Lumi crouched beside the basin. Her fingers trembled as she scattered dry herbs into the steaming water. Fabric rustled, then fell upon the wooden floorboards in a muted thud behind her. An unmistakable presence loomed.

  "You look good on your knees."

  Her cheeks burned. She gripped the edge of the basin, her knuckles white. Her lips parted with a retort, and then—Bite your tongue, Lumi.

  A chill racked up her spine as the voice slithered through her mind.

  You'll need to be pleasant if you're going to pry anything useful out of him.

  It was true. She had little to go on so far. She learned his father's death had thrust him onto the throne. Surely, that wasn't a secret. It was probably common knowledge. She needed to dig deeper.

  "How kind of you to say," she grit out.

  A belt unbuckled behind her, followed by the slow pull of leather sliding free. A wave of pleasure twirled through her, making the spot between her legs pulsate. She kept her attention fixed on the water.

  "Did you do as I instructed?"

  "I'm preparing your bath—"

  "Not that," he interrupted, "My request about the tea."

  Another piece of fabric hit the floor—his slacks. Every nerve in her body was aflame. She had no right to feel such warmth in his presence. No right, at all.

  "I did as you asked."

  "Good girl." Delight curled through his tone. She felt that in her center. The emperor thoroughly enjoyed her obedience.

  Two heavy clunks echoed across the room as his boots dropped to the ground. Then quiet. Silence stretched for a beat too long before he asked, "Have you noticed any changes?"

  The voice in her head expelled an eerie chuckle.

  "I'm perfectly fine," Lumi bit out, giving the water another stir.

  "Is that so?"

  "Yes," she snapped, "I'm the same as I've always been."

  The floor creaked beneath the weight of his approach. Lumi's breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the rim of the basin. Rook stepped around her, circling like a predator, until he stood on the other side of the tub. She could no longer avoid his presence—or the sight of him.

  Golden skin glistened in the dim light, marred by streaks of dried blood and sweat. His body was strong, muscles honed. Lumi's gaze faltered. Before she could stop herself, her eyes connected with the space between his legs.

  Heat crawled up her neck.

  She had nothing to compare it to, no reference for what was normal, but even she could tell—he was well-endowed. Thick and long, his cock hung heavily between powerful legs.

  Rook stepped into the bath. One leg first, then the other. Water surged and spilled over the edge as he sank into its depths. He stretched out like a king on his throne, limbs sprawling, utterly at ease.

  When Lumi met his stare, those dark eyes were already on her. They glinted with amusement, the corners of his mouth curling into a lazy, insufferable grin.

  "If I were to experience changes," she began, voice steadier than she felt, "What would they be?"

  Rook relaxed, letting his head rest against the rim of the tub. The slosh of water filled the silence. "Mugwort is a sedative. A remedy for pain. A numbing agent used in medical practices."

  Stolen story; please report.

  Blood swirled through the basin, its crimson tendrils spreading like smoke. Lumi dipped a cloth into the water, letting it soak up the soapy suds.

  "I've been drinking that tea every morning for three years." She dragged the cloth over his shoulder, "I've been fine."

  Fine, was vague enough to be true. She'd endured the days when her body felt like lead, her bones like anchors, pushing her into the earth. But wasn't that just life? Wasn't everyone crushed by the weight of existence?

  "Mugwort has...other effects," Rook said, gaze never leaving her, "Particularly for those with god-magic in their veins."

  Lumi's hand paused mid-swipe. "God-magic?" Her throat tightened, "You mean the gifted?"

  "Yes. The gifted. But they aren't the only ones."

  Her brows knit together. "I don't understand."

  "The gifted are humans who were blessed by the gods, but that magic, Lumi—it didn't begin with humans. It's older—far older."

  Lumi blinked, her mind grasping fragments of half-remembered whispers. Tales spun by drunken sailors in the taverns of Port Bram. But those were legends, weren't they?

  "Ten thousand years ago, Yoz, god of the sea, and Boa, goddess of the sky created our world. The immortals were made first—before the sun, or the moon. Back when chaos was absolute."

  Lumi dipped the cloth back into the water before continuing her strokes along his muscled back.

  "For eight thousand years, the immortals roamed alone. They sculpted mountains, carved rivers, crafted forests where there was nothing but void. Then, two thousand years ago, the gods stirred from their slumber and created the other races—merfolk, witches, giants, humans. All born from god-magic. All but the humans. We were made fragile, weak, magic-less. A cruel oversight, perhaps.

  "The gods took pity on us. To make us strong like the others, they blessed humans with fragments of their power."

  "Gifts," Lumi concluded.

  "Indeed. At the beginning, there were as many gifts as there were humans. But as our numbers grew, the gifts diluted. Now, they're rare—a fifth of us, if that. Those who are gifted are slaughtered for sport. Or worse, they rise to power and use their gifts to crush those beneath them."

  Lumi's lips parted with a gasp. Her mind went to the fiancé who disappeared in the middle of the night, then to Lady Sol and General Sivan, who used their gifts to spread their control over others.

  "Mugwort," Rook continued, "Suppresses god-magic. What I'd like to know is..." his eyes burned into hers, "Why would someone want to keep yours hidden?"

  The herbal aroma wafting through the room became stifling all at once, "So, what you're saying is...you think I'm gifted."

  "I don't think," Rook drawled, "I know. Your master wouldn't be spiking your tea otherwise."

  None of that explained the voice. The ancient presence trapped inside her mind. She still had questions, far too many.

  Rook seemed to have a few of his own. He watched her, silent but intent, as she ran the cloth down the expanse of his arm. Heat crept up her neck as she scrubbed the gore from his massive fingers. She had forgotten how large he was—how solid. His hand was twice the size of hers, and that detail made her belly tighten.

  "You said you've been drinking the tea every morning for three years," his voice held an edge of curiosity, "Is that how long you've been working for Sol."

  Lumi tipped her chin down in confirmation.

  "How did you end up here?"

  Struck with the hollowness of not knowing, she felt herself frown. He didn't need to know of her stolen history. She settled for a brief, "It's hard to explain."

  "I have time."

  "I wouldn't want to bore you."

  "You don't bore me."

  Her throat tightened. She busied herself with the task at hand, avoiding the weight of his stare, "Port Bram is all I've ever known."

  His thick brows furrowed, "You grew up here?"

  "Maybe."

  Just as she dipped his hand into the soapy water, he used it to clutch her own. The warmth of his skin seeped into her, the strength of his grip unyielding. She found herself caught in his stare once more. Like staring into an endless abyss.

  "You don't remember, do you?"

  Lumi stiffened. How did he know? That single, fractured part of her she'd only ever shared with Kit—and Lady Sol, though she hadn't had a choice there.

  "How far back does your memory go?"

  Her pulse thundered in her ears. Every instinct urged her to retreat, to deflect, to lie. Knowledge was a weapon, and Rook already held too much of it. She would not arm him further.

  His grip eased. She knelt beside the tub, dragging the cloth over his chest in firm strokes. She was possessed by every scar and freckle.

  Her hand moved lower, dipping into the water. The warmth licked at her skin as her fingers brushed the taut muscles of his abdomen. She felt him tense beneath her touch, heard a rushed breath escape him.

  "You're avoiding," he grumbled.

  "I'm simply doing my job," she shot back, her tone flat as she continues her task.

  Traveling lower, her knuckles grazed against something firm. She stilled her movements, swallowing hard. Slowly, deliberately, she abandoned the cloth. Her bare hand slid over him, fingers curling in a firm, commanding grip.

  Rook sucked in a breath. The predator becoming the prey.

  Lumi's lips twitched as she ran her fist all the way up his length, then back down. She'd heard enough from Kit to know the truth about men—they thought with their cocks, not their minds.

  The power was in her hands now, and she intended to wield it.

  a/n: hi friends! did you like this chapter? ahhh I can't wait for you to read the next one, and the one after that. things get hot and heavy between lumi and rook and im blushing just thinking about it. don't forget to leave me some love by voting on this chapter or leaving me an avocado emoji in the comments, or (preferably) both. your engagement helps with the algorithm and shows more readers my book and I would really really appreciate it.

  im currently writing chapter 36 and can I just say I am so obsessed with where this story is going. no spoilers, but ahhhh.

  also I know I say this every week, but here goes again. if you want to unlock early access to chapters, you can find me on patreon.

  tysm for reading, I so appreciate it (: