Page 221 of A Queen's Game
Marietta shook her head, hating the truth. “Wyltam said he wanted a different future for pilinos in Satiros, and that I was his hope.”
Coryn laughed, the sound filling her with dread. “Don’t tell us you believed him.”
She glared at him, cheeks burning. “Not anymore.” Even as she said it, she felt the lie for what it was.
“And now some people believe that you carry his child.” Coryn laughed again. He scrubbed his face, planting his hands on his hips as he turned. “Would you like to know what the Exisotis did?”
“Of course, that was the whole point of listening, besides gleaning information.”
“When you stopped at The Flour Shop, the Exisotis attempted to secure you,” he said. “That’s why Deania and I went to the Snapdragon. Grysella contacted us after you left, asking if we knew you were giving information to the Exisotis. It seems we can confirm it now.”
“That was the news?” Marietta closed her eyes with a sigh. “But how would King Wyltam know? It was just Grysella and me in the back of the kitchen—”
“That’s what you were doing?” hissed Amryth. “Keyain knew it—he knew something was wrong. You told the baker you’re the one leaking information to the Exisotis.” She swore, turning her back to Marietta.
“After you refused their help, a few Exisotis members formed a secondary plan for recapturing you later that night,” Coryn added. “But someone walked to a tavern instead of taking their carriage. That’s the plan King Wyltam and his guards discovered.”
“Why didn’t they stop when I told Grysella I was helping the Exisotis, though?” Marietta asked.
Coryn and Deania exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Deania hesitated, then said, “Pelok insisted on saving you, to keep trying since that was the first time you were outside the palace and not at the temple.”
Marietta blinked, unable to hold back her surprise. Tilan’s friend—her friend—was in Satiros? “Pelok wouldn’t keep trying like that.”
“Believe us, he was,” said Coryn, raising his brows. “He threatened to take you at The Snapdragon as well. That’s why Deania and I were there, in case he was stupid enough to walk in and let Keyain see his face.”
“We have a few more questions for you,” Deania said, hesitating. “Like who was Tilan Reid to you?”
Marietta’s heart stopped at the name. “Tilan was my husband, the one I married by choice.”
“Pelok didn’t lie,” Deania said with a sigh. “And who is your contact in the Exisotis? The temple has been communicating with the organization since we claimed a side with Enomenos. No one mentioned you had contact.”
Marietta shifted her feet, not wanting to speak.
“Mar, please,” Amryth pleaded. “Who was your contact?”
She hesitated, then gave in. “Queen Valeriya.”
“What?” Deania and Amryth said in unison.
“We were trying to further ruin Keyain and King Wyltam’s relationship in order to weaken their court. It was to help the Exisotis.”
Coryn turned to Deania. “Can you send a message to your contact in Enomenos? I want confirmation the Queen is working with the Exisotis.”
Deania nodded her head and wandered to the corner, closing her eyes to concentrate.
“Therypon chose you for a reason. Right now, I’m having a hard time understanding her reason.” Coryn looked up, lost in thought. “Your best chance at escaping Satiros would be to undergo the Iros ceremony and officially become an attendant to the temple.” He paused, his gaze finding her. “We can no longer stay in the city. Pelok will take you and me to Enomenos.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She’d go home with Coryn. Gods, Keyain would think she left with her secret lover; the thought sickened her. “Not that I mind, but why would you come?”
“To train you,” he said, crossing his arms. “The goddess came to me in a vision, saying no matter what happens, I need to stay by your side to protect you and train you. Therypon as my witness, I swear to do just that.”
Heat came to her face as she nodded her head, thankful to have him by her side. “What if I need to go back to the palace?”
“Why would you need to?” asked Amryth. “You could be safe now if you become Iros. They could claim you immediately, and you can leave tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. Marietta could go home, but a thought settled like a rock in her stomach. “I have stolen documents at the bottom of my wardrobe. Keyain will find them if I leave now.” She hesitated, adding, “And I can’t leave Elyse behind. She’s in just as much danger.”
“She’s in a better position now than she was a few months ago,” Amryth said. “We can’t take her.”
