Page 36 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Taisiyawipedanerranttear from her eye as Milena and Zephyros swore their marriage vows in Theodore’s small home in the capital. They were so very clearly in love. She wondered why Milena had never said anything about the dominus to their father.

“She looks beautiful,” Charis sighed.

“Your father is looking at her with at least as much love as the groom,” Taisiya replied.

Charis and Mina chuckled. Magister Opal had finally managed to see one of his sons settled. Zephyros wasn’t Opal’s heir, but as it stood, he was the only one likely to produce any grandchildren. She could see the magister dreaming about baby clothes and the names of tutors.

Aside from the immediate families and their partners, no one else had been invited to the wedding. The magister had managed to get his other sons to attend, though it had been a near thing. After the ceremony, alcohol and food was served. In the main atrium, the men moved the furniture to make way for dancing. Daria produced her violin, saved from the looters, and played merry tunes for everyone to dance to until the guests were too tired to do much more than hobble back to their own properties in the capital.

When everyone had left except Taisiya’s family and the wedded couple, Milena plopped down beside Taisiya on the couch, her brow slicked with sweat.

“That was perfect,” she beamed.

“Good. You deserved it.” Taisiya wrapped her arm around Milena and tugged her close.

“So, are we going to do it or not?” Milena asked.

Taisiya raised her brows.

“Are you certain? We can wait a few years, when you know him better. When he’s proven himself.”

Milena shook her head.

“He’s ready to really be one of us. Trust me.”

Milena could be terribly impulsive when the mood hit her, but she was calm and confident about this. She knew the consequences if Zephyros proved false.

“Alright. I’ll tell Mama. Vasilisa?”

Vasilisa stepped from a shadow.

“Congratulations, Milena.” Vasilisa nodded.

“Thank you!”

“Vasilisa, we’re going to the graveyard. Will you and your father retrieve the portal?”

“Of course.” She grinned. “Hell of a wedding night you have planned.”

“The bride gets what she wants.” Taisiya smiled. “And have someone fetch Uncle Vadik. He should be there.”

Vadik, born a beast mage, had spent his life pretending not to be related to their family. No one would have expected their grandfather, a king, to allow such a child to live, much less raise him in secret under the guise of being a household servant. But the Dragonsbloods were almost entirely a canny lot, and their grandfather’s ploy had ensured that, even though he and all his other children and relatives died in the Great War, both Grigori and Vadik had survived to continue the family line. Even now, should Taisiya’s branch of the family fall, Vadik’s would continue.

Vasilisa nodded before she melted back into the void.

Taisiya took a deep breath. It would be her first time being in charge of the vows as the designated heir, and the one charged with carrying out the execution if Zephyros failed to swear or uphold them. She prayed Milena’s instincts about her new husband were right.

“Does he know what we’ll be doing tonight?”

“As much as he can know before it’s done,” Milena answered.

“Poor man. He’s in for a rude awakening.” Taisiya smiled.

Mereruka and Bas had been stuck hiding in the attic until the wedding wound down and the wind mage sons of Magister Opal had left, taking their witchy magic with them. Getting any closer would have tipped them off that a fae was nearby. Luckily, the newest addition to Taisiya’s family wasn’t one of those so afflicted.

Mereruka had spelled himself and Bas to remain hidden from sight from all except each other. The spell would last until the break of dawn. Mereruka hoped it would give them enough time to see why Taisiya had demanded privacy.

“This is ridiculous. It’s a small wedding. She just didn’t want outsiders joining in,” Bas grouched.

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