Page 159 of A Queen's Game
The King followed close behind. At his silence, she turned to find him with an aster bloom in his hand. “May I?”
She nodded, holding her breath as he tucked the flower behind her ear. “And how does it look?”
“Unbelievable,” he whispered.
She snorted with a laugh. “How could a flower behind my ear look unbelievable?” With her back to the King, she bent down to examine the tail of the statue. “And you never told me what this statue was.”
“A forest drakon.” She jumped, not hearing the King approach. As she turned to him, his hand found hers.
Marietta made to pull away with a question, but the King’s awed expression made her pause.
“Keyain is beyond undeserving of you.”
She laughed nervously, avoiding his gaze. “Well, you know the truth of our situation.”
“But you don’t,” he said, stepping closer. “Keyain has robbed you of so many opportunities, of potential happiness. I can imagine it now, the woman who you would be without him.”
Her breath caught as he brought her hand to his lips, the space between them inappropriately close. “I was very much happy without him.”
The King’s stare fell to her lips, his free hand cupping her face. She leaned in, wishing to know how his lips would feel on hers.
Gods, he was the King—the enemy. The goddess had been clear: if the King knew she was an Iros, he could kill her. Kissing him wouldn’t help any of the mess she was in. Marietta pulled away as his lips were about to brush against her own. “We are both married. Such action is beyond inappropriate.”
The King pulled back, his emotion slipping under his expressionless mask. “And if we’re both in marriages that makes us unhappy? If my wife finds me unappealing for more than just personal reasons?”
“It’s still wrong,” she said, savoring the grip of his hand.
The King gave a small, dry laugh. “Valeriya doesn’t even like males.”
Marietta blinked, his words registering. “What a sad life you both must live. I can’t imagine bonding myself to someone who could never want me.”
“And here I consider your situation sadder,” he said. “To be forced into a marriage without choice or knowledge.”
Marietta grimaced, slipping her hand from his. “Says the man who upholds the law allowing it.”
“And if I were to annul your marriage?” he asked. “Is that what it takes to make you happy?”
“No,” she said, turning back to the statue. “I want independence, freedom.” And revenge.
“And if I could give you that? All that and more?”
She turned her head back towards the King. “And what freedom would I have? Could I just return to Enomenos amidst your war?” She shook her head. “Enough of this.”
Once more, the statue pulled her attention, walking through the flowers to inspect each angle. When she gained sight of the path back to the main walkway, the blonde guard stood at the entrance, arms crossed with a sneer on her face.
“Is there a problem, Adalyn?” the King asked, stopping behind Marietta.
“Not at all,” said the blonde, her voice rougher than Marietta expected. Her gaze raked between the two. “Keyain gave me special instructions to not let her—” she jerked her chin at Marietta “—out of my sight, no matter what orders.”
“Head back with the other guards,” the King demanded, his hand coming to rest on Marietta’s lower back.
Adalyn’s eyes shot to the movement. “Perhaps it’s best I stay. For Keyain’s interest, of course.”
Marietta fought the cringe that forced its way into her expression. Adalyn must be part of the Elite Guard, just like Amryth.
“Do not test me today, Adalyn,” the King said, a threat underlying his tone. “You’re a talented soldier but I will request Ryder for our next outing if this is how you behave.”
Adalyn’s sneer dropped to a look of annoyance, her eyes rolling with a sigh. “Yes, my King.” And with that, she turned and walked down the path.
