The Devil's Garden

In The Devil's Garden, appearances can be deceiving... Ume Sky enjoys her place of honor as temple courtesan for the reigning Meer of In'La—until an assignation with a client ends in violence. Her elite status stripped away, Ume is forced to return to a life on the streets as Cillian Rede, the boy she used to be. Cillian finds temporary harbor with dockhand Cree Sylva, where fear keeps him from revealing his former identity. As the two become lovers, Cillian learns that Cree is not without secrets... When Cillian has the opportunity to regain his position through a liaison with the Meer himself, he is torn between his feelings for Cree and his need to live as Ume. But there's even more at stake when Ume finds herself entangled in a plot to rid the Delta of divine rule... 25,000 words