Page 131 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“I’m not.” Vasilisa choked out the words, her voice cracking.

The darkness mage surprised him by wrapping her arms around them both, fierce and stronger than he thought possible. She let out a sharp breath before gripping them, a shoulder in each hand as she shook them with ire.

“You’re both so fucking stupid! You didn’t survive because you were smart, you both got lucky! And… and I had to watch you two almost die! I’ll never forgive you for that! And neither will Bas!” Vasilisa raged as tears fell in earnest.

Taisiya reached out and pulled Vasilisa’s head close to her chest and kissed her frizzy blonde curls until the mage’s cheeks were dry. Vasilisa pulled away to take a shaky breath and dry her tears. Fear gone, now only anger remained. Good. Mereruka felt the first embers of rage lick the walls of his gut. He pulled away from his desperate hold of Taisiya so that he could see her face.

“Taisiya, what do you want to do to the man who did this to you?” Mereruka asked.

“I want him to fear for his life and the lives of everyone he holds dear,” Taisiya answered. “It’s only fair.”

“Would you recognize him?”

Taisiya nodded, confident.

“What about Radjedef? I can always just leave him in the void for good,” Vasilisa offered.

“I think we can use him,” Taisiya said before Mereruka could respond.

He raised his brow.

“He wanted Radjedef to survive. It was the last thing he said before he…” Taisiya swallowed. Mereruka saw the fear in her eyes, one she quickly pushed away. That man would pay dearly for it. “If Radjedef is the bait, we may be able to lure that soldier out.”

The idea of his prickly brother as bait for anything aside from snide remarks was just too amusing. His grin was feral as he kissed Taisiya.

“Then let’s lay a trap.”

Chapter 51

Thesoldiersweremeremoments from open conflict when Mereruka threw back the cloth opening of his tent with a flourish, Taisiya at his side. The shock inside the camp was palpable. They strode into the middle of the budding maelstrom under a heavy glamour, one that projected strength, calm, and unimpeachable fashion sense. Beneath the magic, they were weary, ragged and one suspicious movement from attacking the lot of them. Mereruka glared at Radjedef’s men.

“You call yourselves soldiers of Maat?” He spat upon the ground. “You were unable to protect me or my wife. Indeed, it waswewho savedyoufrom a hungry, feral dragon today! Who here has the nerve to stand proud before your prince and princess consort, and feel you have the right to bicker amongst each other while we grace you with our presence?!” Mereruka raged, the weight of it nearly palpable in the night air.

The soldiers knelt, their heads bowed.

“My love, if the royal guard of Maat is lacking, doesn’t their overseer shoulder the largest portion of the blame? When a child is thoroughly spoiled, is it not the fault of the parents?”

“Dear wife, you are so very wise,” he cooed as he stroked her face. Mereruka turned to Vasilisa. “Bring me Radjedef. He should be punished.”

Vasilisa reappeared in an instant, tossing him from the void like a sack of garbage. Radjedef lay sprawled and undignified in the dirt as he slowly regained his senses.

“How do you fare, brother? You were lucky indeed that my wife’s loyal servant thought to keep you safe from the dragon by hiding you away. It seems, however, that your own soldiers and servants are so inept that it borders on treason.” Mereruka let the word linger on his tongue and was heartened to see the panic that stiffened his brother’s body. Perhaps the soldier that had attacked Taisiya was the lover they’d been searching for. “If we cannot find the guilty party, I demand that you take the punishment. After all, as overseer of the royal guard, are the soldiers here not your responsibility?” Curious, Mereruka watched his brother’s reaction intently. Radjedef seemed to relax.

“My soldiers have failed to keep you and your wife safe. The fault lies with me,” Radjedef answered.

Taisiya’s grip on Mereruka’s arm grew tight. He looked up to see a soldier raise his head and his hands in surrender.

“Prince, Princess Consort, it is I who bear the blame. Prince Radjedef did not know of my schemes. It would be unjust to punish him.”

While Taisiya kept her eyes on the soldier, Mereruka enjoyed the sight of Radjedef’s panic becoming palpable. Shoulder’s tensing, eyes widening and a trickle of unglamoured sweat rolling down his sand-covered face. Excellent.

“Vasilisa.”

“Yes, Prince Mereruka,” she replied before she dragged the soldier into the void. He went without a struggle and mouthed a few words at Radjedef before he disappeared.

“No!” Radjedef shouted, stricken. “No, Seneb is not to blame! I demand that you bring him back!”

“Demand? What right do you have to demand anything of me, brother? Have you not wronged me? Has your soldier not attacked my wife?”

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