Nine years ago, Cassian witnessed the assassination of his father, which left him to lead the desert clan. Growing up, he had relied on help from those around him; now an adult, Cassian wants to prove his own worth. His first task -- securing the love of his bodyguard, Yashiv. Though the two have been inseparable since Cassian’s childhood, he fears Yashiv won’t let down his walls of propriety. Then Cassian finds a child, the only survivor of the king’s caravan procession. Wen claims to be the bride for Prince Manoel, the ruler of the nearby city, but underlying currents of her story raise Cassian’s suspicions. Cassian and Yashiv must find where Wen belongs, before rival clans, the city’s guards, or Cassian’s own people decide the child’s fate. Can Cassian and Yashiv find out where Wen belongs before her fate is decided by rival clans or Cassian’s own people? And can Cassian show Yashiv he’s now a man, as well as Master of his clan?

Shifting Sand

But it had already clicked in Cassian’s mind. The green eyes, uncommon among the clans, but more so in the city. The child brought up in a noble house, but hidden away for her safety, and the threat of her father.


“She’s an illegitimate child, isn’t she?” Cassian asked.


Yashiv gasped. “The trinket. Wen’s mother meant to sell herto the prince?”


“What mother would do that?” Cassian’s heart felt a sharp stab of grief, or maybe anger. He looked Kaapo in the eyes. “How certain are you of this?”


“Pretty certain, Master. We planned to stay a few more days and find out for sure.”


“We have to get Wen out of here,” Cassian said. “We can’t let her find out about this.”


Yashiv shook his head. “You know how she is, Cassian. She won’t leave the city without seeing Manoel. We need to explain this to her, make her see what’s happening.”


“You can’t tell a child that her half-brother has plans to murder her! She’s expecting him to be her husband. That’ll break her.”


Chapter 41