Page 147 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Thanks to you.”

Vasilisa wrapped her arms around Taisiya and took a deep breath.

“Stop making this a habit. You’re not supposed to go places I can’t follow,” she said, her harsh, desperate whisper making Taisiya’s heart clench.

Taisiya wrapped her arms around her friend, trying to ignore the jolt of panic at the sensation of skin and pressure against her neck.

“I suppose if I do, you’ll have to lure me with treats.”

“Not. Funny,” Vasilisa grunted.

“It is a little.”

Vasilisa frowned, pinching Taisiya’s side.

Taisiya’s surprised exclamation alerted the men to her state. They ceased bickering, all three dripping wet, with horrible blisters on their faces. Mereruka was at her side in an instant, looking her over with concern before he was satisfied. She reached out to touch his hand when he shied away. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of them—blistered, deeply cut and bleeding. It hurt just to look at them.

“Your hands!”

“Vasilisa, if you would please,” Mereruka’s grin was forced. “She is awake and well now.”

Vasilisa sighed, abandoning her post by Taisiya’s side for the nearest shadow. She glared back at both Radjedef and Serfka.

“Run, and when I find you, you’ll wish I hadn’t.”

It was all the warning she gave before she disappeared into the shadows. Radjedef shivered involuntarily. Taisiya held out the charm around her neck for Mereruka. He shook his head.

“She wouldn’t leave your side until you woke. I’ve asked her to fetch us some water of the Hapi to heal our wounds as the charm won’t do us any good,” Mereruka explained. “In the meantime, I’m trying to persuade my brothers to heed me.”

“Why should I? I may have taken the mark of disinheritance, but you… well, look at you! If I’m unfit to rule Maat because of this,” Radjedef gestured at his forehead, “you’re not fit to rule over a cave in the desert!” He gestured to Mereruka’s many tattoos.

Taisiya blinked again, just now realising his tattoos were visible, and the gravity of it. Though the glowing, saffron tattoos were starkly beautiful against the teal of his skin, they were not alone, safely ensconced within his pocket realm. His secret had been revealed, his bitterness and anger evident in the grim line of his mouth, his fear in the tense set of his shoulders. She flicked her eyes to his brothers, mind buzzing.

“Does my sweet husband require his wife’s help?”

She touched the part of his face she safely could with gentle fingertips. He leaned into her touch, a flicker of hope in his citrine eyes.

“It couldn’t go amiss.”

Taisiya nodded and stood. Brushing her matted, filthy hair from her blood-stained brow, she smoothed out what remained of her torn dress before she donned her best cruel sneer. Testing her magic, she felt the hum of lightning beneath her skin. It reared up again inside her like a hungry beast, restored by the magic within the amulet. Sparks danced across her skin.

“Perhaps you should heed my husband and I, my brothers-in-law, seeing as how I am the only one here with access to her magic.”

The touch of iron had suppressed their magic the same as it had Mereruka’s. Here, her lightning reigned supreme. Radjedef and Serfka were silent at her threat, eyeing her warily.

“Radjedef, you swore not to do harm to me or mine. I consider insubordination and spreading my husband’s secrets to be harm. So, you will either keep your mouth shut or our deal is off, and I will take out my anger on a very specific person currently under my guardianship. Understood?”

“But you swore!”

“As did you! Do not test me!” Taisiya shouted back, punctuating her anger with a crackle of lightning.

Radjedef’s glare was positively mutinous. The bastard would no doubt look for the first loophole to betray her and Mereruka. Taisiya sighed. She’d hoped to use this for something a little more grand, but it seemed the time had come.

“I’m calling in my favour.”

The magic between her and Radjedef pulled at the centre of her. Heavy, invisible chains snapped tight at her words. He grunted and nodded, silent.

“You will swear your ultimate loyalty to me, using your true name, knowing that if you seek to betray me, you will accept whatever punishment I decide to grant, irrespective of any other deals we make or have made.”

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