Page 199 of A Queen's Game
She glared at him with new fury.
“After everything, I still love you, Marietta; but I can’t be near you.” He turned, heading to the door. “I’m stationing extra guards at our door. No one comes in or out until I’m back. If you try anything—to leave or escape—I will have you thrown in the dungeons for treason.”
The door snapped shut behind him, leaving Marietta alone, dumbfounded. She should have accepted Grysella’s help. If she had, she’d be with the Exisotis, safe from this court and Keyain’s devices. Tomorrow, she would go to the temple. Deania andCoryn could help, could protect her against the crown. They said as much during her last visit.
Gods, but she still had the papers for Valeriya.
Marietta scrubbed her face, then yanked her hair free of its bind. If sleeping with Keyain was to help get information to the Exisotis, then she wanted to make it count. She’d ask the Queen to meet again, dropping off the papers. Perhaps she could get one last piece of information from Keyain.
Keyain only opened his desk in the morning before leaving for his meetings and in the evening when he returned them. Though she couldn’t break into the desk, they must discuss those papers within their meetings. Trying to overhear them would be a risk, but the situation changed. If Keyain caught her, what’s the worst he could do?
Chapter Seventy-Six
Elyse
Elyse woke to the sun creeping in through the blinds. Wrapped around her was Az, holding her close under the silk sheets that covered them both.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door, startling her. “Good morning, goddess,” Az said, his voice heavy with sleep. He kissed her neck at the spot he bit last night, causing her body to melt into him. His hands rubbed down her hip, Elyse realizing she was still naked. Heat came to her face as Az murmured, “Perhaps we should try it again.”
The knock turned into a pound on the door.
“Busy,” Az called out, his hand gliding to Elyse’s center.
The door flew open, revealing Sylas. “Irresponsible—both of you.”
“Sylas, my friend, my lady is in my bed—”
“And Keyain is at the door. Just about knocked it off the hinges with his rage,” Sylas said, turning his gaze to Elyse. “You never went back last night, never sent a message saying you were staying, and he is furious. I suggest you get dressed and go, Elyse.”
But she would not go—she was staying. Elyse and Az were leaving for Chorys Dasi. She turned to Az, at a loss for what to do.
“I’ve got this,” he murmured, pressing a kiss into her temple. “Just stay in bed and rest, goddess.” Az rose from the bed fully nude and strode towards the door.
“Put some damn clothes on,” Sylas said with a scowl.
“I’ve got nothing to hide,” Az teased with a wink. For as angry as Sylas was, Az seemed optimistic, but he yielded, grabbing his underclothes.
He stepped outside with Sylas, leaving the door cracked. As Elyse lay in bed, she realized Keyain wouldn’t leave until she talked to him—until she proved she was okay.
With a sigh, Elyse stood, unsure what to put on. All she had with her was her gown from the night prior. Determined to find something, she walked to Az’s wardrobe and dug through his shirts. Most were sheer or had a neckline so deep that they were no better than being naked. Towards the end of the rack, she found a black silk tunic, simple by Az’s standard, and slipped it on, the hem hitting the top of her thigh.
Sylas and Az’s bickering carried into the room, then Sylas yelled, “What?”
Perhaps she should wait a moment, let Sylas calm down. As she inched towards the door, the words became intelligible. “You don’t even know if she can shift, Azarys!” Sylas said, anger dripping in his tone.
Azarys? Elyse must have heard him wrong.
“But I do know. I’m telling you, she takes after her mother—I felt it last night.”
“I’m sure you felt a lot of things last night,” Sylas snapped, followed by a sigh. “We don’t know how strong the traits are in her—”
“I do,” Az said, pausing. “What if I confirmed it?”
Only her breath sounded as the males stood in silence.
“Azarys, what did you do?”
There it was, that name again. Elyse pulled open the door, her brows furrowed.
