Page 108 of Conspirators' Kingdom

His winded laughter echoed in the room.

“And what is the requisite waiting period?”

“I’ll have to check my sources.”

“You do that.” He chuckled, pulling her close and stroking her hair.

She snuggled into his chest, unable to hide her smile. For the first time in her life, she could discard the fear that she was broken, unable to enjoy intimacy. Mereruka would never know the full extent of the gift he’d given her.

“I’ve decided we’re staying here, like this, forever,” Taisiya announced.

“King and queen of our own little paradise.”

“Mmm.”

She kissed his sweat-slicked chest as they lay in the afterglow.

“Discounting the snakes, of course,” he said.

She pulled away, frantically searching.

“Where?”

Mereruka snickered until he couldn’t hold back his howls of laughter. Taisiya scowled. He was an abominable trickster. She pinched him, continuing her assault until his laughter died down. He captured her wrists in his hands and grinned.

“Mercy, wife.”

“Never.”

“Taisiya?” he asked, his expression solemn.

“Yes?”

“You’re so damn beautiful.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Meri?”

“Yes?”

“I l-”

Before she could say the words filling her heart to bursting, he pulled her behind him, his muscles taught and his magic at the ready.

“What?”

“Someone has dared to enter,” he hissed.

Taisiya waited with bated breath. Between one blink and the next, Bas appeared, disoriented. Mereruka sighed, releasing the tension that had his muscles coiled tight. He pulled the sheets up to cover himself as Taisiya pressed herself against his back. When this was over, she was going to have a very pointed discussion with Bas about boundaries.

“Dad?”

“Bas.” Mereruka’s growled reply mirrored her distinct displeasure at the intrusion.

“I-woah! Oh gods, I’m sorry!” Bas turned to face the wall, hands covering his eyes.

“It obviously couldn’t wait, or you wouldn’t have entered,” Mereruka groaned.

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