The Comatose Beast's Midnight Rival
By @john1208
My Tuesday morning was going perfectly - I was in my pajamas eating pistachio baklava - until my stepmother kicked down my door, slapped a ruby-encrusted veil over my head, and tossed me into a bridal palanquin. My half-sister was supposed to marry Tariq al-Ruz, the comatose 'Beast of Zaribad,' to wash away his bad luck. Instead, I got the job. I expected a miserable life. Instead, I got an endless supply of silk gowns, mountains of gold, and absolute authority over his estate. Being a substitute bride is a breeze! It leaves me plenty of time to sneak out at night and search for rare herbs to suppress my chaotic witchcraft. There's just one problem: the Shadow Sultan, the ruthless ruler of Zaribad's underworld, keeps stealing my bounties. We've become bitter midnight rivals, trading spells and insults on the rooftops. But lately, I've noticed something strange. The masked Sultan smells exactly like the expensive sandalwood oil I massage into my comatose husband’s hands. And why does my trusted magical mentor suddenly seem so desperate for Tariq to stay asleep? If my husband wakes up, will I lose my spoiled life, or gain the deadliest partner in the city?
1
