Page 102 of Queen of War and Ruin

There aren’t as many people out here, on the crushed gravel paths, and Zarek’s words whisper through my memory. The gardens are usually safe, he told me the morning after our disastrous wedding night. Too much effort to eavesdrop out here.

Is that why the wife of Vsenrog’s crown prince asked to meet me in the gardens? I frown as my hands twist together. No, that’s ridiculous. Why would she be worried about people listening in on her conversation with me? I’m worth even less now than I was when I was Mrs. Snake.

The woman in the apron turns, then turns again. We walk past the fountain with the fox on top, then down a path that leads to the kitchen gardens.

And there she is. The wife of Malrik’s first born sits on a bench, her face toward the sun, her delicate blue gown draped across the bench in a way that looks far too artistic to be accidental. The woman in the apron clears her throat, then bows as Acelina comes to her feet.

“Thank you,” Acelina says.

The woman in the apron turns to leave. I stare at Petrys for a moment, and he bows too. He stands in the middle of the path, then turns his back to us and rests a hand on the hilt of his sword.

It’s so absurd that I almost laugh. He looks like he’s prepared to fight monsters. Gods, we’re in the middle of the palace gardens. What in the hells could happen to us here?

“Lilias,” Acelina purrs. “Thank you so much for coming.”

As if I had a choice. I try to swallow, but my throat has gone dry. I turn slowly and meet the gaze of the acting queen of Vsenrog.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I reply, the words coming automatically as I bow to her.

Her mouth twitches in the slightest acknowledgement of a smile.

“Walk with me,” she says.

Again, it’s not an invitation. Acelina offers me her arm, and I take it, pressing my hand against the smooth silk of her sleeve. Together, we walk slowly down a narrow path that leads away from the kitchen gardens. I don’t dare turn back to see if Petrys is following us, or if he’s still standing in the middle of the crushed gravel path with his hand on his sword like he’s expecting to fight a pack of starving wolves.

“Shall I offer you congratulations on your new marriage?” Acelina asks.

I glance at her, but I can’t quite make sense of the small smile on her lips. It’s perfectly polite, that smile, but there’s an edge to that question, like a blade wrapped in silk. Or hidden under a dress.

I make a sound in the back of my throat that could be interpreted in many different ways. She doesn’t reply. Our feet crunch on the path. Somewhere nearby, a bird lets out her long, lonely song.

“I hope he’s at least an improvement over your last husband,” Acelina finally says. It’s not quite a question.

I can’t stop the sound that comes out of my throat. It’s part laugh, part choking objection. Acelina stops walking and turns to look at me. I wave my hand, trying to show her I’m fine.

“No,” I manage to stammer. “No, he is not. An improvement, that is.”

Her face wrinkles. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

I shake my head. Acelina glances over her shoulder, then leans closer to me.

“They say Zarek killed Syvan,” she whispers quickly, like she needs to get the words out before she can change her mind. Or before someone overhears them.

The garden suddenly feels cold. Acelina glances over her shoulder again, down the path to where Petrys stands with his feet in the dirt and his back straight. The man Zarek hired to teach me how to fight, so I could protect myself.

And suddenly I’m thinking about another morning in this garden, walking with Zarek. When he led me to the stables and told Alia to grant me all the privileges he was given.

He didn’t even know me. Gods, we met the night before, and I made an absolute ass of myself.

But still, somehow, he knew I loved horses. He tried to protect me. He tried to make this horrible place feel more like home.

And I cannot let him suffer for something I did.

“He didn’t,” I finally say. My voice is hardly more than a whisper. Acelina turns back to me with a frown.

“I killed Syvan,” I confess.

Chapter 53