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

He reached the bottom of the stairs. It opened onto a long, gloomy corridor, each side lined with walled off rooms. No guards were in sight, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there somewhere. Quietly, he left the relative safety of the stairwell and ventured out into the open. He glanced into the first room. It revealed a deep pit, twice the height of a man, but empty. The second pit also held no prisoner, but the third housed an old man, huddled with his face hidden in his hands. The rags on his back were tattered and showed off ample bruises along his flesh. The man didn’t even raise his head at the sound of Cassian’s footfalls, a sign of his utter defeat.


The next pit had a woman inside. She, too, hid her face in her hands and her body shook with silent sobs. Her dress, once fine, was covered in filth. A noblewoman perhaps? Or maybe the princess?


Cassian pushed her from his mind. He was not here to help everyone. Only Yashiv and Wen mattered.


Chapter 52