Lair of the Monster by Shon Mehta

Excerpt from the novel

“Where is he?” Mudita asked the guard.

Mudita was concerned when she didn’t find Emperor Abhik at his usual place.

The guard looked at her, and reluctantly pointed towards a pit some distance away.

As Mudita walked to the pit, she was hit with a strong stench. The pit was open. She looked hard through the dark inside. There was no movement.

“My emperor,” she said softly, careful not to awaken him.

The guard approached her from behind. He was carrying a torch.

There he was. The firstborn of Ativara, the scared toddler, the innocent boy, the abused teenager, the protective brother, the handsome crush, the yearning lover, the arrogant prince, the failed commander, the captured emperor, the fearless captive, the tortured prisoner, and now, a mutilated corpse.