Page 126 of A Queen's Game
I would sing your praises on my lips to taste your juiciest peach drip on my tongue.
I would give my body in sacrifice to feel your sweetest cream spill from your divine being.
I long for you, my goddess, my heart aching every day to supplicate at your temple.
Each night I pray anew with guided hands, begging for the goddess’s relief. To be in your presence would be to give in to my every need. A kiss from your lips would be enough to break me. A touch of your hand would be enough to own me. A shudder from your body would be enough to claim me.
Though only the fates know what tomorrow holds, I hope for a future where I pray daily to you, my goddess.
This is my promise.
Elyse didn’t breathe—no, she couldn’t. Heat flooded her face as she clutched the letter to her pounding chest. He didn’t mean….
Marietta snorted, bent over with laughter. “You must let me read it after that reaction! What did that man write to you?”
Elyse’s wide eyes turned from Marietta to Sylas, whose scowl disappeared, a broad smile lighting his face. “Please tell me you didn’t read this,” she whispered.
“Unfortunately, I read every word, though it was worth it for your reaction.” Sylas rubbed his chin as he laughed. “As I said, he’s obsessed with you and going crazy in that townhouse.”
Elyse read it once more, only making it halfway before clenching her eyes shut. “Oh, my gods.”
“Brynden also wanted me to ask if you understood it all. Do you know whatyour divine honeyis?”
Marietta’s hand struck out, grabbing Elyse’s arm with a grin on her face. “My gods, Elyse. Hand it over,please.”
Elyse hesitated but gave it to her. “I figured out what he meant, Sylas,” she snapped, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“What aboutyour juiciest peachoryour sweetest cream?”
“Oh, my gods…. will you please stop?” she pleaded.
Marietta laughed again, her eyes scanning the page. “Elyse, you are such a lucky lady. This Brynden is beyond pining for you.”
The smile died on Sylas’ face. “He’s obsessed, at least for today.”
Marietta looked up from the paper, catching Sylas’ gaze. A silent conversation passed between them, Marietta nodding her head. “I see. Well, having someone write such smutty things to you is quite fun, is it not?” she said, elbowing Elyse.
“I don’t want to talk about this,” she said, taking the letter back from Marietta and placing it folded in her pocket. “Come by the library in a few days, Sylas. I don’t want to keep drawing attention to us.”
“Noted,” he said, frowning. “I’ll see you in a few days. Lady Marietta, it was wonderful meeting you like this.” With a slight flick of his brow, he turned on his heels and left the ladies on the path.
A giggle escaped Marietta. “Does the goddess wish to continue to the library? I would love to hear every detail about this Brynden whose heart you possess.”
With a groan, Elyse looped her arm back through Marietta’s. “Please don’t tease me about this. Things didn’t end well.”
“No more teasing, I promise. But if you’d like someone to talk to about what happened, I’m all ears,” Marietta said with a genuine smile.
Elyse stared at her moment, debating on what to say. Would she treat her like Grytaine and hold this over her head? Or was it, as Keyain said, Marietta needed a friend just as she did? If Keyain loved Marietta, then she must have been a good person. She was already unlike anyone else at court or anyone else she has met.
The anxiety in her stomach remained at ease as Elyse took a breath and started recounting what happened with Brynden as they continued to the library.
Chapter Fifty
Marietta
To fall in love again would be devastating. The uncertainty and yearning that accompanied courtship were exhausting, and Marietta saw its toll on Elyse. Even with such a brief history between her and the pining Lord Brynden, a relationship that blossomed and decayed in a matter of weeks, it weighed heavily on Elyse’s mind. Marietta understood the hurt of her loss of it. Though Elyse was an adult, she had experienced little. Perhaps losing Brynden stuck in her mind for that reason.
As they combed their way through the library shelves, Marietta distracted Elyse from her anxiety. With a clear head, Elyse could share what happened with the unfortunate betrothal—a far cry from the lady she met at tea so long ago.
