Page 198 of A Queen's Game
“Tilan was a monster.”
“He was my husband!” Her breaths became ragged with all the anger built since she woke up in Satiros—since the night Keyain had murdered him.
“And what of me? I’m your husband, Mar.”
“Is that so? Tell me about our wedding day, then. Who was there? Did I smile when I agreed to marry you?” She stalked towards him, grinning at his silence. “Oh, you can’t, because I left you. I decided I wanted to live my life without you in it, but you dragged me back.” She laughed, craning her neck to look up into his face. “The day I married Tilan was one of the happiest in my life. Our ceremony was on the shore of Lake Malakos in Olkia, surrounded by our friends—our community. There wasn’t an empty seat, and my parents cried tears of joy. They loved Tilan, as did I.”
“Stop it,” he hissed, tears falling.
“Stop what? Telling you the truth? Isn’t this what you want?”
“Tilan lied to you the whole time—”
“And so did you! You were the Minister of Protection, pretending to be a bodyguard! Do you understand how insane that is?”
“I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you,” he choked out, wiping away the tears that fell.
Marietta cocked her head. “Excuse me?”
Keyain bit his tongue, eyes burning. He only shook his head. “Things are going to change. You’re done running around like you’re the Queen of this fucking palace. I’d confine you to our rooms, but then you won’t get to see how much you embarrassed yourself tonight.”
“Oh, okay—”
Keyain held up his hand. “Marietta, everyone will know. They’ll assume you and Wyltam have been having an affair.”
The swirling in her chest died at that realization.
Keyain laughed, wiping away his tears. “You’re in over your head. You will never keep up with court, Marietta.” He gripped her chin, turning her crestfallen face at him. “It’s funny that you kissed him so willingly considering he’s certain you’re on the Exisotis’s side.”
Marietta stilled the panic that wanted to rise in her face. Gods, the King knew. Or at least, he suspected. Was that why he kissed her? Is that why he was kind to her all along, hoping she’d confess that she’s part of the Exisotis? The realization came as a crushing blow to her chest.
“I protected you, Marietta. If you were still in Olkia when we attacked, we would have rounded you up with the other Exisotis families and used you to get Tilan to speak.”
“Is that how you justify it?” she said. “Capturing me and killing Tilan?”
Keyain scoffed. “He lied to you, just as I did, yet you can still love him. Why can’t you love me?”
“Because you killed him, Keyain!”
“And if Tilan were alive, could you love me?”
“Never.”
Silence settled between them as she held her glare.
Keyain shook his head. “You’ve changed so much since we were together.”
“Your idea of me is not my responsibility to live up to.”
“This,” he said, gesturing between them, “is done. You and I are done. By law, you are my wife and only remain so for my control. From here on out, you will listen to me—”
“I will not—”
He held up his hand, silencing her. “Learn when to stop talking. When this war is over, I’m ending our marriage, and I will leave your fate to the King’s Council of Ministers. I protected you, Marietta, but not anymore. Not after this.” He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “I hate that after all of this, after you leaving me, loving Tilan even knowing his truth, wanting the King, and fucking the guard from the temple—”
“What? I never—”
“Does it matter? It might be a rumor but it’s not outside of your nature.”
