Page 133 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“I tried, damn you! I sent my least competent people!”

“Forgive me for being unimpressed with your efforts!” Mereruka retorted.

“Enough!” Taisiya stood and placed herself between them. She shoved Radjedef back to his knees and pushed Mereruka back into his chair. “Radjedef, unlike Khety, I consider Seneb too important to kill off on a whim. He is an excellent enticement for your future good behaviour. If you play nicely, Seneb will live, unharmed.” He was about to protest. She held a finger to his lips, punctuating her authority with a crackle of electricity along her skin and shushing him, “And until Khety is no longer a threat to him, Seneb will remain hidden in either Rhacotis or Shedet. It is more than you or he deserves,after what he’s done to me.”

An experience she’d been forced to live through twice. A violation of every fibre of her being, on par with having her soul torn out. At least the latter she’d chosen willingly. Electricity danced across her skin in earnest then. She could no longer conceal it in her current state.

“Fine,” Radjedef grumbled.

“Agree to my terms in full, Radjedef,” Taisiya said, her words as sharp as a whip.

“I agree to grant you any favour you desire, whenever you wish it, and my oath not to allow you or yours to come to harm from me or those under my command.”

“And I agree not to harm Seneb, or order harm to come to him, as well to hide him until it is safe for him to leave our care.”

Taisiya felt the weight of their deal between them. Though she was not fae, their magic had bound her and Radjedef.

“I want to see him,” Radjedef said.

Taisiya nodded at Vasilisa.

“I have some words for him as well.”

Vasilisa threw him out of the nearest shadow. Radjedef rushed over, checking Seneb for injuries. When Seneb recovered his senses, he threw his arms around Radjedef.

“Seneb,” Taisiya said.

The fae man looked up at her, swallowing, his wide eyes made starker in the light her dancing electricity. His fear was nearly tangible as he gripped Radjedef tighter. Good.

“Radjedef has bargained much for your freedom and safety. I have promised not to harm you in addition to hiding you from King Khety. However, if you ever act against me or mine, I will kill Radjedef, slowly, in front of you.”

“I understand,” Seneb whispered.

Radjedef went still and turned his head slowly to glare at them.

“Did you forget to bargain for your own safety, brother?” Mereruka grinned. “Pity.”

“You know all those rumours about what happened to the fae on the boat ride here?” Vasilisa asked with menacing glee, “They’re true. All of them.”

Seneb released a shuddering breath and buried his head in Radjedef’s shoulder.

“Tomorrow morning, all of Maat will know that Princess Consort Taisiya fed you to the void as punishment,” Mereruka said. “So, say your goodbyes tonight, and be ready to travel.”

Chapter 52

Mererukahadbeenexpectinga fight. Insults, sinister insinuations, condemnations, veiled threats and hidden schemes—he’d prepared for these and more when he and Taisiya presented the scales as tribute to Khety. The king sat conspicuously alone on his throne. Betrest was nowhere to be found. Neither was Serfka, nor even Hemetre, his favoured concubine, was to be seen. Instead, Khety looked almost… tired. Mereruka could hardly believe his eyes, so ready he’d been for conflict. He almost wondered if some imposter was sitting on the throne when Khety inspected the scales and broke his silence with a hollow voice.

“Exactly as I requested.”

“Is Your Eternal Serenity pleased with the tribute?”

“Yes. You have not failed me, Princess Consort.”

The nefarious deal was at an end. Mereruka inwardly sighed with relief.

“I heard there was trouble…”

“A feral dragon attacked, and one of Radjedef’s men used the situation to assault Princess Consort Taisiya. The soldier has been dealt with, and Radjedef took the mark of disinheritance to atone,” Mereruka answered.

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