Page 129 of A Queen's Game
The King raised a brow. “I do not view half-elves or humans as lesser people.”
Marietta tsked. “The deal was to answer truthfully.”
“I’m being truthful. I believe pilinos are as much of a person as any elf. However, those are the laws I inherited; I did not make them.”
“But you could reverse them.”
“Though I am king, I still answer to the people I rule.” Tiredness edged the inky black of his eyes, the dark circles underneath appearing darker. “Many would revolt such a sweeping change. Gradual change is easier for people to handle, like adding a wider variety of city-states to ally with Satiros—city-states that have a different dynamic between elves and pilinos.”
“And how does attacking Olkia help you achieve that?” The question snapped out before she could stop herself.
“I believe it’s my turn to ask a question,” the King said, a bemused expression on his face. “How did you meet Keyain?”
Marietta exhaled through her nose, staring down at the King. She despised him for attacking her home, then having the nerve to look amused. She bit back her anger, answering the question. “Through work. Traveling through Enomenos on my own was dangerous, so I hired a bodyguard.”
“Do you expect me to believe that the Satiroan Minister of Protection was a bodyguard?”
A crooked smile twisted into her lips. “I believe it’s my turn to ask a question. Why did you attack Olkia?”
The King hesitated, leading Marietta further into the gardens, crossing a bridge that overran a creek. For the slimmer frame of the King, it surprised Marietta that his arm underneath felt hard and lean. Why would a king have muscle and then hide it? Were his enemies that much of a threat? They would be if they were in the palace already.
“If I’m being honest with you—”
“Which you should be.”
The King leveled her with a cold stare. “Satiros seized Olkia for two reasons. One, to force the conversation between the Enomenoan governments and Satiros to become one entity. I have requested meetings from both local city-state governments and the Enomenos Unionization Council. No one was interested in our proposition.” The King glanced at her before continuing. “Two, to find The Shepherd, leader of the Exisotis, or, at the very least, his family. Keyain searched for years to no avail.”
Marietta scoffed and pulled her arm from the King’s but his grip held. “Neither are good reasons to attack innocent people.”
The King stopped walking. “Where would you hear such a thing like that? Attacking innocent people?”
Under his cold, narrowed stare and the tightening grip on her arm, Marietta refused to cower, lifting her chin. “You slaughtered the people of Olkia, did you not?”
The King brought a hand to her chin, gripping it with gentle fingers. “Not your turn for a question, Marietta. Who told you that we slaughtered people? That we attacked innocents?”
Gods—the Queen did, but Marietta couldn’t share that. “Keyain,” she said without hesitation.
His grip tightened on her chin. “We agreed to share truths. Now tell me, who told you this?”
Marietta curled back her lips at the King, tugging away from his grip, glowering; yet he held true, staring at her through his emotionless mask. It worried her to share the truth, that the King could discover that she and Valeriya were working with one another. As he stared her into her face, she had little hope of sharing a convincing lie. Reluctantly, she uttered, “Queen Valeriya.”
With a sneer, his grip loosened. “Of course. This is a court of lies, Marietta, and sitting at its center is my wife. I urge you to take her secrets with a grain of salt.”
Marietta exhaled at the King’s reaction. He was used to Valeriya saying such information. What did that mean for working with her? Did she often reach out to members of the court and share her secrets? Gods, likely not if she worked with the Exisotis. King Wyltam couldn’t trust his wife, but Marietta could. “Noted,” she said, tearing out of his grip. To her dismay, he grabbed her hand. To more of her dismay, heat rushed to her cheeks as he stood closer to her.
“Your turn, Marietta.” His deep voice was just a murmur, eyes locking onto her lips.
Marietta tilted her head, confused by the sudden change in his tone.
The King lifted his other hand. “May I?”
She swallowed hard, nodding her head. Gods, she hated him. Hated his handsome face. Hated the way he made her heart skip a beat. King Wyltam was a monster, sinking in his claws. Part of her didn’t want him to let go.
“Why are you punishing Keyain?” she asked, her voice smaller than she’d hoped.
The gentle touch of his hand moved to her ear, tracing the stunted arch. King Wyltam leaned in. The breath on her ear made her want to push him away, made her want to pull him closer. The deep rumbling of his hushed voice nearly pushed her over the edge. “Because I loved him and he betrayed me.”
The King loved Keyain and was using her against him. Gods, what did she agree to?
