Page 92 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)
Valeriya shifted, crossing and uncrossing her legs, letting her dress’ slits show their length. “With this new privacy of yours —” she gestured to the surrounding suite “—I figured we could discreetly go about our business.”
“And what business would that be?” As he brushed back his shoulder-length hair, he took a sip of his liquor, his sultry expression hardening with the alcohol’s bite.
Valeriya fought a smirk. Toying with Satiroan ministers would never grow old.
“Well, there are a few things but some will have to wait until later.” Gyrsh did nothing to hide his gaze roaming over her.
Valeriya wanted to laugh, to roll her eyes at his obliviousness to her teasing. “But I’m being followed.”
Gyrsh spat out his whiskey, looking wide-eyed at Valeriya. “What do you mean, followed?”
“Keyain and Wyltam have grown suspicious. A mage is trailing me.” She sat up straighter, letting the seduction subside. “It’s time to go.”
“They’re not ready,” he pleaded, running a hand through his hair. “Are you sure they have someone trailing you?”
“Keyain just as much as confirmed it this afternoon.”
Gyrsh swore, throwing back the rest of his whiskey, not bothering to hide his expression of disgust.
Valeriya tapped her fingers against her glass. “When were the Chorys Dasians to leave?”
“In a month—”
“Cut that time in half. You have two weeks to close the deal.”
“Valeriya, that’s not enough time,” Gyrsh said, exasperated.
“We’re out of time.” Valeriya threw back the rest of her whiskey, staring down Gyrsh. “Two weeks.”
Gyrsh shook his head. “Az won’t leave in two weeks. He’s been writing Elyse these foolish love letters, but she still isn’t interested in marrying him. If she isn’t going with them, then Az won’t leave at all.”
“That is on you,” Valeriya said, giving him a leveling stare. “You lost her as your heir, knowing that Az pursued her hand. Perhaps you should have respected your only child more.” She let the insult sink in, Gyrsh realizing she knew the extent of his parenting. As she said before, he was vile.
Valeriya had hoped that after Elyse called off the betrothal that Az would set his sights on someone new. However, Elyse made it into a chase, and Az loved to win.
“Well, not all hope is lost. Keyain contacted Az. The plan is for them to take Elyse and the cl—” He covered the slur with a cough as Valeriya glared. “And Marietta out for dinner in the city.”
An interesting development. “Does anyone else see the problem with Az being alone with Keyain after the incident in the Central Garden?”
Gyrsh shook his head. “Az confirmed with Sauntyr and Sylas that he’ll be on his best behavior.”
“What little good that means.”
He laughed at that, sitting back in his chair. “Az wants her. This is our chance to make sure that he leaves in two weeks, to make sure Elyse is with him.”
“True.” Valeriya wondered if her sister knew of this issue. She’d have to message her later. “How likely do you think Elyse is to accept his hand once more?”
“Before the King took a special interest, I would say without a doubt.” Gyrsh stood, offering to take Valeriya’s glass, and then walked to refill them. “Now that the King has her studying magic, I can’t be for certain.”
Valeriya held her breath. “He’s doing what?”
“Teaching the girl Fulbryk’s principles.” Gyrsh poured the spirits and returned Valeriya her glass. “Az found a reader in Wyltam’s study. He said that when Elyse held it, it was unlike any other reading he had seen.”
Valeriya closed her eyes, thinking of the face she saw for a moment in the Central Garden. She wasn’t crazy. She wasn’t paranoid. Somehow, Wyltam knew enough about magic to teach Elyse. “Is she like her mother then?”
A vacant look held his face as Gyrsh stared across the room. “She’s exactly like Anthylia. And if that’s the case, then she’s doomed to her mother’s fate.”
Anxiety washed over Valeriya, remembering the story of her death. It was a mage’s worst fear. “Then why does Az insist on pursuing her?”
“The potential is there. He and Sylas are convinced she could surpass her mother in talent.”
If that was true, then protecting Elyse would become a new priority for Valeriya. After all, she had been keeping the girl under her wing for the better part of five years. To lose her now to Wyltam would hurt her future—and the court she planned to build in Satiros.
“Then let’s hope Az can safely get her out of Satiros before anything is enacted. Come,” she said, softening her features and patting the seat next to her. “Tell me of happier things, Gyrsh.”
A smile slid its way back onto his face.
Even if Valeriya found males attractive, she would never choose someone like Gyrsh.
He was handsome, with his strong chin, golden features, and glittering smile, but his actions as a father were deplorable.
He did, however, keep himself useful with his minister position and his familial ties back to Chorys Dasi.
Gyrsh became a weapon in her arsenal, one to go about her plans right beneath Keyain’s and Wyltam’s noses.
With Marietta wearing down Keyain’s resolve and distracting him from his duties, the divide grew between the two.
Plus, Marietta was the perfect diversion while they completed the deal with Chorys Dasi.
Valeriya didn’t have to fake her smile as she slid her taunting hand across Gyrsh’s chest. The time had come. Valeriya would get everything she wanted in just a few weeks’ time.
Valeriya returned to her room later than she had hoped, the alcohol making her mind fuzzy.
Exhaustion pulled at her focus, threatening to take time away from what she needed to accomplish.
She pulled out a small vial of clear liquid, downing it before heading into the bathroom.
There was still much to do that evening, and she couldn’t let alcohol affect her progress.
She spent a couple of hours with Gyrsh, letting the minister kiss her neck, gliding his hand around her body. Truly, she wished to shower and scrub the memory of his hands off her. After she practiced, she would do as such.
However, a major problem threatened her future.
Valeriya was being followed, and she had a strong feeling it was Wyltam.
She was out of time—they were all out of time.
Hidden away in her room was the information she had to pass on, plus meet with Marietta again to see if she found anything additional.
She had hoped to have more time using her in court, but things would progress faster than she anticipated.
Valeriya strode over to her balcony doors, throwing them open to the evening air and letting the warm summer breeze encase her. What if it didn’t work, if two weeks wasn’t enough time? What if Wyltam caught her and learned how deep her scheming went?
If only Katya were here. She had an impeccable way of helping Valeriya push past her self-doubt, to keep moving forward with her head held high.
Without Katya, this game Valeriya played grew tiresome and lonely.
To look upon her face, to kiss her one last time.
Valeriya should have begged Katya to come to Satiros.
If the plan worked, if the deal went through, then perhaps she’d be seeing Katya in just a few weeks. After seven years apart, she could only hope the half-elf hadn’t moved on, that she would still love her. That was if Valeriya succeeded, and to do so, she needed to focus.
With a heavy sigh, she closed the balcony doors. Invisibility was demanding, but the mage trailing her could hold it for hours. Valeriya only needed a few minutes of invisibility to slip past them, long enough to hide and take on her servant’s visage.
Valeriya closed her eyes, clearing her mind of thoughts, of doubts, of emotion. She pulled at the aithyr around her, letting it fill her body as she shook with the effort, trying to contain it. And she practiced turning herself invisible until the sun came up.