Roksolana cursed under her breath as she sat down. If it weren't for her running mouth, she wouldn't be in this mess. Why had she even thought of exerting revenge this way, knowing that the Sultan could easily turn the table on her? And she knew that she couldn't refuse the man unless she was ready to suffer twice as much pain.

As she picked up the spoon, she prayed the rice wasn't too salty and the pepper she had put in the soup wasn't much. She felt her eyes water as she chewed the ...