Page 42 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Purple, then. The marks will fade when the marriage ceremony is complete. Until then, don’t get any ideas, wife,” he taunted her as he strolled from the room.

Taisiya cursed aloud the moment the door was shut, beating the pillow on the bed in impotent rage until the feathers erupted. Initial outburst dealt with, she calmed herself by pacing. She’d made many plans. She’d failed spectacularly. It was time to do what any Dragonsblood was expected to, and make new ones.

Chapter 20

“She’sdefinitelygoingtotry to kill you after the ceremony, if her family doesn’t first,” Bas drawled as he lay on Mereruka’s bed, his arms crossed behind his head.

Mereruka chuckled. He was soaking in the bathing pool, relaxing after a very satisfying morning. The many fae of the delegation were busy expending vast amounts of magic festooning the palace with the appropriate decorations. All, of course, after the very flustered and queasy praetor had hastily agreed to allow the use of the space, if only to get Mereruka out of his presence.

“Maybe. I’ll just have to convince her that being Queen of Maat is better than being a wealthy ambassador of the Cursed Continent.”

“Do you really think she’s the descendent of a dragon?” Bas asked.

“A very distant one, if she is. It’s more likely her people found the graveyard and claimed a relationship once they discovered some of the heart’s properties.”

He hoped he was wrong though. Even a far-distant relative of a dragon was good lineage by Maat’s exacting standards.

“You’re going to have to make it up to her, this whole shady bargain business. Otherwise, she might just let you make her queen and then decide she doesn’t need you.”

Mereruka laughed.

“Maat would never accept a lone mage ruling a kingdom of fae and shifters.”

“Just like they’d never accept a tattooed fae as their king?” Bas retorted.

“That’s fair.” Mereruka grimaced. Some traditions needed to die, and that was one of them. Thankfully, he knew who he had to kill to put it to bed for good. All in good time. “Enough lounging. Let’s show these uncultured mages what a real royal wedding looks like.”

The whole of the palace had been overrun by strange and awesome magics. Pillars had been replaced by moss-covered, breathing giants, rearing golden horses, curiously silent, rainbow-hued waterfalls and other fantastical creations. The walls themselves were splashed with vibrant new colours in swirling motifs. The ceilings radiated daylight. The floors had become a living, moving scene of a tranquil, decorative pond, complete with brightly coloured, swimming fish and the illusion of ripples wherever one stepped. Strange and fragrant florals had sprouted within the past hour, perfuming the halls. The very air seemed to sparkle with gold dust and various crushed jewels. The mages of Lethe were, almost to a man, captivated with childlike wonder or struck with terrible fear.

Taisiya considered the beautiful fae wedding decorations and the festive atmosphere to be no more than hideous deceit. What would become the main processional hallway had been repainted with lies, a story told in moving paintings of a courtship that had never taken place, of a gallant prince and a swooning redhead. She would kill him for that alone. Magister Emerald would never forgive her. If she ever returned, she would never live down the shame of being a husband-stealing would-be matchmaker.

There was no joy in her heart on her wedding day, only sick trepidation at what lay ahead. And fury.

Milena picked at the airy fabrics of the twenty teal wedding gowns arrayed on mannequins and crammed into their receiving parlour, each in that flowing, revealing style favoured by the fae women of Maat. Zephyros knocked on the door and entered.

“Did you bring it, Zeph?” Milena asked.

“Yes.”

Taisiya sighed.

“Alright, sit down and grab a spoke each. Vasilisa hasn’t returned yet.”

Vasilisa was still busy hunting down a man who would hopefully divulge the name of his master. Taisiya wished to be rid of the bastard whose actions had forced her into this damned sham of a wedding. It was only a shame she hadn’t been present to feed Mereruka to the void.

Zephyros pulled a large silver ring with a number of sharp spokes from his satchel. They sat down in an informal circle and grabbed one handle each. It was spelled to ensure only those touching it would hear the words they spoke. With Vasilisa gone, Taisiya couldn’t be certain there wouldn’t be any spies present.

“As you probably guessed, I was the boon he demanded,” Taisiya began.

“Why didn’t you kill him?” Milena asked.

“You mean aside from not wanting to start a war?” Zephyros asked.

“Aside from that, my magic is sealed so long as my intent is to harm him. I can’t even pick up a knife. My fingers go numb and it slips from my hand every time I try. I can’t do anything to harm him until the marriage ceremony is complete, or so he says,” Taisiya answered.

“We’re not restricted by that, though,” Milena pointed out.

“Still a potential for war,” Zephyros said.

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