Page 34 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

She bolted upright, staring at her father’s incredulous face. How did she not wake up on time?

Elyse shook off her exhaustion, darting to the bathroom to bathe and try to make herself presentable.

The brush pulled through her tangled hair as she brought it into a knot on top of her head.

She cursed herself for insisting she didn’t need a handmaid.

The small talk with them always put Elyse on edge.

Brynden’s voice sounded through the door. Gods—he already arrived? Elyse ran to her closet, tripping on her feet as she hurried. As she fell forward, her face landed on the corner of the wardrobe with a resounding thunk, her forehead throbbing.

“You alright in there?” Brynden called.

Humiliation knotted her stomach. “Yes, I’m fine!” she called back, swearing under her breath. Never was she clumsy unless it was inconvenient.

Her forehead ached, a bump already rising from the impact. Great, one more thing for her to worry about. She just needed to find something to wear. What was the weather even like?

She pulled out three dresses, holding each up against her. No, none of them would work. Gods, why was she like this? Her heart thundered in her chest, knowing Brynden was waiting for her.

She needed to just pick one—the choice didn’t even matter.

Elyse selected a blood-red dress of flowy fabric that hugged through the hips and a neckline that plunged low into the chest, reaching her mid stomach.

The skirt had a high slit; the gap filled with lace that ran to her hip.

Sleeveless was likely a proper choice since the days grew hotter, and the lace—well, hopefully, Brynden liked it.

Perhaps it would make up for her barely-made face and wispy strands of hair already pulling free from her knot.

Gods, she looked like a mess, but she needed to go.

Elyse stepped out of her room to find Brynden standing near her father’s office.

Unlike the night of the ball, his black hair was down and pushed forward towards his face with straight black locks pushed up out of the way, the shaved sides exposed.

A silk collared shirt fit tight over his body, the neckline revealing the bulk of his chest. For a moment, she was silent, still surprised a male like Brynden was interested in her.

“Apologies,” she said, bowing her head.

“Never a problem, Elyse,” Bryden replied, her eyes rising to meet his. A smile lined his face as he added, “You look beautiful, so it was worth the wait.”

The face her father gave over Brynden’s shoulder suggested otherwise. She would hear about it later.

“Here,” Brynden said, stepping towards her with a box in hand. “I brought you something.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said with a smile, taking the gift. Her fingers lifted the lid, revealing a necklace with clear stones speckled with black. “Oh, Brynden, this is stunning.”

“Diamonds native to Chorys Dasi. Mined from the mountains near my city-state,” he said.

Her fingers touched the necklace, a thin chain of gold connecting a dozen stones. Glancing down at her chest, she realized she had forgotten jewelry. “Do you mind putting it on me?” Elyse turned her back to him while pulling her hair forward, holding out the necklace to Brynden.

“Honestly, Elyse,” her father snapped. She thought it would be a kind gesture to want to wear it right then, but her father thought differently. Gods, he was going to lose it when she returned.

“Nothing would make me happier,” Brynden said, taking the necklace.

Breath held in her chest as Brynden’s arms reached around her, placing the necklace around her neck, enveloping her in his scent. Hot breath fell over her ear as he whispered, “Happy to see you’re not drunk today.”

The realization seized her heart. If she had woken up on time, she would have had something in her system to cope. How was she going to speak with Brynden? What would she even say? Brynden expected her to act as she did at the ball, but alcohol emboldened much of that.

Elyse turned to him, eyes wide as he stepped back. A smirk hooked across his lips as he took her in. He was amused? For what reason? She knew she looked terrible, and perhaps she wore the wrong dress.

Whore. The word crept into her mind with the sound of her father’s voice, dread spilling from her. Brynden offered his arm, leading her out of the suite.

Elyse could feel the burn of Brynden’s stare like a hot iron pressing on her.

Her tongue turned to lead in her mouth, unable to move even if she knew what to say.

Instead, she just kept a hand wrapped around his bicep, taking glances at how the white shirt was tight against his body, able to see shifting muscles beneath.

“Everything okay?” Brynden asked, turning to her as they descended the stairs to the first floor of the Noble’s Section. “You’re awfully quiet today.”

Of course, she was quiet—what could she say to him?

Elyse forced a smile, nodding while fixing her gaze on the wooden stairs.

The cavernous foyer echoed with ambient voices.

The bottom floor of the Noble's Section housed plush community rooms with seating, tables, game boards, and other items in which nobles and courtesans could entertain.

Those rooms were the source of voices, with elves wandering between them.

“Are you sure? Because it sure seems like you’re not okay.

” Brynden stepped onto the stair below, stopping to face Elyse.

A playful smile tugged at his lips, ones that she wished she could kiss again.

The light from the window cast him in the late morning light, his olive skin glowing almost as much as his russet eyes.

With lips parted, Elyse stared at him, her voice dying in her throat.

“Oh, Elyse!” called an elven lady standing in one of the doorways.

Elyse shut her eyes with a sigh, knowing the source of the voice.

Golden hair twisted into braids on top of the lady’s head, her curved body swathed in a rose-colored gown as she gestured to the two on the stairs.

Lydia Rynts, a former friend of Elyse, stood in a doorway calling to her.

As always, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Elyse wished to walk past with just a nod of the head, her usual greetings for anyone outside the Queen’s inner circle, but Brynden took her arm once more and steered her towards the elven lady. She should have said something, should have stopped him, but she didn’t.

“It has been far too long since you’ve spent time with us,” Lydia said with an amused smile as they approached.

Behind Lydia, nobles and courtesans lounged on couches, watching the commotion at the door.

They were all stationed below Elyse, either the child of nobles or holding a small position themselves.

Elyse knew their names but offered no recognition.

That wasn’t new, however. She spent much of the past decade dodging them.

Lydia was almost as bad as Grytaine—almost. They grew up together in the palace, their families often being at court for the same months. Elyse made the conscious choice to avoid Lydia long before her betrothal to Keyain, their friendship coming to a sudden stop after… certain events transpired.

“Lydia, it has been,” Elyse responded, her body stiff and her lips pulled into a tight smile.

Lydia looked her over, and Elyse painfully remembered how unkempt she appeared. The elven lady’s gaze lingered on the bump on her forehead before turning to Brynden. “And who might your handsome friend be?” She offered a hand to Brynden, looking up at him through her lashes.

Of course, Lydia would find him attractive.

Who wouldn’t? Brynden looked regal with his air of confidence but approachable with an amiable smile.

It was as if he were meeting an old friend instead of a stranger.

With a shift of his arm, his hand found her lower back.

Elyse couldn’t help but admire how easy it was for him to socialize as her hand trembled from the interaction.

Perhaps Brynden would be happier with someone like Lydia.

He took her hand, his other never leaving Elyse. The slight gesture sent Elyse’s stomach swirling, unsure if it was from excitement or guilt. “Lord Bynden Vazlyte, Emissary to Chorys Dasi. It’s lovely to meet you.”

From the looks of it, Lydia fell for his low, pleasant voice just as she did.

“Lord Brynden, how lovely to meet you. I’m Lady Lydia Rynts.

Perchance you’ve worked with my father, Lord Byron Rynts?

He works with Minister Gyrsh.” He did, though she failed to mention that he worked very much below Elyse’s father.

“Unfortunately, no, I haven’t. For the past few years, I have only worked with Gyrsh.

To think it took this long to meet his remarkable daughter.

” Elyse tried not to stiffen more as Brynden leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her temple.

Whispers carried from the room beyond the doorway, sending heat across her cheeks.

“Oh, you two are courting! How exciting,” Lydia said with a forced smile. “Funny, it hasn’t been that long since you were still with Keyain.” A glance at Brynden revealed Lydia didn’t think he knew. Of course, he knew—Lydia just wanted to humiliate Elyse.

“It’s unfortunate Minister Keyain wasted so much of her time,” Brynden spoke up when he realized Elyse would remain silent. “I could’ve been courting her sooner, and then we would be already married.”

Elyse’s heart stopped as she gazed up at Brynden wide-eyed. Did he say married?

Lydia offered an awkward laugh. “Ah yes, if only.” She turned to Elyse.

“Oh, I have always loved that color on you, by the way. And I love that you’re bold not only to wear dark reds in spring but also that deep neckline.

Who knew courting these days meant showing so much of your body?

” The smile on her face was anything but pleasant.