"Secrets, Scars, and the Serpent's Truth"

"Entering the dungeon?"

Violet had a bad feeling about this.

She stared at Eros... that feeling only got worse.

Eros sat comfortably within the large, dimly lit tent, the flickering glow of soul-lamps dancing on the thick walls of enchanted fabric.

Before him, seated awkwardly across the low ceremonial table, were Violet and Alexis—two women of nobility, draped now not in their pride, but uncertainty and wariness.

By each of Eros' sides were his two masked women—Amanda and Ngozi. Their bodies pressed close against him in a way that made Violet's eyes twitch involuntarily.

Amanda, with her warm brown skin and slitted amber eyes—easily seen through her mask, gently stroked Eros' arm with languid fingers, trailing faint circular patterns. Ngozi mirrored the act on the other side, resting her cheek briefly on his shoulder every now and then.

The two of them looked like priestesses worshiping an unspoken god.