Space politics sends The Protector on a mission, the failure of which could result in mass destruction. When her mission is sabotaged, the man bred from birth to be a Protector must leave his lover in order to carry out his duty. However, before he leaves, he promises to meet the white-haired H’asean at Asphodel’s Pit, one of the most dangerous dives in all the known universes, sending him off with Protector’s Brachi friend.<br><br>Meanwhile, at Asphodel’s Pit, inhabitants of other planets are going about their business. Sloff runs the dive, along with his old friend Rinig sa Bre, who provides security. Both men are unaware all hell in on the verge of breaking loose, as a Protector is about to arrive, looking for his young sir.

I Will Meet You at Asphodel's Pit

“You had the perfect opportunity to kill him, and you let it pass you by?” His sister’s voice was strident. “What good did your sacrificedo me? I was still taken by that woman to be an incubator for Thresia.”


“It gave you enough time to bribe the ship’s cargo mate. He betrayed his oath to his captain—”


“That fool. As if I would have gone with him.”


“You bribed him with your body?” He looked appalled and disgusted.


“Even he would have been better than the Thresian prince. As for those promises—they would never have been fulfilled.”


She hunched a shoulder, her face an implacable mask, and looked away. “The more fool he then, to think he could possess one of H’asea.”


Hssa touched Jax’s arm. “Come. Her mind is locked on her own path—there is nothing you can do to change it.”


“To Asphodel’s Pit. Didn’t Havoc tell you to meet him there?”


Chapter 4