Ishvari trembled, hating every word, yet knowing the old Priestess would never lie, especially when it concerned the fate of her beloved Melukhha.

“By the gods, sweetling,” Inanna exclaimed. “Your lack of guile draws a dangerous flood of words out of me! Will you promise me something in return for my brilliant insights? Yes? All I ask of you is that until the demons have been routed, you do exactly as Ketaki says. Agreed?”

Ishvari nodded miserably.

“So you want to know why our dear king won’t touch you, eh?” A sardonic smile lifted the corner of her lips. “Well, to begin with, and for all her physical perfection, your predecessor was a guttering oil lamp and their maithuna stank of mediocrity. Takshak never bothered...

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