As the fever raged on inside him throughout the night, clouding his mind between sleep and wake, Emperor Jai turned to the warm body next to his time and time again.

Bryony, lost in the sensations of the flesh and seeking rescue from the storm, reveled in the new feelings he’d awakened in her and accepted him into her body time and time again without consequence.

It was only as the wind quieted outside the small cottage and it no longer felt like the world was coming to an ...