimed a side with Enomenos. No one mentioned you had contact.”

Marietta shifted her feet, not wanting to speak.

“Mar, please,” Amryth pleaded. “Who was your contact?”

She hesitated, then gave in. “Queen Valeriya.”

“What?” Deania and Amryth said in unison.

“We were trying to further ruin Keyain and King Wyltam’s relationship in order to weaken their court. It was to help the Exisotis.”

Coryn turned to Deania. “Can you send a message to your contact in Enomenos? I want confirmation the Queen is working with the Exisotis.”

Deania nodded her head and wandered to the corner, closing her eyes to concentrate.

“Therypon chose you for a reason. Right now, I’m having a hard time understanding her reason.

” Coryn looked up, lost in thought. “Your best chance at escaping Satiros would be to undergo the Iros ceremony and officially become an attendant to the temple.” He paused, his gaze finding her.

“We can no longer stay in the city. Pelok will take you and me to Enomenos.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She’d go home with Coryn. Gods, Keyain would think she left with her secret lover; the thought sickened her. “Not that I mind, but why would you come?”

“To train you,” he said, crossing his arms. “The goddess came to me in a vision, saying no matter what happens, I need to stay by your side to protect you and train you. Therypon as my witness, I swear to do just that.”

Heat came to her face as she nodded her head, thankful to have him by her side. “What if I need to go back to the palace?”

“Why would you need to?” asked Amryth. “You could be safe now if you become Iros. They could claim you immediately, and you can leave tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. Marietta could go home, but a thought settled like a rock in her stomach. “I have stolen documents at the bottom of my wardrobe. Keyain will find them if I leave now.” She hesitated, adding, “And I can’t leave Elyse behind. She’s in just as much danger.”

“She’s in a better position now than she was a few months ago,” Amryth said. “We can’t take her.”

“We need as few people as possible to move quickly,” Coryn added. “Plus, she would only draw more attention to you escaping.”

Deania spoke up from the other side of the room, her voice breathy. “Checked with one source. Queen Valeriya is working with the Exisotis. She has someone meeting with them on her behalf. They last received information from her a month and a half ago.”

Coryn sighed, rubbing his temples. “At least that was true for the Queen. What information is on those documents?”

She thought back to the documents, the transcriptions of their meetings. “Proof that there’s a spy in the Exisotis and an interview of some sort, though that document was coded.”

Coryn swore. “So, information is important. When are you supposed to hand that off?”

“Tonight,” Marietta said. “I’m meeting with the Queen tonight, so if I go back, even just for the evening, I can hand over that information. And if I don’t, then it was all for nothing.”

The three gave her confused looks.

“What was all for nothing?” Deania asked.

“Making Keyain think I loved him, so he’d let down his guard.”

“That’s why you had slept with him,” hissed Amryth. “You’ve been working at that for months. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you’re his soldier,” Marietta said, frowning. “I trust you, but I couldn’t put you in that position.”

Amryth shook her head. “I wish you did. If I had known, then we could’ve had an emergency plan in place.”

“Do you want to help the Exisotis?” Marietta asked. “Even if they’re against the city-state you’re bound to protect?”

Amryth lifted her chin. “I swore an oath to protect the citizens of Satiros, and right now, the biggest threat is the head of state. They uphold the laws that suppress innocent people, but ignore the law when it best suits them. Something needs to change, and I refuse to do nothing.”

Deania reached for Amryth’s hand, her eyes shining in the glow of the light.

“Then let me help them,” Marietta said, looking them all in the eye. “If I can get those papers into the Exisotis’s hands, then they can narrow down the spy based on who was in what meeting.”

“Okay,” Coryn sighed. “Marietta will return to the palace and act as if she’s going along with Keyain’s plan. Tonight, meet with the Queen. Amryth, you set a meeting point with her and remove her from the palace and back to the temple.

Amryth nodded her head as the plan came together.

“When you return, Marietta, we’ll perform the ritual, claiming you as an Iros to Therypon and officially place you in protective custody of the temple,” Coryn said. “Keyain won’t be able to march in here without starting a civil war in Satiros. It’ll buy us time to get you out of the city-state.”

Marietta nodded, her gut twisting. She’d have one more night in the palace. Gods, she wouldn’t be able to see Elyse before she left, but she could come back for her. Marietta was out of options; she was no longer safe.