1 Bookmark by Yventide
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Summary
The Empire is winning the war. In the wake of his master's death, Volstrucker Bren ascended to Archmage of Civil Influence, but he's been secretly undermining the Empire by feeding intelligence to the Mighty Nein, a group of adventurers fighting for peace. When his rival and friend the Shadowhand is captured, Bren acts on the only idea that will spare a Kryn politician from execution: claiming him as a war prize.
Bren and Essek are forced to perform a fake politican/concubine relationship, including all the tension and jingoism it entails, while taking advantage of their circumstances to spy on and steal from the court around them. Bren may wield the leash, but Essek has cards up his sleeve, and even so, Bren fears hurting Essek almost as much as Essek fears losing Bren. Their mutual trepidation must graduate to mutual trust — maybe even love — if they have any hope of surviving the lie they started.
Bookmarked by Yventide
01 May 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
Dark political espionage fic w/Forced-Concubine-Essek. Both Essek & Caleb are trans-men, and the author's expansion of the society built around Luxon's "consecution" mechanic gave me such euphoria! Fic incomplete, but hopefully ongoing!