Page 196 of A Queen's Game
“Your King, in case you forgot.”
“So you can just fuck anyone’s wife?” Keyain’s voice rose to a yell as he took another step forward. “If you were anyone else, I would hit you right now.”
“You couldn’t lay a hand on me if you tried.” Wyltam stepped in front of Marietta. “Your behavior towards her has been and continues to be a disgrace. You will always be a terrible partner. Why is she here, Keyain? Why did you marry her only to let her rot away?”
Keyain remained quiet with his jaw clenched and eyes burning. On the stairs, one guard murmured to the other and took off.
“Is it because of your odd fixation with Tilan?” Wyltam asked.
To hear his name on the King’s lips—the ones she just had on her own—made her stomach drop.
“Odd fixation?” Keyain laughed. “You sent me there to find the Exisotis.”
“I asked you to find The Shepherd or his family. What were you doing all that time, Keyain? Why stay in Enomenos for Marietta? Why bring her back here if she clearly means nothing to you?”
“She means everything to me,” he growled as he closed the space between them. “I have loved her every day for the past decade—”
“If that’s true, then why did she suffer when she came to Satiros?” Wyltam asked. “I’ve had to check on her well-being multiple times—”
“Does ‘checking her well-being’ mean fucking Marietta? Pushing her up against the dark stairwell when you’re supposed to be returning her tomysuite?” Keyain yelled.
“I’ve had enough of this.” Marietta stepped around the King, her blood roaring in her ears. “I don’t love you, and I often question if I ever truly did. From the beginning, you’ve treated me like shit, acted as if my feelings are irrational, and let your anger snap whenever you wanted.” She stepped closer to him, forcing him to take a step back. Keyain’s lips quivered, and she could see the tears welling in his eyes. “How are you going to cry over this? I gave up after I found out about Tilan, about the Exisotis,” she said, emotion clipping her voice, “and you left me to rot. You were okay with me wanting to die. How could anyone love you after that?” A hand reached her lower back, realizing the King had approached. The gesture calmed the building emotion. “I hate you, Keyain, and I hate being your wife.”
“King Wyltam, a word.” At the top of the connecting staircase dressed in a robe, stood Minister Dyieter. Despite serving Wyltam, the elder elf had a commanding presence, likely from the centuries spent judging others under Satiroan law.
“Now isn’t a great time.” Wyltam stayed his position at her back.
“I think now is the perfect time, considering your voices have carried down the hallways.”
She closed her eyes at the realization. Everyone would know. Gods, Valeriya will know.
With that, the King stepped back. “Marietta, if you’d like to stay somewhere—”
“Perhaps she should remain in her own suite, Your Grace,” Dyieter said, cutting him off. “Considering the alleged adultery you both have committed.”
“We didn’t—”
“It doesn’t matter. The damage has been done and the rumors have already spread.”
“I’ll take her back,” Keyain said, his voice taking on an unnatural calm.
“No, you won’t,” the King protested.
“Someone best take her back.” Dyieter started down the stairs.
“I want to talk to her about all of this, but I have no intention of staying anywhere near her tonight.” Keyain stepped past Marietta. “Come on.”
They had already caused a scene. With Minister Dyieter glaring at her, she took a breath and began to follow Keyain.
Wyltam took her hand in his own. “Do you feel safe?”
She couldn’t meet his eyes, couldn’t look at him. Shame knotted her stomach, realizing everything she had lost by kissing him. “He wouldn’t lay a hand on me.”
“He best not,” the King whispered to her. “Keyain, if there is so much as a scratch on her tomorrow, I will have you detained. Do you understand?”
Keyain didn’t bother to turn around as he answered. “Yeah.”
The King tried to bring her hand up to his mouth, but she pulled it away. It was too much. Who was she to kiss the King, a married man of the woman she conspired with? The former lover of the man she was married to? The ruler of the city-state she hated? Her words were nearly soundless as she turned to his face and said, “I’m sorry.” Marietta followed Keyain up the steps without another word.
