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Foreword

One Thousand and One Dark Nights

Once upon a time, in the future…

I was a student fascinated with stories and learning

I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and the art and science of love and ic I had a vast library at my father’s home and collected thousands of volumes of fantastic tales

I learned all about ancient races and bygone tih the rew until I discovered that I was able to travel into the stories to actually become part of them

I wish I could say that I listened to ht to have If I had, I would not be telling you this tale now

But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off with bravery

One afternoon, curious about the hts, I traveled back to ancient Persia to see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar (Persian: ??????, “king”) in, and then sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded It ritten and I had read, that by the tihter, he’d killed one thousand women

So with my efforts I arrived in the ed places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had never occurred before and that still to this day, I cannot explain

Now I am trapped in that ancient past I have taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to protect herself and stay alive

Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales

And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a point that leaves hi for more

And so the King spares ht hear the rest of my dark tale

As soon as I finish a story I begin a new one like the one that you, dear reader, have before you now

Prologue

~Asher~

“You should consider -neck bottle of his beer, then shifts his gaze froame on the screen above the bar to me We’re in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans, at so day of work

I shake my head I’ve heard this line from my brother at least a dozen times since he and his wife moved here from New York last year

“I’m happy in Seattle Casey’s happy in Seattle”

“Casey will be happy wherever you’re happy,” Mike replies “Don’t you want to be close to family?”

“I’d be kicking your ass all the ti me to leave in a week”

“You could try, little brother,” Mike says with a smirk “The force could use you”

I shrug a shoulder and drinkfor the Seattle force I have a dependable partner Casey does well in school But there’s no family for us there, and I admit it’s hard when my babysitter bails on me

Being a single father fucking sucks

“I’ll think about it”

Mike nods and checks his phone when it lights up with a text A group of girls behind us are laughing loudly, clearly having a good time I wonder if it’s a bachelorette party

“Franny’s wondering when I’ laid, buddy”

I laugh and shake my head as I take a drink of my beer “Good for you, buddy”

“Yes, she is good for rees

“Ten years and two kids later and you still get that shit-eating grin on your face” I smile, happy for my brother

“Of course, I love her” He shoves his phone in his pocket, ss the last of his beer, and claps his hand on my shoulder as he climbs off his stool “I’m out See you tomorrow”

“Goodnight”

Suddenly, the sexy redhead fro next to reen eyes “Hi there”

“Hi”

“Having a good tirin

“Yes” She blinks sonition “I know you!”

“You do?” I’m quite sure I’d know if I’d met this woman

“Yes! You were on the plane with Lila yesterday Asher?”

“That’s right” I take her offered hand and shake it, iht in ?”