Page 193 of A Queen's Game
Beside her, Keyain’s breathing became strained, but he released her, turning to his other guards and motioning them to follow. “We’ll talk after, Marietta.” Though she leaned awayfrom his touch, he kissed her forehead and stormed off into the palace.
The absolute nerve that man had. Marietta met the King’s gaze, ignoring the pain that lingered at her wrist.
“Are you alright?” he asked, approaching Marietta.
Was she alright? Was anything alright when she was trapped in a foreign city-state and married to a man she didn’t want to marry? Admitting she was not alright would be a betrayal to herself; but to continue pretending before a man who knew the truth, who knew her pain, who likely went through similar pain, seemed foolish.
“No,” she said, refusing to let her voice falter. Despite giving herself one night, a reminder of the person she used to be, Marietta still needed to say it. A confession for the man who realized when she needed help and reached out. “Nothing is alright. None of this is alright.”
“It takes a strong person to admit such truth,” the King said, nearly a whisper. “I’m happy you can share your honest feelings.” He paused, his dark gaze roaming over her. “Would you like to walk with me before I take you back to your room?”
“I want to be anywhere but that suite,” she said, hating the emotion that bit at her throat.
He considered her for a moment, nodding his head. “Understandable.” The King held out his arm, and Marietta took it. “Beforethat,” he said, leading through the entrance, “did you enjoy your evening?”
“For the most part,” she said, offering a tight smile. “I’m thankful for your intervention and glad you sent along someone to play nursemaid.”
“Nursemaid?” the King chuckled, a smile coming to his lips as they started down a dim hallway. “Wynn is one of the most deadly mages I’ve ever worked with.”
Marietta stopped and turned to him. “A mage? To protect our party?”
“To protect you.” King Wyltam placed a hand over hers that gripped his arm, a smile touching his lips.
Marietta’s breath caught. Not wanting to acknowledge the King’s implication, that he protectedher, that he thought ofher, she said, “I’ve never met a mage before.”
“That’s the funny thing about being a mage,” he said. “We can be anyone, and you would never know.”
“We?” She furrowed her brows. “You’re a king, not a mage.”
“To be one doesn’t mean I can’t be the other.” His hand brushed back the dark hair that fell into his face. “Mages can be beyond deadly, definitely dangerous, and a complete secret.”
“And is that what you are, my King?” she teased. “Deadly? Dangerous?” She looked him up and down, a smirk curling at her lip. “Because I find you to be neither.”
King Wyltam chuckled as he untangled himself from her. Then he disappeared, the spot he occupied becoming empty. Standing before her one moment, gone the next, Marietta had a second to register what she saw before she was pinned to the wall. A scream died in her throat as King Wyltam reappeared, his hands firm but gentle, holding her to the stone. His breath fell on her skin, his mouth inches from her own. She swallowed hard, cursing her heart for betraying her as it thundered in her chest. “I guess that proves your point,” she managed to say.
“You have never called me your King, Marietta.” He brought his hand to her chin, tilting her face towards his. “Is that what I am? Your King?”
“What if you are?” Stupid. Foolish. She should push him away. Marietta should end the conversation, but she wanted more—she wanted him. His lips were so close; she imagined the softness of them brushing over her skin.
“Then I wouldn’t be deadly or dangerous to you. For you, I would be loving,” he murmured, his hand coming to rest on her cheek. “For you, I would be tender.”
She stared at his mouth, wishing it on her own. “Show me how tender you can be, my King.”
His breath slowed as he leaned in. “If I show you now,” he said, lips brushing against hers, “then I fear you’ll never return to your suite.” He pulled back enough that she could look him in the eye.
“And why is that?”
“Because I won’t stop kissing you once we start.” His thumb brushed over her lips as he released a slow breath. “Because once I have you, I won’t want to let you go.”
Marietta lifted her face to his, whispering, “That seems better than the alternative.”
“And what’s the alternative, Marietta?”
“Being in that gods damned suite.”
A laugh escaped the King, and for a moment Marietta thought he would kiss her, but he stepped back and offered his arm once more. “Come. We’ll take the long way back.”
Disappointed and breathless, Marietta continued down the hall with the King. Stupid, he was married, as was she. But Keyain didn’t give her a choice in the matter. And the King? Well, if what he said was true of Valeriya, then what harm did it cause?
