ooftop overlooking the House of Golden Birds, where oil lamps cast lewd shadows against li

ms as laughter floated up from the courtyard below. A gir

ed behind the screen. "The king gifts his favorites with...fresh stoc

quiet on the balcony. The screen door slid open with a whisper. Inside, the air clung thick

she s

hat showed the bruises beneath. Her eyes, when they lifted, held none of the spar

o her knees, hands ou

saw the collar - delicate gold links tight around her th

outh as the door slid open. A man entered, his silk robes parting

the guards behind him. When his gaze fell on Adann

nts later, their throats flowering crimson. But the real horr

, small fists pounding. "He was nice! He brought

terror in her sister's eyes. This wasn't rescue. Not yet.

h the district, Imani dragged them both

h's corpse. An idea took shape - terrible and perf

thirty

rranged in a grotesque tableau - the eunuch's severed manhood stuffed in his mouth, hi

men are