Page 127 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“I’m afraid not.”

Mereruka sighed.

“Stay here. I’ll leave a few soldiers with you. It seems my brother has decided to confiscate our scales for his soldiers’ target practice. I’ll return shortly.”

“Meri!” Taisiya gasped.

It was likely a trap. She needed to be there with him.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, you will not. I can already see your attention drifting.”

He was right. She could barely keep her eyes on his face.

“But he might—”

“I’m aware, which is why my soldiers will be there with me.”

Taisiya gripped the fabric of her dress as her brows drew together.

“Take Vasilisa with you.”

Mereruka nodded.

“Vasilisa?”

“I’ll have his back,” the darkness mage replied from the shadows.

Taisiya sighed in relief.

“I’m sorry.”

So much for being a key player here. She might as well be dead weight, adding complications instead of dealing with them. If anything happened, would she have the wherewithal to defend herself? Mereruka pressed his lips to her cheek and grinned, dragging her back.

“I can handle my brother.”

He quickly became an indistinct outline in the distance atop his summoned beast, approaching and then stopping at the enemy camp. Taisiya fought the pull of the melodies to stay focused on him. And yet her eyes and mind wandered. She tightened her fists until her nails bit painfully into her palms. This was nearly as bad as Nefertnesu’s spell, robbing her of her ability to think clearly.

Mind drifting once more, an unnatural screech hit her like a gut punch. Taisiya jumped in her seat. The soldiers regarded her with concern.

Had only she heard it? The screech ended in an instant. Taisiya tried to keep her breathing even and her expression placid despite her terror and uncertainty. Something was wrong. What had that awful sound been? Was it connected to the hearts buried in the sand and rock?

Another heart-stopping screech, this one closer and more piercing than the last, had her reeling, her hands on her ears as the ground beneath her rumbled. The soldiers took out their weapons.

“Protect the princess consort!”

“What is—”

“A dragon! Please, escape with your attendant, Princess Consort!”

Taisiya’s heart fell into her stomach.

“I can’t! She’s with Meri!”

“I’ll take to the skies with her. Pray this dragon does not fly!”

Taisiya accepted the hand of the soldier closest as he summoned a winged beast. She was barely seated in front of him before they took off on a punishing updraft. Not a moment too soon. The ground below cracked and crumbled. Soldiers took off on their own beasts as the ground gave way to a gaping, rocky cavern. In the black and swirling dust, something caught the light, glittering as it writhed. Whipping winds tossed her hair in her face, causing her to lose sight of the creature. The soldier behind her fought back her lengthy strands and in so doing, detached her necklace. Taisiya lunged for it, only to be dragged back, her hand empty.

---