power struggle short stories
Complete stories in this collection, ordered newest first.
The Weight of the Ticket
Gideon manipulates a rigged survival lottery to save his daughter, only to draw the predatory attention of the ferry's administrator.
The Gilded Ledger of Silence
To reclaim his stolen reputation, disgraced curator Enzo must help a predatory director rig a diamond auction using masterful fakes.
The Sovereign's Ledger
Chief Auditor Gabriel Park must forge a colony's financial records or be framed for the theft of twelve thousand crowns.
The Resonance of Debt
To settle a crushing debt, cellist Jasper Kim trades his sanity for forbidden sonic precision, only to fall under a rival's control.
The Gilded Dirge of the Opera
Chief accountant Faye Moreno discovers a massive deficit at the Grand Opera House, only to be blackmailed into covering the theft.
The Final Chord of Betrayal
Jury chair Carmen Vega must choose between her professional integrity and her love for a prodigy using forbidden technology.
The Rail of Broken Vows
A disgraced diplomat fleeing on a midnight express becomes the prize in a dangerous bidding war over a secret cipher.
The Verdict of Velvet and Vice
Zoya trades her loyalty for a plea deal, only for her former partner to threaten her immunity with a hidden ledger.
The Banquet of Hollow Veins
Accused of using forbidden alchemy, Yara must escape a sentient obsidian palace that is transforming into a living digestive tract.
The Midnight Express to Orizon
Mina, a meticulous assistant, must fight for her survival after her employers frame her for embezzlement aboard a luxury train.