Page 138 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Every part of her was weak. When his magic gave way, she collapsed on the bed with barely enough energy to turn to her side and face him. Their harsh breaths mingled, cooling their sweat-slicked skin. He shifted, their noses almost touching. Pulling her close, his eyes were as solemn as his voice.

“I love you, Taisiya.”

“And I love you, Meri.” She grinned.

He tightened his grip and covered her messy copper hair in kisses. She circled her shaking arms around him.

“If I have to drown Maat in blood to keep you safe, I’ll do it, and gladly.”

She kissed his chest. Dramatic man. Didn’t he know she would do the same?

“No need, when a single head on a silver platter will do.” She looked up at him, unable to hold back a cruel little smile.

“A gold platter. I don’t do half-measures.” Mereruka grinned wickedly.

“Inlaid with precious stones, I should hope.”

“Only the finest will do.” He nodded.

“Braggart.”

“Temptress.”

“Villain.”

“Villainess.”

“Every villainess is in need of a villain.” She slid her arms up around his head and pulled him down for a soft, slow kiss.

“How fortunate that we found each other,” he murmured against her lips.

He hooked her leg around him and made leisurely, achingly tender love to her. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, only to be awoken by an intruder in their pocket realm.

Taisiya gasped awake at Mereruka’s insistent jostling. She readied her lightning.

“He’s been captured! Bas has been captured!”

The electricity died against Taisiya’s skin. Vasilisa had tumbled into the realm with tears in her panicked grey eyes.

“Who has him?” Mereruka asked, fear and menace rolling off him in waves.

Vasilisa shook her head and handed him a bloody note as she cradled something in her other palm.

“What does it say?” Taisiya asked.

“‘If you want your shifter, then come find me. Alone. Now.’”

“Vasilisa, how did you…” Taisiya began to ask, knowing neither of them could yet read the fae script. She trailed off as Vasilisa held open her shaking palm to reveal a lump of bloody gore and fur.

“They cut off a piece of his tail.”

Chapter 53

Thehallsofthepalace were dimly lit, throwing sinister shadows across the faces of the many statues and reliefs. Inlaid jewels and golden paints glinted in the light Mereruka had conjured with his magic. In his hand, the piece of Bas guided them to what he desperately hoped was the rest of his son, alive, if mutilated. Helpless rage, guilt and terror galvanized his steps. If Bas were dead…no, best not to think on it. He’d asked him to remain behind for his safety, and now his son had been maimed.Careless, foolish, reckless. He never should have encouraged Bas in this endeavour. He should have found someone else to take into the fold of his secrets, to train as his best spy, someone he didn’t love. Whatever happened to Bas, it was Mereruka’s fault. What kind of father was he to allow his son to live such a dangerous life? Bas should have spent his days chasing skirts and making friends, not slinking into enemy territory and listening for secrets. Instead, the child of his heart was in pain.

Though this was certainly a trap, he couldn’t slow his steps. How good of the soon-to-be-dead swine to give Mereruka what he would need to weave a locator spell. The thin, ugly red line stretched out from the chunk of Bas’s tail and pointed the way, like the needle of a grim compass.

“Still unable to locate him, Vasilisa?” he asked.

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