When Teal helps an injured soldier by hand-delivering a scroll to the Emperor, he is offered a place in the Emperor's harem. Teal is of Lombock descent however, a cannibalistic race of beings who were believed to have died out. Having grown up on the outskirts of the Empire, Teal finds adjusting to life as the Emperor's concubine difficult, especially when he starts to fall for the Emperor's number one concubine instead. As he begins to learn about his origins, he also stumbles on old dark secrets; traitorous spies, unfinished disputes, and old enemies from neighboring kingdoms hide in plain sight within the palace walls, all threatening to ignite Teal's true identity and with it, cause the return of a race of beings who once controlled the world with horrific consequences. The only way out? A possible alliance with a defiant and strong-willed princess and a group of magical assassins who wish to control the world as they see fit. (Contains mature content) This story was inspired while reading the book "Emperor Dowager Cixi" by Jung Chang. Quite a bit of Ancient Roman politics also inspired/influenced me. Word Length: approx. 176,000 Art work for cover purchased from Canstock: by 'AtelierSommerland'