Page 7 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“None that dare to be open about it.”

A budding spy he may be, but Bas was no mind reader. A pity.

“I hope you have some good news.”

“They intend to let you pick the woman once the first request is refused.”

If he survived their refusal. Hopefully they weren’t all flea-bitten cannibals.

“I suppose I should be grateful for that small mercy.”

Bas was uncharacteristically silent, looking away. Where was his usual sarcastic quip? Surely his adopted son hadn’t left his adolescence behind quite yet. Mereruka reached out and turned Bas’ fuzzy head to face his own. He narrowed his pale yellow eyes as Bas refused to meet them.

“What?” Mereruka demanded.

“Well…It seems they call themselves mages. No one knows what that means exactly, but the trade minister was present when their first envoys arrived and he said they felt…witchy.”

“Gods below,” he croaked.

To have witch magic crawling over his skin for the duration of the mission would be bad enough, but for a lifetime? Intolerable.

“Pray they don’t think to force a vow of lifelong bonding or prohibit divorce.”

Were he in Khety’s place, it’s what he would do. A shiver of revulsion ran down Mereruka’s spine. At least if she were some kind of a witch, she would be dead within a few centuries, stymying his plans all the while. He could always wed an elderly woman, but if they forced a vow to share their lives, he would lose his own life when she died long before him, or be required to share his bargained years just to keep her alive by his side. Neither was acceptable to him. Only the Eternal Serenity could officially take multiple spouses. He’d have to become king for that reason alone. At least if he were forced to take a witch as his wife, not one of Maat’s nobles would question why he sought to kill his brother. Mereruka suppressed the hysterical laugh bubbling up inside him.

“You should just find the most barbaric woman on the continent and unleash her on the court,” Bas hissed as he paced.

Mereruka whipped his head to face Bas. Ideas turned over in his mind. Yes, perhaps he was thinking of this all wrong. If Khety thought to punish him with a cursed, barbarian bride, one with magic that felt like insects skittering across one’s skin, there was no reason the rest of the court shouldn’t also suffer along with him. Surely, the Cursed Continent had an abundance of bloodthirsty women willing to step over the corpses of his foes for the chance to become queen.

Mereruka laughed.

“Perhaps I will. But I have no need of a coarse barbarian. What I need is a shrewd villainess.” He could only hope there were plenty where he was going.

“That… doesn’t sound wise.I take it back!” Bas pleaded, his small paws on Mereruka’s leg.

“Wise is no longer an option. We must be bold, Bas. When we arrive, I’ll have a job for you to do.”

Bas cursed, but nodded nonetheless. Mereruka could hardly wait to choose his future bride.

Chapter 5

Taisiyasippedsweetwinefrom a crystal glass as silk skirts whirled past her in time to a lively tune. The last time she’d danced in this hall she’d been a living puppet, unable to do more than record her surroundings without emotion or agency, such was the effect of the foul ritual. Now that she was here again, it came alive—the enchanted lights floating above, the scents of perfume and sweat, the polite laughs and vicious politicking. The hideously overwhelming amount of imperial red. A sense of triumph bubbled up from the pit of her stomach. The coin they’d spent on sumptuous silk gowns, bold jewellery and gems twinkling in their hair had been worth it. For the first time in a year, they looked like dominae again.

The empress had come through. Taisiya and her siblings had been seated next to the empress’ table, and now Sonya and Daria danced in the arms of men introduced to them by the royal couple. Both were cousins of the emperor, had sizable estates, and assisted in governing the Ruby Province. They also shared the emperor’s features: average height, black hair, warm, terracotta skin and general good looks. If the expressions of their partners were any indication, her sisters were charming the men into proposals between graceful twirls. It was to be expected, since Daria and Sonya had been in close conversations with their mother. Oxsana knew more about the eligible men of Lethe than even the praetor’s spies.

Only Milena remained unpaired.

“Oh! There he is! Let’s catch him before he slips away.”

Milena’s smile was predatory as she pointed out Dominus Zephyros Opal. He stood next to the strategos, a beast mage with tanned skin, exceptional height, incredible brawn and crowned with bullish horns nestled in short, dark hair. Suppressing the sick dread and anger, Taisiya turned her attention to the admiral. He wasn’t especially tall, but he was unquestionably handsome with short, curly, blue-black hair, dark eyes and light brown skin, tanned from his many days in the sun.

“Keep an eye on him,” Taisiya replied.

She scanned the crowd for the royal couple and spotted the empress not far from the towering Illustra Iliana, a tawny-skinned, blonde metals mage married to the strategos. She was also the empress’ closest friend and confidante. She was reportedly much more approachable than the empress, but all who had tried to get to Selene through her friend had tasted the empress’ favourite poisons. Iliana had recently been assigned the duties of governing the Protectorate, formerly the Diamond Province, the seat of the imperial palace and its territories. That the former blacksmith was woefully underqualified for such a role was painfully obvious. At least it was to everyone but the empress.

“Follow me.”

Taisiya and her sister wove through the crowd on the periphery of the dance. When they stood before the empress and illustra, Taisiya and Milena curtsied low.

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