Page 90 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“She doesn’t smell like dragon kin,” Bas said with wonder.

Mereruka gathered Taisiya in his arms, grateful that she lived. As he looked down at his wife, he began to wonder. Just what in the hellswasa mage?

Chapter 36

Taisiyawokewithafoul tang in her mouth and the haunted citrine eyes of her husband staring intently at her. He chased the servants from the room and returned to her side.

“Meri?” she croaked.

“You must be thirsty,” he said, proffering a glass in an instant.

He helped her sit up and drink. The liquid was bliss on her throat, washing away the taste on her tongue. Her mind muddled, she simply leaned against him, head cushioned by his chest. In that moment she simply breathed him in, existed, warm and safe in his arms. She placed a hand over his heart, surprised to find it hammering. He wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed. As sleep faded and the waking world came into sharper focus, she noticed the distinct feel of bare skin grazing her bare nipple. Finding herself nude, Taisiya froze. She might have blushed, but for the memory of a blade sinking into her.

“What happened?”

Mereruka tensed, releasing a shaky breath.

“We were cursed the moment we fell asleep in this bed. We sleepwalked into the desert, where the former nomarch’s heir planned to kill us. You woke first and he stabbed you. Bas and Vasilisa found and saved us. We removed the blade and you fainted. But when we returned, we discovered that the blade had also been cursed. Corruption is foul magic, illegal even for a royal to use, and incurable by normal fae magic. Only dragon blood or healing light can cure it. We were able to procure some.”

Taisiya took a moment to absorb it all. The shock must be numbing her. She couldn’t find it in her to feel fear or anger.

“I guess we’re not dragons after all,” she quipped.

Mereruka was on her in the blink of an eye, looming over her, her wrists captured in his hands. He pressed her down with the weight of his body as his violet hair curtained their faces. It was as if the whole world outside had disappeared and she was alone with a man coming undone.

“Don’t… don’t joke,” he said, his voice tight.

He released her wrists without a fuss. Her thumbs stroking his high cheekbones, he leaned into her palm, seeking her comfort. She ran fingers through his silky violet strands, careful of his ears.

“You almost died,” he whispered, tortured.

“I know,” Taisiya replied.

She would never forget it. It took an effort of will to banish the thoughts from her mind.

“I forbid you from dying!” he growled.

Heart skipping a beat, she searched his desperate eyes. Warmth blossomed in her chest, unbidden. This was not the reaction one had for a mere co-conspirator. Could he truly care for her? She felt ashamed to admit that she wanted more than just his respect and the crown their combined efforts would bestow. She wanted his tender feelings, his love, his passion. Gods below, she was well and truly sunk now.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

He hesitated, eyes locked on her lips.

“I don’t think I can be gentle right now.” He swallowed.

“Then don’t be gentle.”

As soon as the words left her, his lips crushed hers. His tongue swept along hers, possessing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, a hand gripping a fistful of his hair, as much a lifeline as a leash. But her husband seemed to have no intention of escape. His violet strands wrapped around her wrist, a silken shackle. When he pulled her close, not even a whisper of air separated them, their bodies melded so that she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. Only his kilt separated them as their legs tangled. Hand shaking as he gripped her, one slid down her waist. She moaned as he slanted his lips across hers, deepening his furious kiss.

This was what she’d always craved, this mindless passion.

“Gods, get a fucking room,” Vasilisa taunted.

Vasilisa’s voice was like a bucket of freezing water, dousing the flame building between them. It appeared she needed a word with her friend about timely entrances and the lack thereof.

Mereruka reluctantly pulled his lips from hers, his tongue sweeping across her bottom lip. Taisiya shivered as his eyes, darkened by lust, continued to stare at her lips, as if he were staring at some great prize. When he turned his face to speak, Taisiya ducked her head against his neck, the better to hide her blush.

“We’reina room, Vasilisa.Ourroom,” he grated between ragged breaths.

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