Wyltam nodded once, swallowing hard before he took off down the path again. Silence settled between them.
From the beginning, Valeriya had thought the worst of Wyltam, always viewing him as heartless, like a corpse. If the past day’s events proved anything, it was that her husband had a larger heart than he ever cared to show. For his people. For others. He was a king who would sacrifice his legacy in order to be a better ruler. The lost opportunity forged from miscommunication would haunt her until the end of her days.
“What’s the plan now?” she asked, desperate to think of anything else.
“I want to ensure Marietta is safe within the palace before I take you to Katya.” They approached the palace once more, Wyltam holding the door for her. “The citizens aren’t happy that the crown wished to apprehend Marietta while she soughtimmunity at a temple. Thousands gather outside waiting for Keyain to remove her.”
“Please tell me he has a way to get her out of there safely,” Valeriya said. Sweat gathered on her skin from the day’s oppressive heat. “In this weather, such a crowd would grow restless.”
“Keyain best have a plan to return her safely,” Wyltam said. “For both his and Marietta’s sake.”
Valeriya furrowed her brows. “You’re saying you don’t know if Keyain has a plan?”
“If he has one, he didn’t share it with me.”
Fear rose in her throat, but she swallowed it down. “Are Marietta and Keyain still at the temple?”
“No, they’re returning to the palace as we speak. I announced the summons hours ago,” he said. “The nobles are on lockdown while Keyain deployed most of the guards into the city.” He glanced at her. “So, if we keep off to the side, no one will notice us and we’ll still be on track for your departure.”
She nodded. Last night, something had shifted between them. From the beginning, Wyltam never trusted her. Though that irked her, she understood. Hells, she went into the marriage with the intention to tell her sister everything she could about Satiros. Love from her sister blinded her endeavors and ruined the opportunity she had as queen. Her ambition wasn’t for her own gain, but Chorys Dasi’s. Never again would she allow herself to be so blind.
They hurried to the palace’s front and from the entrance hall, they could hear the screams carrying from the city streets. Valeriya stared at Wyltam, her heart sinking. “We have to see what’s going on,” she said.
“Agreed.” Wyltam walked to the entrance. “Try to stay out of sight. Most of the guards should be—”
He stopped at the center of the doorway, his jaw dropping. Confused, Valeriya joined him and understood. A crowd rioted from the palace gates, all the way to the Halia River, filling Oak Boulevard. Thousands of civilians, more than she had ever seen amassed, filled the cityscape before them.
The gates had swung shut before they arrived. Guards stood at it and prodded the crowd back. Keyain had a guard pinned to the wall, his face red from screaming. Marietta stood alone with a haunted expression on her blanched face marred with blood, wearing a blue tunic from the temple.
“He marched her through the crowd,” Valeriya said, pointing to the armored guards wiping blood from their swords. “What the fuck did he do?”
“We need to get Marietta inside the palace. Anyone could attack her out in the open like that.” Wyltam took a step forward, but Valeriya held him back.
He was right; with the guard’s attention on the crowd, it was a prime opportunity for an attack. “This isn’t safe.”
“I know it isn’t.” He ripped his shirt from her grasp as Keyain turned, locking eyes with Wyltam. “Which is why Keyain’s priority should have been getting Marietta to safety.”
“Have them come to us,” she said, her eyes scanning the rooftops visible from the front steps. “Something is wrong.” The hair on the back of her neck stood. Somewhere in the distance bells tolled, setting an eerie tone for the scene before them. This riot would be a perfect distraction.
Keyain approached while guiding Marietta forward, waiting until the top of the steps to acknowledge them. “Get inside, all of you.” The veins in his neck bulged, his jaw grinding.
“What happened?” snapped Wyltam, his expressionless demeanor slipping into a sneer. He grabbed the front of Keyain’s armor, his voice a low growl as the two began bickering in quiet voices.
Valeriya turned to Marietta, who shook where she stood. “Marietta, are you okay?”
Black ink curved up her neck. She took in her clothing, understanding what both meant: she joined the temple for immunity. Shocked, Valeriya forced her eyes to meet Marietta’s haunted face.
“They all died because of me,” she whispered.
“No, they didn’t.” Valeriya took her hands and tried to guide Marietta inside, yet she wouldn’t move.
Tears streamed down Marietta’s cheeks, mixing with the spattering of blood. She looked back at the crowd. “They were trying to free me and Keyain’s guards slaughtered them.”
“Hush, now.” Valeriya pulled her into an embrace. “Let’s get you inside.” She glanced over her shoulder to the rooftops and she saw a person aiming something at their group. Before she could manage a warning, she saw them release the weapon.
Time slowed for Valeriya. The crowd’s jeering muffled as her breath stilled. She watched the trajectory, watched the crackling of electrical energy on what she could now see was a crossbow bolt. She saw where it would hit. Without thinking, she grabbed Marietta and twisted her away from the projectile.
A sharp, agonizing pain pierced her back and took the breath from her chest. Valeriya heard Marietta’s shriek, heard the crowd behind her break into a panic. The world felt far away as she collapsed to the ground, the electrical magic causing her body to convulse. Her last thought was of Katya, who waited for her. Maybe in the next life they could finally be together. Maybe then they could both find happiness.
