The Queen slaughtered hundreds of soldiers. The next morning, Jerimin Icarii told her she was beautiful.The massacre left the Queen powerful. Peaceful. Radiant. And, to Jerimin's horror, irresistible.She laughs with him. Watches his favorite shows. Listens to him talk about his day.But every use of the Queen's power drains her. And when the Queen's hunger returns, the war returns with it. Now Jerimin has a clock to beat.One he cannot read. He mass-doubles tofu. Disgusting. He gives the Queen appetite suppressants. They make him ravenous. Finally, he hands her a thermos filled with his own blood.She takes one sip and recoils."e;It is too late for us. You are bitter to me."e;Nothing works. Fortunately, Jerimin has already solved the impossible once. His terra teleportals are headed for mass production—and a live unveiling on the galaxy's biggest talk show.  Fame is coming. So are the royalties. Surely they can buy a solution. But the clock is still counting down. Jerimin will not let the Queen starve. He will not let her kill again. He is finally becoming powerful enough to solve any problem. Unfortunately, the problem is the Queen. STEEL CITY, VEILED KINGDOM, PART 4: FORCES OF ATTRACTION is a maximalist science-fantasy odyssey of mass-produced miracles, poisoned happiness, monstrous appetites, and the terrible price of getting everything you wanted. You'll want Jerimin to find another way—and fear what happens if he can't. Want the whole story? Get the Complete Edition.

The Queen slaughtered hundreds of soldiers. The next morning, Jerimin Icarii told her she was beautiful.The massacre left the Queen powerful. Peaceful. Radiant. And, to Jerimin's horror, irresistible.She laughs with him. Watches his favorite shows. Listens to him talk about his day.But every use of the Queen's power drains her. And when the Queen's hunger returns, the war returns with it. Now Jerimin has a clock to beat.One he cannot read. He mass-doubles tofu. Disgusting. He gives the Queen appetite suppressants. They make him ravenous. Finally, he hands her a thermos filled with his own blood.She takes one sip and recoils."e;It is too late for us. You are bitter to me."e;Nothing works. Fortunately, Jerimin has already solved the impossible once. His terra teleportals are headed for mass production—and a live unveiling on the galaxy's biggest talk show.  Fame is coming. So are the royalties. Surely they can buy a solution. But the clock is still counting down. Jerimin will not let the Queen starve. He will not let her kill again. He is finally becoming powerful enough to solve any problem. Unfortunately, the problem is the Queen. STEEL CITY, VEILED KINGDOM, PART 4: FORCES OF ATTRACTION is a maximalist science-fantasy odyssey of mass-produced miracles, poisoned happiness, monstrous appetites, and the terrible price of getting everything you wanted. You'll want Jerimin to find another way—and fear what happens if he can't. Want the whole story? Get the Complete Edition.

The Queen slaughtered hundreds of soldiers. The next morning, Jerimin Icarii told her she was beautiful.The massacre left the Queen powerful. Peaceful. Radiant. And, to Jerimin's horror, irresistible.She laughs with him. Watches his favorite shows. Listens to him talk about his day.But every use of the Queen's power drains her. And when the Queen's hunger returns, the war returns with it. Now Jerimin has a clock to beat.One he cannot read. He mass-doubles tofu. Disgusting. He gives the Queen appetite suppressants. They make him ravenous. Finally, he hands her a thermos filled with his own blood.She takes one sip and recoils."e;It is too late for us. You are bitter to me."e;Nothing works. Fortunately, Jerimin has already solved the impossible once. His terra teleportals are headed for mass production—and a live unveiling on the galaxy's biggest talk show.  Fame is coming. So are the royalties. Surely they can buy a solution. But the clock is still counting down. Jerimin will not let the Queen starve. He will not let her kill again. He is finally becoming powerful enough to solve any problem. Unfortunately, the problem is the Queen. STEEL CITY, VEILED KINGDOM, PART 4: FORCES OF ATTRACTION is a maximalist science-fantasy odyssey of mass-produced miracles, poisoned happiness, monstrous appetites, and the terrible price of getting everything you wanted. You'll want Jerimin to find another way—and fear what happens if he can't. Want the whole story? Get the Complete Edition.