Page 132 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Chapter Eighty-Seven

Marietta, Before

T he sun baked the top of Marietta’s head as she bent over a basket of vegetables, her back straining from her position. Though she was technically in the vendor’s stall, people bumped into her from the main walking lane of the crowded open-air market at the heart of Olkia.

She was elbow deep when Tilan said, “I didn’t realize picking tomatoes could be so tricky.”

Marietta scoffed. “It’s an art form, thank you very much.” She pulled one out and sniffed near its stem. “Perfect.”

Tilan shook his head as she added it to their basket. “You’re ridiculous. You know that?”

“Says the man cooking dinner tonight. I want to make sure we dine on the most pristine of tomatoes.”

Tilan’s mouth lifted into a half-smile as he handed the coin over to the merchant. “How would I ever buy my vegetables if you weren’t here?”

Marietta brought her hand to her chest. “Why, you would simply just suffer.”

Tilan laughed as she handed over the tomato for him to carry with the rest of their items. The way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled sent a swoop through her stomach. Her handsome blacksmith.

She couldn’t help but think of the remaining time she had in Olkia—a few days before she left again.

Fortunately, Tilan closed his smithy for the day, and she was sure to book no meetings with her clients.

It was a rare event and one she would take full advantage of.

Tilan even planned to make her dinner tonight, which was sweet of him.

After traveling around Enomenos as often as she did, it was rare that she had a home-cooked meal.

Tilan was thoughtful and kind, always putting her first. But most importantly, he was easy. Easy to love, to get along with, to smile. Nothing felt mundane when she was with him—even shopping for vegetables.

“Did you hear who’s playing at The Lonely Dog tomorrow?” he asked, stepping into the crowd.

“No,” she admitted, following him. “I forgot to check. Someone good, I’m guessing, if you’re bringing it up.”

Tilan smirked. “Lexie Tonguetru.”

Marietta stopped walking and gripped his arm. “You’re joking—no way Pelok got her to play The Dog.”

“I promise you he did.”

“Tilan, she’s my favorite.”

“I know this.”

A man behind them grumbled for them to keep walking. Tilan rolled his eyes and pulled her along.

“We have to go,” Marietta said.

“Of course, we’re going. Can you imagine how heartbroken Pelok would be if his favorite customer didn’t come to watch such a big act?”

Marietta laughed, her eyes wandering over the stalls. “I think it’s least favorite customer but favorite business associate.”

“He forgave you for smashing all those glasses, Mar,” Tilan teased. “When are you going to realize my friend adores you almost as much as I do?”

“When he stops bringing up the glasses,” she grumbled. “Do you think Lexie will have—”

For a moment, the crowd split, revealing a man who lurked near a stall. He was broad in the shoulders with a wave of brown hair, and he stared directly at her. Her chest tightened as she stopped walking again.

“For fuck’s sake,” cried the man behind them as he barged between Marietta and Tilan.

“It’s him,” she said, Tilan grabbing her arm and pulling her off to the side.

“It’s who? Mar, are you alright?” Tilan cupped her cheek, looking at her from eye to eye.

“Keyain—he’s right there. Look.”

Tilan glanced over his shoulder, then back to her. “That man isn’t Keyain, sweetheart. It’s alright.”

“No, it is,” she said, pushing past him. She looked next to the stall to find the spot empty. Her throat tightened, uneasiness curling out from her stomach. That was the third time she thought she saw Keyain that month.

“It looked nothing like him.”

Marietta turned to Tilan, brows furrowed. “And how would you know what Keyain looks like?”

Tilan paused for a moment. He slipped his arm around her waist and steered her in the opposite direction of where the man had stood. “He was a human,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “You said Keyain was an elf.”

Marietta looked over her shoulder, searching for the man. Her chest loosened at Tilan’s protective touch as his eyes scanned the crowd. “You’re sure?”

“Positive.” He pulled her closer. “How about we go see Pelok at The Dog?”

“Right now?” she asked.

“You look like you could use a drink after that.” He glanced at her, his mouth tilting with a smile.

Marietta nodded her head, leaning further into Tilan. She really could use a drink. Part of her thought she was going crazy, seeing things that weren’t there. Perhaps after years of undergoing Keyain’s controlling patterns, her brain manifested the thing she feared most.

Now a year out from her relationship with Keyain, she could see the unhealthy toll Keyain had caused, the emotional turmoil that he put her through, especially with his anger.

Keyain would have never hit her, but not all injuries were physical.

Marietta couldn’t see it until she left him.

Such things were always clearer in hindsight.