Sands of Atonement (Desert Sands #1)

Prologue

Crahst, Zyriah

Once I was free from these ties, I would kill my brother.

He’d pay for tying me to these outdoor baths, and under no circumstances would I be deterred.

I’d shove his face into these waters and ask him how it felt when he was the one drowning. Better yet, I’d bury his body in the dunes and tunnel sand down his throat until he suffocated. But as much as I wanted revenge, nothing mattered more than surviving these baths under a surging storm.

I screamed his name, choking on the water that poured into my mouth.

The rope around my wrist tightened more as I attempted to flee at different angles. I couldn’t undo it—I couldn’t breathe as panic gripped my chest. If I didn’t get out of this poorly executed prank, I would miss my sixteenth birthday celebration.

Dark clouds gathered over the city of Crahst, and a storm replaced the desert’s blue skies within thirty minutes. The last time it stormed like this was three years ago, and we thought God was punishing us for our country’s frivolous rivalries.

I gasped for the surface, only to be filled with more water, drawing me deeper into darkness.

As the rain filled the baths, the splattering on the marble floors pounded in my ears. But my heartbeat was louder.

My body contorted, trying to reach the surface. My fingers clawed the water, and I pulled my head through. Air rushed into my chest.

I jerked against the rubbing rope, feeling my wrist chafing. Blood dissipated into the roiling waters. If I were going to survive this, I had to pull my hand out, and if I had to damage myself permanently doing it, then so be it.

This was going to hurt.

I yanked harder until the ropes loosened. Hope rushed through me as I cradled my bruised hand to my chest.

I was free.

I could barely see the setting sun as the dark storm loomed over the palace. The water had left me bleary-eyed. My fingers searched for the ridge of the baths until I found it. My hands and arms shook as I heaved myself up. The gallons of water I swallowed emerged from my throat.

No matter how much I coughed it up, I felt as heavy as the sea itself. My limbs barely functioned as I crawled and slipped further from the baths, hoping a monster wouldn’t leap through and suck me back in.

Though the sky was mourning, the air was thick and warm as I drew my trembling legs up.

My brother was so going to regret this.

Earlier this week, Kavid and I experimented with different knots that my teacher, Salazar, taught us. I’d undo each in record time, and the frown on Kavid’s face only deepened with each victory.

After a few minutes of walking through the outdoor halls, I stumbled into the large wooden doors that would take me to safety. There were no guards because, well… they were where they were supposed to be.

At my own goddamn celebration.

My jaw clenched.

It wasn’t just my birthday but an important day for my family, and I would not be blamed if matters turned south. Today, royalty from neighboring countries we didn’t trust filled the event.

Payback was a bitch, but not a killer. Kavid didn’t deserve to almost die. I couldn’t live without him. Which was a one-sided thought, apparently. But he, at the very least, deserved to have his feathered pillow replaced with dog shit.

My soaking feet crossed the last marble hallway into the waiting room, where I should have been all along.

A symphony of gasps filled the air.

Standing near Salazar was my mother, the Qahless of the House Barazi, and she flew toward me.

She wore her traditional gold-threaded yellow robe.

Gold jewelry encircled her neck, wrists, and ankles.

They clanked against each other, almost like a song, as she pulled me into her arms. We were about the same height, but right now, I felt so small in her arms, shaking uncontrollably.

I heard her muttering over me and barking orders to the servants nearby for linens, but I kept my eyes on Kavid.

His dark eyes went wide, and his face paled in contrast to his dark tunic. Kavid shook his head and took a step forward. “What happened?”

“What do you mean, what happened?” My voice was shaky. I still felt as if I were deep in the baths, hardly breathing. Despite the remorse visible on his shattered face, I didn't feel very forgiving right then.

“I didn’t—I never thought—”

“Eshe, you’ll need to get changed immediately! We don’t have time for this. Kavid, know your sister’s limits,” the Qahless rebuked.

“I thought she’d be out long before—I didn’t mean for this—”

“Leave us, Kavid, now. We’ll deal with this tomorrow.

Eshe, time is of the essence.” Our mother clapped her hands at me, her left tattooed wrist glittering against the candlelight.

One band was inked in silver for when she was engaged to my father, and one above it, inked in gold, symbolizing the marriage.

She was taken. No one else could claim her.

“Yes, Mother,” I muttered breathlessly.

My servant and I left for my rooms. She dried me thoroughly, yet I still felt soaked to the bone.

She placed me in my traditional dress and robes, and I was brought before a long mirror, back in the waiting room.

Salazar had his jaw clenched the entire time.

Kavid was going to hear it from our teacher—I could feel the tension in the room.

“Even though the wedding won’t happen for a couple more years, I can’t picture you happy in Urnaz,” Yonam said. My oldest brother, and First Prince of Zyriah, stood near me, wearing a dark blue tunic and a matching robe.

My parents, though they were the rulers of Zyriah and proud of its culture and traditions, believed in my right to make my own choices.

Even now, turning sixteen years old, they encouraged my independence in decision-making and education.

Though there were elders who frowned upon my untraditional upbringing, they wouldn’t dare go against my father, the Qahl.

My eyes flickered to Salazar, who stared in my direction, no doubt swelling with pride. He taught me everything I knew about languages, reading, trades, finances, and history.

I lifted my chin a little higher. “We’ve talked about this. This is what all princesses do for their countries. Just because you can’t picture me with our enemies in the south doesn’t mean it won’t happen.”

Even though Yonam wasn’t in agreement with tonight’s celebration, he stood by my side.

He was my protector and my best friend. Yonam smiled almost distantly.

Tonight, I was to display a dance for my audience, including my new betrothed.

Our families had been at war before we were born, and now we dealt with the aftermath.

It consisted of once-a-year meetings for an entire month until they’d come to terms of peace—until something came up and they’d be at odds once again.

The House of Navon, the royal family of Tehara, was considered our sworn enemy, so it was hard for me to picture life with him forever.

Emphasis on forever. But that was yesterday’s worry.

I had now come to terms with my future. This was what women my age did for their families.

For me, though…it was for my country. I rubbed my sweaty palms down the thin white robe that covered my new and young curves.

I looked ready, but I felt like a stranger in my own skin.

“Yonam, Eshe.” Kavid stormed into the hall. “They’re ready.”

Yonam and Kavid resembled each other. One would think they were twins like my betrothed and his brother were, but they weren’t.

Yonam acted as if life wasn’t all that serious but rather entertaining.

It might have been because he skipped all his homework, and I studied mine every day into the darkest hour of the night.

Though I was the youngest, we competed in almost everything together.

Whether it was sports or our studies, Kavid would get irritated, but Yonam would enjoy every moment.

“Good luck, sister.” Kavid grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into his embrace. I wasn’t on particularly good terms with him, but this was his way of asking for forgiveness. He felt bad, and I could feel it, too. “I’m truly sorry about earlier. I had no idea. I wish I had known…”

I nodded against his shoulder. “I know, Kavid. It’s okay.” I tightened the hug before I let go.

“I’m proud of you. You picked the right brother.” Kavid approved of my choice of the twins.

I broke into a smile. And then there we were, back to being ourselves again.

Taking a large inhale, today we were in celebration of a future marriage, bringing long-needed peace and prosperity to both lands.

Fluttering sensations sprang around my stomach as I quickened my steps toward the beating of the drums and the waving vibrations of the violin. My toes tingled in anticipation of the beginning of my sequence in the main hall.

It had to be perfect.

Two open-robed guards with identical thick black beards trimmed precisely at the point of their collarbones spread the large golden double doors.

I first noticed the hookah smoke weaving into the hall. Then I heard the voices inside the main hall come to a halt, leaving only the drums and violin sounds bouncing off the colorful tapestries covering the walls.

I couldn’t feel my legs as they brought me into the room where dark crimson curtains bordered large windows and a galaxy of candles hung from the gold ceiling.

I suppressed a cough from the smoke as I came to a halt alongside the Priestels, dancers in honor of our ancient culture.

Their midriffs were exposed, and their open-slit pants flowed around their long legs with the ends of the pants coming to a tight press around their delicate jeweled ankles.

Their faces were thinly covered, but it didn’t stop me from wondering how nice it felt to move freely with those pants that opened for air.