I wasn't always wicked. Once, I loved. I will not make that mistake again. Wed to the highest ruler of the known world, I was once expected to bear the septuplets who would save us all. I failed. Now I am a spurned queen, aging and barren. My chambers echo with emptiness and madness while my king, the faithless cur, takes lover after lover, Yet he will not let me escape, commanding a spell to be cast that chains me to life. At last, an insurmountable heartache drives me to flee to the scrapheap of the city. In that place of unloved things, I find a cracked window upon the grass, and in that window forms the sharp face of a gray, fanged monster. The shadow-hungry king. Our ancient enemy. He offers me a bargain: if I vow to him some unspecified future favor, he swears that I will bear the septuplets. As my reward, he fills my palms with magic: a vial that swarms with hundreds of enchantments, worms of light that enable me to spy upon anyone I wish. What pathetic, magicless wreck such as I would not accept this gift? Let those around me lie to my face now. Let them scorn me behind my back. With the monster's magic, I will look straight into their hearts. Venture into a bitter queen's glittering court, where dreams glisten while the wicked listen... CONTENT WARNINGS: Aside from the requisite killing and violence present in most fantasy, this has near SA (aborted by the assailant), mentions of suicide and suicide ideation, mention of violent domestic abuse, mentions of miscarriages and stillbirths, one baby's soul taken out, one magical abortion of babies that turn out to be monsters, and cremation of a very, very bad man. COMFORT WARNING: There is a very cute dog. I am not a dog person, yet here we are. My cat is Very Put Out at this.