Humans are precious on Aerthe. Except for Gio. Gio has killed. Now she is to be broken by Ryke, the King’s Own Lawgiver, a hooded, scarred man who exterminates people as if they were insects underfoot. She will pay for her sins with her body, spill her secrets, and sob out her misery on Ryke’s spears. The man has his ways. Though he reserves special treatment for his females, no one has ever escaped being broken. Clinging to hope, Gio prays she can still save her people. But is there more to Ryke than torturer extraordinaire? Does a heart hide beneath the cold exterior? Deep in the Underdeck of the royal landship, Ryke and his new toy, Gio, will wrestle with secrets from his past and maybe, just maybe, discover a way for his despicable people to salvage what’s left of themselves and find peace on Aerthe. Inspired by the Gor series by John Norman Warning. This is a dark romance with complete power exchange.