The Blessed Children and the Girl on Fire

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A foreigner sat on the throne and Reta smiled.
The first rule Mama Waraj taught her;
Don't ever go out at night. Don't let the vengeful moon grace you skin or you'll go mad. Certainly don't turn around and face death's hand. The Shanti, were creatures of smoke and misery. None had a clue where they came from.

The Bonulu Empire was cursed with the rippling shadows that plagued their grounds when the sun fell. And without their magic, they couldn't do a thing except hide indoors. Praying for a blessing from the Queen of Spiders to bestow a silk letter with their name so they'd escape their cold sweats and puking nights hiding.

The Queen's silk became the most sought after commodity-more than oil and iron itself. The only woman that still had magic thrumming in her veins. The wealthiest queen to ever exist. And Reta Falcon would at last be blessed at the queen's ceremony alongside her best friends, Nahko and Renshua. Where'd they take on more than just her spider silk. The Blessed Children of the Underworld Institutes would become soldiers of the dark.

The creatures of the night was the only thing they could all rally together to wash away the shadows and bring peace and light to their kingdom.

In a palace where none trusts the other, hatred behind every smile and courtesy, it was hard to tell if Reta was in love with the enemy of the night or if she just liked them better than the blessed crew of the Queen's castle.