Page 20 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“If only they knew,” Mereruka sighed as he emerged from the bath, refreshed. He dried, dressed and plaited his hair with a strand of magic. “I want you to find out as much as you can about the ambassador and a noblewoman called Domina Chloe Emerald. What are they known for? Are they politically savvy? Do they have a history of crossing people for gain? I’ll do my best to feel them out, and both seem suitable, but I’d rather be certain.”

“I take it you’re not worried about your upcoming marriage anymore.”

“I’ve secured myself a bride already, one that doesn’t make me ill. I’m just deciding if the others she presents to me are better.”

“I guess she made a deal with you.” Bas made a face that left little doubt as to his disdain.

“She promised me a boon if she fails,” Mereruka replied, choosing a flashy collar necklace, latticed ear caps, golden cuffs, jewelled rings and a thick gemstone belt for the day ahead.

“And you didn’t explain that she would be the boon. That’s twisted, you know that, right? Carrying women off as part of a bargain is considered archaic.”

“Maybe, but it’s also effective.”

“And barbaric. You’ll get what you deserve one of these days. This is why everyone thinks the fae are shifty bastards.” Bas shook his head. “Alright, I’m off. Enchant the twine again. I passed by a room and the spell broke. Had to dodge a bunch of angry servants for the next hour. Stray cats aren’t nearly as welcome here.”

Mereruka thought over this latest bit of news as Bas transformed into a cat. His own broken glamour from the night before weighed heavily on his mind. He shuddered at the thought of having his whole body revealed. It was a spell that fae knew instinctively, almost from the moment of birth. Most fae walked around with some form of it, concealing anything from a crooked nose to a monstrous form. Breaking a glamour or seeing through it was not something the wise usually tried.

“Stay clear of the emperor. I think he might be a null,” Mereruka said.

“That would explain the broken spell. Try to take your own advice for once. If the ministers see your bare skin, you can kiss your shot at being king goodbye. See you this evening?”

Mereruka nodded and spelled the twine tied around Bas’ neck to hide him from any eyes not his own. The shifter strutted over to the balcony and leapt into the branches of the tree below. Just in time, too. A knock on the door signalled the end of his reprieve.

Chapter 12

Thingsweregoingwrong.

The first inkling was when one of the women didn’t show up for her appointment with the prince. Taisiya had waited like a fool for the silly girl to arrive, only to be informed—by hastily scrawled letter—that she’d had a change of heart. It was a humiliation she wouldn’t soon forgive.

As a result, Taisiya found herself showing Prince Mereruka around the imperial gardens herself instead of filling his schedule with more bride-candidate meetings. In the meantime, Vasilisa was busy trying to discover if the insult was meant to make Taisiya lose face, or if something else was at play. She had too much riding on this bargain to fail.

As it turned out, stewing in her frustration was a good distraction from her discomfort around the prince. Try as she might, she couldn’t forget what she’d seen last night. Mercifully, the prince had been too drunk to remember it, if his cheerful demeanour today was any indication.

“And what is this ugly little patch?” Mereruka asked as they passed by several flower beds ringed by low, pretty wooden fences but populated by straggling malodourous plants.

“These are the empress’ poison gardens. The emperor finally relented after she threatened to start a menagerie of venomous creatures. I believe he saw the wisdom in allowing a few creeping vines rather than contend with a variety of insects and snakes.”

“Naturally, no palace is complete without a garden dedicated to murder,” Mereruka quipped, his brow raised at some of the specimens on display.

“The empress is nothing if not unique. I don’t think she can help it, being a poison mage,” Taisiya replied.

“That’s one word for it,” Mereruka muttered. “Speaking of the empress, why is it that she said there are no princesses here? I’ve heard you’re half-sisters. Doesn’t that make you a princess of sorts?”

Taisiya’s breath hitched. She hated that she was related to Selene, despite how much she required the poison mage’s assistance. But that was a temporary affliction. Soon, she wouldn’t need the bitch.

“It doesn’t,” she snapped, inviting no further inquiry.

“Have I hit a sore spot? Forgive me. I have some familiarity with complicated family dynamics.”

Was he baiting her? She stopped her stride and glared up at him.

“What, precisely, have you heard?” she asked, pulling her hand from his arm.

“Was my fishing expedition too obvious? I thought I was being rather suave.” He winked.

“It was, and you weren’t.” She crossed her arms.

His grin went from charming to wolfish. He circled her like he’d caught the scent of fresh blood.

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