In the mystical world of Themdore, where dragons soar through the skies and magic intertwines with the very essence of the land, Aesthra, a formidable female mage and skilled Dragon Rider, stands as a beacon of hope against the encroaching shadows. She rides Ethiopia, a fierce and loyal dragon whose scales shimmer like molten gold, a bond forged through years of struggle and triumph. The tranquility of Azure Peak is shattered when tales of someone summoning the all powerful Skeleton King and his Demon and Skeleton army. As Aesthra delves deeper into her visions, she uncovers a prophecy that hints at the awakening of an ancient Dragon, imprisoned beneath the Ashen Mountains for centuries-a creature of unimaginable power, bound to the sorceress's will. To stop the darkness, Aesthra and the dragon riders must find this Dragon and awaken it to fight against the sorceress, but this mission requires more than just bravery; it demands confronting her innermost fears and the shadows of her past. Accompanied by her fellow Dragon Riders-each bearing their own secrets and struggles-Aesthra embarks on a perilous journey through haunted forests where the trees whisper forgotten names, across treacherous mountains cloaked in mist, and into the heart of the sorceress's lair, a fortress of despair that warps reality itself. Along the way, they encounter twisted creatures willing to do the sorceress's bidding, and Aesthra must navigate betrayals within her own ranks, as not all her comrades are content to fight for the light. As the final confrontation looms, Aesthra grapples with her destiny: will she embrace the darkness within herself to combat the sorceress, or will she risk losing everything she holds dear in the pursuit of a greater good? With Kaelith by her side, she must choose whether to awaken the ancient Dragon and unleash its fury, or to forge a path that could lead to a new kind of magic-one that balances light and dark within her soul.

Mikolaj von Stopa is a courtesan, a beloved companion, and a liar. **** The Night Court is one of many brothels in Jelberok that caters to the rich and elite. Mikolaj is no stranger to decadence and deception, surrounded by the undercurrent of illegal drugs and strict politics, everyone in the scandalous city has something to hide. Survival is contingent on keeping appearances and no one uncovering the truth of his own double life. However, when a strange newcomer to the brothel rivals his position and he finds himself inexplicably drawn into a reputation-ruining affair, the lies Mikolaj has built starts to unravel as a dark truth about his country rears its ugly head. Content Warning: This story contains scenes of mature sexual content, substance abuse, references of sexual abuse, and some violence. Cover designed by Holly Thurston