Page 65 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Marietta’s heart thrummed in her chest, remembering learning of the elven-ruled Reyila.

She hadn’t realized they were mixed like Enomenos—that their elven viewed pilinos as equals.

Queen Valeriya was like Marietta, away from her home, and married to a man with different beliefs.

“Keyain seems to also carry that belief.” Marietta bit her tongue, regretting her words. Why would she share that?

The Queen paused for a moment. “Do you understand how odd it is that you and Keyain are married?”

Marietta laughed carefully. “Now that I’m here, I understand.”

“How do you feel about his views—of Satiros’ views?” The Queen raised her brows, giving Marietta a pointed look.

“Oh, I just love them,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“There’s nothing more heartwarming than knowing the man I’m married to believes I’m less than a person to him.

” She should have held back, not be so frank in her frustrations, but after Keyain’s refusal to help her, Marietta could only feel bitterness that sparked the sarcasm.

“Unsurprising that you feel that way considering his mistreatment.”

Marietta and the Queen jumped at the sudden deep voice that sounded behind them—King Wyltam.

Startled, Marietta jumped from her seat, turning to the King with a curtsy.

“King Wyltam, it’s good to see you again.

” Like the day he visited Marietta, he wore all black, and on his head rested a simple crown of gold.

“That it is. I’m happy to see you’re well enough to dress.”

Queen Valeriya made a slight sigh at the comment, though Marietta was unsure if the King meant it as an insult.

Unlike most people, she had a hard time gauging his tone and reading his expression.

It was as if nothing excited, bored, or angered him.

His demeanor was like stone—no, colder. An icy, expressionless mask with piercing black eyes that missed nothing as they searched Marietta.

The King turned to Queen Valeriya. “Take Mycaub inside. I wish to have a moment alone with Marietta.” Coldness crept through his deep tone as he spoke.

“Though we haven’t had tea yet?” she bristled, walking to stand next to Marietta.

She sighed, clasping her hands before her.

“It seems your time is accounted for, Marietta. We’ll have to do tea another day.

” Without waiting for a response, she took off toward her son, scooping the giggling child into her arms before entering the Royal’s Wing.

Once alone, King Wyltam cleared his throat.

“I see you’re still lying, though the sarcasm is a nice change.

” The King’s gaze continued to rake over her as he stepped forward, narrowing the space.

“You still appear gaunt but the blackness under your eyes has eased. Are you feeling better after your excursion yesterday?”

Marietta searched his expression for any sign of mocking, yet found none. “A little, yes.”

“Good.” His stare landed on the side of her face, his hand reaching. “May I?”

Confused, Marietta nodded as the King brought his hand to her hair, tucking it behind her ear. The chill of his fingers brushed the blunted arched tip, causing Marietta’s heart to race.

“A half-elf in court. If only my mother were alive to see it.” The edge of his lips hinted at a smile, beautiful and threatening. Marietta exhaled as he dropped his hand, taking a step back.

“I’m sure if she were alive, then I wouldn’t be standing here, Your Grace,” she said, letting the bold words slip from her mouth, though she knew little of the late queen.

A small laugh escaped King Wyltam, the brief look of amusement flashing on his features. “You don’t realize how right you are.” He offered his arm. “Please, walk with me.”

Marietta hesitated, then took his arm, letting the King lead her to a path that wove through lilac bushes and boxwoods among the trees.

The King of Satiros first made a personal visit and now escorted Marietta within the royal’s private garden.

The thought was nauseating. Why her? Why his consideration at all?

“Your existence surprised us all, not knowing Keyain married, nor that his wife was held hostage,” he said after a moment.

“Curious that after the horrendous experience you must have had in Enomenos, he allowed you to suffer alone in that suite.” The black of his eyes found Marietta.

“Did you get the help you needed yesterday?”

Marietta thought of the temple, of its eucalyptus and peppermint scent, of the goddess’s serene face carved into stone, of the two half-elves, Deania and Coryn, who risked Keyain’s threats to help her.

“I did,” she said, a smile touching her lips as she stared down the path. “More than I knew I needed.”

“That’s good to hear.”

From walking at his side, she felt the rumble in his chest as he spoke. “May I ask you a question, King Wyltam?”

“Please do.”

“Why is that good to hear?” She turned to him, tucking her hair behind an ear. “You’re the King of Satiros, and you’ve spent more time with me than you ought.”

Paused in the middle of the path, the King was inches from her as he stared through the waves of dark hair.

“A few reasons, really,” he said, his gaze searching her face.

“For one, you are the wife of my closest friend and that should be reason enough.” He lowered his face to hers as he murmured, “And you may have information that proves useful.”

Marietta scoffed, trying to pull away from the King, but his arm held. “Unfortunately, I know nothing.” Of course, she was just of use to him. As if she would share anything about Enomenos with the man, leading the assault on her home.

“Forgive me, I’ve offended you.”

Marietta furrowed her brows at his apology, a thousand questions surfacing in her thoughts. In an instant, he was both insulting and kind. She couldn’t decide if the King mocked her or took her seriously. “You’re a king. You don’t apologize.”

“All kings rule in their own way.”

His arm loosened, letting Marietta put space between them as she stood before the King and his undivided attention. Never had she met someone so conflicting, unable to read him and unsure whether to dislike him or not. “I’m sure you are too busy to care what happens to me; yet, here we are.”

“Yes,” he drawled, “here we are. Me, a king ruling a city-state in war, and you, wife of the male leading the war. A wife who despises her husband after he risked his career to save you.”

Icy dread filled Marietta as the King regarded her, his hands clasped behind his back, his stare unceasing. So that’s what this visit was about. The truth that Keyain hid that now Marietta was burdened to carry.

“I don’t despise Keyain,” she lied. Gods, she did—more than despised—but the King shouldn’t know the truth after Keyain lied.

King Wyltam raised a brow and began circling Marietta. She held her chin high as he stood behind her. Breath danced across her ear, the deep of the King’s voice barreling through her. “Liar.”

“Excuse me?” Marietta went to turn to him, but the King’s hand clutched her shoulder.

“As I said, everyone lies at court, Marietta, but I had higher hopes for you.”

“I’m not lying—”

“Another lie. Perhaps this meeting was for nothing if you can’t share a shred of truth with me.”

Is that what he thought this was? A meeting?

Marietta doubted there had ever been a pilinos alone with the King for a meeting .

Having the King’s attention was a danger—one she wasn’t sure was worth the risk.

Unnerved, Marietta stood on the path with the King at her back.

The chirping of birds and rustling of leaves were the only sounds besides her heavy breathing.

“What is it you would like to know, King Wyltam?”

“Many things, but let’s start with what I do know.

” His hand fell from her shoulder, Marietta spinning to face him as he spoke.

“You do not wish to be here, and you do not love Keyain. Loveless unions are common for nobility,” he said, pausing as he leaned closer to her, “but Keyain loves you—and his love goes unrequited.”

Marietta held her tongue.

“Though you wish to leave Satiros, I cannot send you back to Olkia.” He paused, his expression unreadable. “What do I do with you?”

“A good question,” she said, her tongue sharpening. “What do you do with someone you have no use for?”

A small smile cracked the King’s expression. “I never said you couldn’t be of use. Keyain made a fool of me by keeping your marriage secret. From what I can gather you don’t think fondly of your marriage, so I come to you with a proposal.”

Nerves knotted her stomach. “And what would that be, King Wyltam?”

“Seek retribution; give Keyain grievance for his actions by accepting my flirtations.”

Marietta laughed, unable to help herself. “What kind of proposal is that?”

His demeanor hardened. “You know Keyain, and you understand how deep his jealousy runs.”

Marietta shook her head, looking off into the garden. “You’re asking to flirt with me in order to spike Keyain’s jealousy.”

“Do you not hate your husband?” the King asked. “Quick to anger, possessive of you? Accept my advances—kind words, small presents, my attention—and you can be the source of what pains him.”

The idea was tempting, to make Keyain helpless against his friend, to anger and irritate him where it hurt most. Gods, maybe she should accept; yet, it was a game—one that used Marietta.

She wouldn’t allow herself to be used as such.

“You think of me as a pawn,” she said, breaking their silence.

“One you can manipulate as you please. Yes, I am beyond livid with Keyain for more reasons than you can fathom, King Wyltam, but now that I have a bit of freedom, I won’t ruin it by stoking his anger. ”

“Even knowing that my word carries more weight than his?” he asked. “I can intervene if he tries to lock you away again. I can stop his removal of you from the palace.”

“I would hope you’d intervene regardless of this arrangement.” She crossed her arms, glaring at the King. “Find someone else you can use to agitate Keyain. I want no part in it.”

The King released a slow breath, his gaze darting over the garden. “You’re being stubborn. Perhaps, if given time to think on it, you will warm to the idea.”

“I think not,” she said. “My time in Satiros is strenuous enough without your attention.”

“All I ask is that you think on it.”

“Fine.” All Marietta wanted was to be free of the garden and his presence.

King Wyltam regarded her for a moment longer, the muscle in his jaw tightening, before turning to face the garden with his hands clasped behind his back. “You’re dismissed, Lady Marietta.”