Page 148 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Serfka choked in surprise.

“That’s treason! You couldn’t possibly—” Serfka gasped.

“She can and she will. Laws have nothing to do with it,” Mereruka interrupted, a satisfied grin lighting up his marred face.

Taisiya stared Radjedef down until he relented. Kneeling, he made his oath. Just like when she stood over the heart of her ancestor, the magic of a promise seeped into her bones. Radjedef was hers to command now.

“Radjedef, you are now my vassal. I will keep your secrets as you are to keep mine. Mereruka’s tattoos are never to be spoken of again, and you will not voice a word of objection when we take the throne, understand?”

“I understand,” Radjedef grunted.

“But you can’t! It’s forbidden for a royal to swear an oath of loyalty to another member of the royal bloodline!” Serfka sputtered.

“Then it’s a good thing she’s a foreign mage,” Mereruka retorted.

Taisiya ignored him, focusing solely on Radjedef.

“Also, when we do kill Khety, you and the rest of the guards will stay out of our way.”

Radjedef snorted.

“Gladly.”

Taisiya shared a triumphant little glance with her husband. Then she set her sights on Serfka.

“And what are your objections, vizier?”

It was probably not the right question to ask, as he looked like he might pull out a lengthy scroll from the pocket of his sopping kilt. Before he could begin on a blustering, self-righteous tirade, Mereruka cut in.

“Before you answer, Serfka, perhaps my wife should hear the latest secret revealed tonight.”

Taisiya raised a curious brow at her husband.

“Now, just wait a—”

Ignoring Serfka’s protest, Mereruka fairly glowed with unholy glee.

“It seems the vizier and the queen have growncloseto one another. So close, in fact, that Serfka happily stepped into Itet’s trap to secure Betrest’s freedom. For now, Khety seems to be unaware of their tender feelings, but…” Mereruka trailed off, turning predatory eyes on his brother.

Taisiya smiled coyly.

“It would be a shame if Khety was told plainly of the relationship between the two of you. Some might even call such a betrayal… treason. Or am I mistaken in that assumption, Vizier? Is it considered treason to fuck the king’s wife, or just very bad manners?”

Taisiya watched with great satisfaction as the blue-skinned vizier squirmed under her gaze. When she smiled, she knew he’d seen her fangs. Cheeks heating and eyes locked on his sopping wet feet, the Vizier tightened his fists and released a small, nearly inaudible sigh of defeat. It was a beautiful sound.

“What would you have me do?”

“Swear your ultimate loyalty to me. We will spirit both you and Betrest away before Khety realises your illicit relationship. Meri?”

“My wife will gladly accept your oaths now,” Mereruka replied, standing tall and proud once more. It gladdened her to see it.

Serfka choked out his oaths on bended knee.

“Now you just have to kill Khety,” Radjedef scoffed. “Good luck with that. When he sees that we’ve survived, he might just decide to throw caution to the wind and go for your head himself.”

“That is an excellent point,” Mereruka mused.

Taisiya did her best not to be petty by adding that she was surprised he’d thought so far ahead. Unfortunately, he’d spoken true. Khety had been willing to see the only sibling he had any use for drown just to be rid of Mereruka. Now that even his most loyal sibling had been turned fully against him, all bets were off. But that was only if they played this next game fairly. And playing fair was a fool’s game.

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