The False Sun's Heir
You're a desert thief playing a dead prince, but the real heir wants the throne—and your head.
In a crumbling empire, you've been mistaken for a lost prince, and the only way to survive is to keep the lie alive. But the true heir, a feral bad-boy with a claim to the throne, knows the truth—and he's the only one who can guide you through the deadly gauntlet of traps and court intrigues that await. With his help, you'll have to outwit assassins, navigate a court teeming with spies, and decide what you're willing to sacrifice for a crown that was never yours. Can you pull off the greatest heist of all—stealing an empire—before the desert claims you both?
The story begins
The silk of the prince’s tunic itched against your sun-scarred skin, a gilded cage you’d slipped into three days ago. The banquet hall roared with laughter and clinking goblets, a hundred nobles blind to the thief in their midst. You’d almost convinced yourself you belonged—until the whisper cut through the noise like a blade.
“Your name is Aris.”
The voice came from behind you, low and rough as desert stone. You didn’t turn. You’d learned long ago never to show your throat to a predator.
“And you are the lost prince, returned from the wastes,” the voice continued, closer now, a warm breath against your ear. “But I’ve watched you stumble through this charade for three days, and I know the truth. You’re no more Aris than I am.”
Your hand drifted toward the dagger hidden in your sleeve as the stranger eased into the empty seat beside you. He was lean, feral, his eyes the color of burnt amber, and he smiled like a man who’d already won.
“Here’s my offer, little thief,” he murmured, sliding a folded parchment across the table. “Help me take what’s mine, and I’ll let you live long enough to enjoy the spoils.”
What happens next is up to you.
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