Page 99 of A Queen's Game
Keyain snarled again, attempting to shove past the half-elven man’s hold.
Deania grabbed Marietta’s arm and softly asked, “Are you comfortable going home with him tonight? It’s okay to say no.”
“I do… but things need to change, Keyain. I need my freedom—to not be locked in a room all day,” Marietta paused, trembling. “And I want to come back. I’m not fixed by any means, but I feel like I’m finally taking my first breath after months of suffocating.”
“We’ll see, Mar. Please, let’s just go home,” Keyain said, eyes wide with worry.
“Do you promise to let her come back?” Deania spoke this time. Her voice stayed sweet but firm when addressing Keyain.
“We’ll talk about it when we get home.”
“Say you promise now. It’s what she wants,” the half-elven man spoke, still keeping his calm tone.
Keyain glared at him, his eyes alight with anger like she hadn’t seen in a long time. “I promise,” he said through gritted teeth.
The half-elf and Keyain stood back as Marietta passed through into the antechamber door.
“Be safe, Lady Marietta. You will always find peace and safety at the temple of Therypon. We look forward to seeing you again.” The half-elf’s words felt true as he spoke.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Valeriya
Slouched against an alley wall, Valeriya caught her breath after overhearing a passing guard say someone found Marietta at the Temple of Therypon. Relief flooded her, releasing the tension coiled in her chest.
If her memory served correctly, many flocked to Therypon for both mental and physical healing. For Marietta to go there meant she was in a worse condition than Valeriya first assumed. Guilt knotted her stomach. Perhaps learning of Tilan in such a way wasn’t helpful to Marietta’s already stressful life changes. No—this was on Keyain. Valeriya may have misjudged Marietta’s reaction, but it was Keyain who was responsible for helping her.
To think Keyain let the situation get to where the girl had to flee the palace. Part of her believed the Exisotis came to get Marietta before Valeriya wielded her in court. It was only a matter of time before they would appear, whether Wyltam or Keyain believed they would. Marietta was one of their own.
The other part feared she was abducted, left to the fate of the other missing pilinos in Satiros. What would the crown do if a lady at court disappeared? Maybe that’s what it took for Wyltam and Keyain to take action.
The evening breeze blew past, tossing the two braids woven down her back, reaching mid-waist. Though no one passing would see them, or the black leggings and top she wore. No, they would see a curvy half-elf walking along at night; the illusion magic would hold as long as Valeriya maintained her concentration.
Deep within Greening Juncture, Valeriya paused in an alleyway to catch her breath. She had intended to reach the Weeds, the only section of the city where pilinos could live, to see if she could find her. Now that the danger had passed, Valeriya turned to make her way back to the palace.
“Interesting times for you to be out alone,” slurred a deep voice as bodies appeared at the entrance of the alley.
Valeriya hid her sneer. Drunk males preying on a helpless pilinos stoked her anger. Typical. “Only trying to make it home.”
Her steps were slow as she approached, her heart steady. In the dim, she made out three males who leered down at her half-elven form. A breeze caught the overbearing scent of alcohol that wafted from them. Three against one. In theory, Valeriya would be at a disadvantage, but she had the element of surprise on her side.
“Few of your kind making it home these days.” A short male with choppy blond hair stepped forward, sizing her up. “Makes a dark alley a dangerous place for you.”
What were the chances that these were the elves responsible for the missing pilinos? A wrathful smile curled to her lips as she pulled aithyr into her body. “Whatever do you mean?”
She stood a few feet from them now. One male ducked his head and stepped out of the alley. “All good,” he called back to his friends.
“You could disappear like those other clips.” He took a step to her right, the last of the trio stepping to her left.
Such words were implication enough for Valeriya. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
The males closed in. “You’re a brave little clip, aren’t you?”
Valeriya laughed as a sly smile slid to her face. “The problem with marking a target you don’t know is that you run the risk of underestimating them.”
The male to her left lurched forward, grabbing her wrist. In a fluid motion, she kicked the male in his knee and grabbed his arm, twisting as the male cried out in pain. Valeriya released the energy stored in her body through her grasp. Purple, crackling electricity danced around his limb as he dropped to the ground.
“The fuck?” The male behind her took a bewildered step back, stumbling.
