Page 86 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Chapter Fifty-Five

Valeriya

V aleriya sat at a small desk in her room, lost in writing.

A cool breeze blew through the open balcony doors, white gauzy curtains twirling.

To ease her anxious thoughts, she wrote them down in a journal.

In Satiros, she had no one to confide in; everyone was an enemy in her game.

Only her written words relieved her of her thoughts.

Sometimes she wondered what her life would have been if she was the eldest, if she were born the Queen of Reyila.

As a princess, Valeriya had ample opportunities and was better off than almost anyone, but there was one thing she always wanted—her name immortalized through history.

Growing up, scholars taught her and her sister of the late Queens and Kings of Reyila, spanning thousands of years.

The idea of not being forgotten by future generations was intoxicating, and Valeriya knew she had to do something to gain it.

Her sister was handed such an opportunity; Valeriya made sacrifices for hers.

Becoming Wyltam’s Queen Consort had been and continued to be difficult.

Since the first day, he drew the line of how Valeriya would rule, which was to say not at all.

She left behind everything and everyone she knew to get what she wanted.

Valeriya had thought that would be enough of a sacrifice.

No Katya, no training as a mage, no sister.

Valeriya was alone, but she wouldn’t be long.

After waiting for years for Wyltam to change, she eventually yielded to her sister’s plan and together they would change Satiros.

Valeriya looked out the window, the sun dipping below the horizon.

She should get ready, needing to drop the financial documents off still.

Beside her bed was a loose brick in the wall, which she removed to reveal a small hollowed place for her to store items. She pulled out the documents and tucked them deep into her pockets.

As she went to exit the suite, Wyltam entered. Of course, he only ever showed up when it was inconvenient. “Wyltam,” she said with a dip of her head, hoping to dismiss him and be on her way.

“Valeriya,” he answered, pausing as he shut the door behind him. “Going for a walk?”

“What else would I be doing?” she asked, bristling. There was nothing else for her to do in that cursed palace.

“You shouldn’t walk by yourself at night.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” she said, reaching for the handle. “Unless you think Keyain has done a poor job securing the palace.”

Wyltam eyed her with an icy expression. “It’s unusual for a queen to walk unattended. Even my mother—”

“I’m not your mother.” Her words came out sharp, her irritation growing.

He stared at her with an arched brow, the only hint of emotion. “Obviously. I offered to assign you a Queen’s Guard.”

Valeriya laughed as she perched her hands on her hips. “Oh, yes, there is nothing I’d love more than to have Keyain’s guards trail me day and night.”

“As I said, you could pick them out yourself.”

“If you are so accommodating, then why couldn’t I keep my guards from Reyila?” Bitterness laced her voice with more emotion than she had intended. They had been her one hope at having familiar faces in Satiros, but Wyltam killed that small joy.

“I have my reasons.”

“Do you now?” Valeriya took a step towards her husband, not hiding her scowl. “What reasons would those be, because that would be the first I’ve heard of them.”

A ripple of irritation swept through his expression, the brief furrowing of his brows and lips tugging downward. Looks like her husband was capable of showing emotion. “Go on your walk then.” With that, he turned from her and took off down the hall.

That’s what she thought—there was not a real reason.

Always a pleasure and a delight to talk to her husband.

The door slammed harder than she intended as she stepped into the hall.

How dare he act like she was the unreasonable one?

What did he forfeit in this marriage? What life did he have to leave behind?

He lost nothing and only had an alliance to gain.

How unfortunate for him that Valeriya and Nystanya were working against that boon.

The night air remained warm, though darkness shrouded the Central Garden.

She nodded her head at a group of courtiers enjoying the evening, offering a small smile.

Vile, most of them. Clawing their way to the top of their menial hierarchy.

Perhaps that was why she had a soft spot for Elyse.

Though skittish, the girl never showed interest in gaining Valeriya’s favor for a higher standing.

If the situation between her and Az resolved, then she would be a wonderful asset to her future court.

At the center of the garden, Valeriya checked for persons nearby, satisfied when she saw none. She stepped off the path and into the shroud of trees that blocked her from sight.

Closing her eyes, she pulled at the aithyr around her as she cleared her mind of all thoughts and emotions.

A twig snapped, causing her eyes to pop open.

For a moment, as she stared at the direction the sound originated and saw the face of an unfamiliar male with dark skin and black hair pulled back into a tail.

The next moment, he was gone. She knew that blip, what it meant. Shit. A mage was trailing her.

Chills raced up Valeriya’s spine as her heart thundered in her chest. Keeping her eyes on the spot where the male had been, she focused enough of her attention on the aithyr around her to send a message to her contact. No drop tonight. I’m being followed .