that never cried. The palace, lit with torches

the table, untouched. The wine in his goblet was full.

ghts wer

Her betrayal rang fresh in his memories, a

now what to

ck came at

it creaked open-and ente

all draped in silk, bare shoulders glowing u

stepping forward, "you

the side, whispering, "Let us re

s lips, while Eshara knelt before

n't move

ng to drown his o

r whispers, their hunger-they wrapped around him like

the candles died, and their la

, in the serv

sat s

d had been brought since morning. Her stomach twisted in