Page 124 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“I’m afraid there’s no good excuse for a cat to be in the desert. Will you dispose of my earring discreetly and then recover the missing one? We can’t afford to have this sort of loose end, and there’s no one else I trust enough for this task,” Mereruka explained.

Bas scowled.

“You’re going up against that bastardandhis soldiers and you want me to pretend to be a cat here at the palace?! I should be by your side in the desert!”

Mereruka shook his head, unmoved.

“And if Khety finds the earring, he’ll have an actual reason to see to it that I share Inkaef’s fate. A reason most of Maat would rally behind—tampering with Oblivion’s tithe is a threat to the order of the kingdom. I would be fighting him at a political disadvantage.”

Bas narrowed his eyes at Mereruka, ears flattened on his head while his tail swayed, agitated.

“You don’t need to protect me. I could be useful in the desert.”

“But Iwantyou here, tying up loose ends and keeping an eye on the goings on of the palace. We can’t afford to be blindsided by another of my brother’s outrageous demands.” Mereruka remained obstinate.

Bas bit his lip. Taisiya could understand not wanting to be left behind, but knew they couldn’t afford to return to the palace unaware of Khety’s newest schemes. At the rate the two of them were going, though, her husband and son would end up parting ways on bad terms.

“No one else is welcome everywhere in the palace. Without Nofret or Qar, the role of spy falls to you, Bas. It’s what you’ve trained for, and my lightning is faster than any spell, rest assured.” Taisiya did her best to smooth Bas’ frustration.

“Radjedef is strong and fast. He could easily kill you.” Bas’ hands fisted at his side as he looked to his feet.

“Which is why Vasilisa is trying to find his weakness,” Mereruka replied, his citrine eyes never wavering. “If you want to be more than just my son, you must learn to do as I say, even when you don’t want to.”

“Fine!” Bas hissed before turning to smoke and, as a cat, leaping from the opened window with a last, backward, baleful glare.

“Did you have to be so harsh?” Taisiya asked.

Mereruka sighed and slumped in his seat.

“Yes. If Radjedef even got a hint that I love Bas, as a young man or a cat, he wouldn’t hesitate to gut him just to hurt me. Bas can’t hide in the void to avoid my brother, and if anything were to happen to us, I want him away from the danger as much as possible.”

Mereruka’s eyes were haunted. Taisiya didn’t see the danger with Radjedef, even if they were unable to find a weakness, per se. He was an easily riled hothead who would take the first opportunity to strike. Master manipulator and cunning foe, he was not. The second that scaly, red lizard of a man drew a sword or readied a spell, Taisiya would put a bolt of lightning into him and gladly. Personally, she was more concerned about the royal guard and potential dragon attacks.

Taisiya playfully kicked his shin under the table.

“So, you’ll keep your son safe from danger, but not your wife?”

Mereruka’s eyes widened with shock and guilt. He reached across the table to take hold of her hands.

“I never—”

“Hush!” Taisiya grinned, pressing a finger to his lips. “It was meant in jest.”

Mereruka frowned.

“Not funny.”

Taisiya shrugged.

“That’s just your opinion.”

Mereruka’s expression turned solemn, focusing on her hand in his, tracing the lines of her palm.

“If I could keep you completely safe, I would.”

“Meri?”

“Hm?” He looked up.

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