Page 39 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Vadik nodded.

“Be good to her. Vows or not, I’ll tear you to pieces if you break her heart.”

“Only if you get to him first,” Sonya chimed in with a smile.

Zephyros began looking a little uncomfortable before Taisiya cleared her throat, bringing everyone’s attention back to the centre of the room.

“The customary threats can happen after the ceremony. Milena, Zephyros, stand on the heart.”

“Heart?” Zephyros sputtered, his eyes going wide at the glittering gem.

“It’s a dragon’s heart, Zeph.” Milena grinned.

“Ah, of course,” he said, clearly overwhelmed.

“Now, cross the heart,” Taisiya said.

The two stood in the centre and walked a few steps to opposite ends of the gem. They turned, following the curve until they stood on opposite sides once more. Then, as the magic began to wake, they stepped back into the centre. Pressure began pressing down from all over. Mereruka could feel the weight in his very soul. More old magic. He stood, rapt with wonder.

Milena pulled a knife from her pocket and pricked Zephyros’ finger.

“I, Milena Dragonsblood, vow to take into our clan Zephyros Tempest. From today until his last, I demand his ultimate loyalty.”

The heart began glowing in response to her words, lighting the couple in its eerie glow. The magic swelled in the cavern, unlike any Mereruka had ever felt before. Something strange and wild and old slithered across senses he’d never known he’d possessed. Suddenly, he was no prince, no powerful fae with magic coursing through his veins. He was just an animal, skittering prey wandering the dark with something hungry at his back. Bas’s claws dug into his palm.

“Your turn,” Milena whispered.

Zephyros cleared his throat.

“I, Zephyros Tempest, vow my ultimate loyalty to Milena Dragonsblood and the Dragonsblood clan from this day until my last.”

The wind mage pressed his pricked finger to the gem at his feet. The magic in the cavern coalesced in the centre and sank into Zephyros. He gasped and clutched his sides.

Mereruka marvelled at the ancient word-as-bond spell. Swearing upon the actual heart of one’s ancestor hadn’t been practised for tens of thousands of years. How had it survived here, on the cursed continent? How had the dragon’s heart? There were no dragons in Lethe, so far as he knew.

“Zephyros Tempest, from this day forward you are both family and vassal. We will protect you with our lives as you will protect us with your own. From this day until your last, we will keep your secrets and you will keep ours. If this covenant is broken, you will accept punishment by the hand of the Dragonsblood heir,” Taisiya said.

Zephyros turned to look at Vadik, who shook his head and nodded to Taisiya. Mereruka felt as shocked as Zephyros looked. The wicked gleam in Taisiya’s eyes said it all. The heir to an ancient dragon? Mereruka had to have her.

“I understand.” Zephyros bowed his head.

“Great! Now that that’s done, who wants a drink?” Milena asked.

Chapter 19

“Weretheletterssent?”Taisiya asked as she sipped her tea.

“Yes,” Vasilisa answered.

“And the curses?”

“Have already been laid.”

“Excellent.” Taisiya smiled.

Taisiya had just set her trap for whoever it was that kept intimidating the bride candidates. Unbeknownst to any but Taisiya and Vasilisa, the women who received letters to introduce them to the prince were now under the protection of curses. Any who sought to interfere with the meetings would find themselves sticking out like a sore thumb. If Chloe refused the prince, Taisiya would have three more women as backup.

“Why a curse to make them glow? Why not one that causes intense pain?”

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