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      "You do not know for sure if the god of Cobras has turned his face from us." Sahirah tossed her hair over her shoulder.

      Jaden gave her a piercing glare. "Do I not? The water in my barrels is mixed with mud, Sahirah. It is only a matter of time before my oasis is a wasteland, and everyone will know it. And it's all because of you!"

      Sahirah gasped. "How dare you?"

      Jaden strode right up to her and grabbed her by the throat. "You killed a sitting princess," he snarled. "The god of Spiders would have demanded restitution from the god of Cobras, and this is our punishment for your folly!"

      "It was an accident!" she cried, her eyes wide with fear. "She was in the way. I couldn't stop my horse in time. You were the one who sent me and the others to attack the Spider."

      Suddenly, Jaden's cock sprang to the fore. Seeing Sahirah so unhinged, so scared of him had ignited something deep and primal within him. "I wanted you to only scare the Spider's caravan. It is not my fault you took Karis's life in your own incompetence." He squeezed a little harder. Sahirah could no longer breathe. An idea came to him.

      "Perhaps if I kill you, the god of Cobras will find favor with me again. A princess for a princess."

      Sahirah's eyes bulged and her face reddened. She twisted and turned, but her strength was no match for him. Her fingernails scratched his hands and arms, but he would not be moved. He was through with this woman. She'd been nothing more than a thorn in his side since she'd lain with his father on their wedding day.

      The Cobra Princess dropped to her knees, trying desperately to get away, but he held her fast.

      "Finally, princess, after these two long years, I am hard for you." Jaden reached into his robes and yanked down his undergarments, revealing his stiff, aching cock.

      While he crushed the life from Sahirah, his other hand stroked himself, until her gasps for breath merged with his own gasps of pleasure. Ecstasy built within him until the pressure was almost too much to bear. The moment he came, he growled loudly, pumping his hand while his seed overflowed onto Sahirah's face and hair.

      He stood gazing down at his wife and triumph lit within him. She was lifeless. He was finally free of her. Perhaps now, his god would see fit to bring back his oasis.

      And with Sahirah's death, perhaps he could avoid the Spider's wrath.

~ * ~

      Days felt like years to Amani. She'd been staying in her father's tent, despite what her father and the Falcon had told Ziyad. Khalil had known good and well Ziyad would try to sneak in and see her, and he'd been right. It warmed Amani's heart that he'd tried, but she was glad she hadn't seen him before the Council. His powers of persuasion were unparalleled, and she had no doubt he would have whisked her back to his caravan without having to face his peers.

      But thankfully, the princes had been close to Suridesh and hadn't taken that long to arrive. The Cobra had arrived shortly after the Viper, and yesterday, both the Scarab and the Jackal had made their appearance.

      Today was the day the stewards of the gods decided her fate.

      Amani's heart fluttered wildly and she tried hard to swallow her stomach. She still wore the Falcon's green rather than donning the white of her father. Ahmed had tried to persuade her to rejoin his household, but she'd refused. She could no longer be a burden to him. If she was to stay divorced from Ziyad, then she'd ride the dunes with the Falcon, and hope his caravan led the way to her happiness.

      The Council was to be held in a large tent that had been specially erected for this purpose outside the city walls. The princes were convening there now.

      Amani had been woken by her mother before dawn, to give her time to prepare for what was to come. Marad had brushed Amani's hair until it shone, threading braids throughout and clipping them away from her face. Her green robes were brand new, having been sewn just for today, and she'd eaten a large breakfast, taking advantage of her mother's cooking prowess.

      "The Spider Prince may be an ass," her mother whispered to her when she'd been braiding her hair. "But he's a good man. If you choose to return to him, you will not be shaming our house, Amani."

      Amani smiled and met her mother's eyes. "I know. But out of all the men in the desert, I chose to love the most complicated one."

      Marad scoffed. "All men are complicated. If you weren't with the Spider, you'd be with someone else who'd make you tear out your hair."

      Despite her nerves, Amani chuckled while her mother grinned.

      Now, however, she was being led to the Council tent by her father, as curious people lined the streets. The residents of Suridesh were not allowed in the Council, but speculation would run rampant, and Amani had no doubt the underbelly of the tent city would be placing bets and wagering whether or not she'd return to the Spider's caravan. Even now, walking through the streets, she had to endure the scrutiny of the people. It was almost more than she could bear, having so many eyes upon her.

      Gods above, but she was going to revisit her breakfast.

      Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, she made her way through the streets and somehow arrived at the Council tent in one piece.

~ * ~

      Ziyad stood in the tent and paced back and forth. He was nervous. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so edgy. He swallowed hard. He coughed. He paced once again.

      The princes who'd arrived for the Council were being seated one by one. Their pillows were arranged in a large circle surrounding the center of the tent, where Ziyad would stand with Amani. Each pillow on the ground was the color of the prince who'd sit there, and it wasn't long before Ziyad was made to endure the knowing stares of his brethren.

      The only princes who weren't smirking were the Falcon, the Cobra, and himself. Ziyad glanced at each prince in turn, noticing with surprise that Jaden turned away suddenly, a bit too suddenly, almost on the verge of being rude.

      But perhaps Ziyad was reading into things. He was the focus of this Council after all. Perhaps the Cobra was upset at having to drop his plans and travel to Suridesh to solve the Spider's problem.

      Ziyad didn't blame him.

      Soon after the princes were seated, Ahmed entered the tent and Amani followed meekly behind him. Just seeing her again sent a shudder straight through him.

      She was gorgeous. She was wearing the Falcon's green. She wasn't looking up from her feet.

      Every instinct he had told Ziyad to march over to her, throw her over his shoulder, and walk back out into the sunshine. But his peers would stop him and he'd further shame the governor of the tent city.

      Ziyad's eyes were on fire. His breaths came in short, sharp gasps. He wasn't going to survive this intact.

      The instant Amani's eyes lifted to his, he saw her visibly shaking. Gods in heaven, but he wanted to wrap himself around her. Ziyad's chin trembled but he managed to keep from crying out and making a fool of himself.

      Amani walked past him and turned, standing opposite him in the center of the tent. Once she was before him, hands clasped and head bowed, Ziyad's world tilted. For just one kiss, one caress, he'd give his caravan, his oasis.

      His very life.

      "Princes of the Golden Desert," Ahmed said, his voice booming. "We are gathered here to decide the fate of Ziyad Bihar's marriage to my daughter, Amani Bantish."

      Ziyad bit his tongue to keep from correcting the governor.

      "It has been whispered the Spider Prince divorced her in front of not only his own caravan, but that of the Falcon as well. Khalil, I give you the floor."

      Khalil stood and relayed to the others what he'd witnessed, but Ziyad had stopped listening. The only thing that mattered was keeping Amani by his side. His heart overflowed with regret at the look on her face. He needed to make it right. He had to make Amani understand that he would never hurt her again.

      Regardless of his better judgment, he'd gone and fallen in love with his beautiful wife.

      Amani couldn't stand staring Ziyad in the eye, but she couldn't look away, either. He was too handsome for his own good. The black robes he wore seemed new, just as hers were. His hair was clean and combed back, while the patch of hair on his chin had been neatly trimmed. He'd freshly shaved, and the faint scent of rahala blossoms filled the air.

      The reality of the Spider Prince was much more breathtaking than her dreams had ever been. Since her arrival in Suridesh, her own anticipation at seeing him again had fueled her dreams, and more than once she'd woken with tears in her eyes.

      The sound of Khalil's booming voice pulled her out of her reverie. "My fellow princes and the governor of Suridesh, we must vote. Shall the Spider Prince be allowed to stay married to Amani Bantish? All who approve, show your hand."

      Glancing around the tent, Amani watched as the Scarab, the Viper, the Cobra, and the Jackal all raised their hands. Only the Falcon and her own father kept theirs down. She looked back at Ziyad to see him scowling at Khalil.

      "It would seem," Ahmed exclaimed, "that the vote is four to two in favor of the Spider. Ziyad, do you wish to claim my daughter as your princess?"

      Ziyad's dark, intense eyes once again rested on her. Every inch of her skin pebbled with awareness. She bit her lip and his face softened.

      "Yes," he said with a nod. "I do."

      His words shocked her. They weren't filled with fury or animosity at being forced to accept her. He seemed…willing.

      "Then plead your case to Amani before she makes her choice."

      Silence descended upon the tent after her father had finished speaking. Ziyad fidgeted, then took a deep breath. Within two steps, he stood before her. It was a miracle she didn't fly into his arms.

      "Do not touch her before she has chosen!" The Falcon's voice made Amani jump. Already, she felt tears well in her eyes.

      "Amani," Ziyad whispered, his voice filled with longing. "I have missed you. I am sorry for ever hurting you. I know I have done it on more than one occasion. I did not mean to divorce you at my oasis. The words I said were said out of fear. I could feel my heart slipping and I couldn't let that happen.

      "My heart was slipping because…because…" He stopped to sigh and run his fingers through his hair. When he looked back at her, his eyes were red-rimmed. "I was terrified of falling in love with you."

      Amani inhaled sharply. Her heart screamed at her to take another breath, but she could do nothing more than stand there with her eyes wide.

      "After you had gone," he continued, his voice wavering, "I knew I had let you slip away. I'd lost Karis to a horrible fate, but I'd lost you due to my own stupidity. And I also realized…" Ziyad cleared his throat. "That it was too late for me. I'd already fallen in love with you. I couldn't let you go. I couldn't let you think the worst of me."

      Tears fell down Amani's cheeks. He loved her. He loved her. She stared at him in disbelief.

      Without warning, Ziyad dropped to his knees before her and bowed his head. "I'm so sorry, Amani. Please forgive me." His voice broke and his shoulders shook. By the gods, he was crying. The powerful Spider Prince was supplicating himself before her.

      "I cannot lose you," he continued. "I…I'm suffocating. I'm drowning. I can no longer face my life alone. I need you!"

      Amani released her own sob and covered her mouth. She glanced at the Falcon, who gave her a smile and a single nod. She had no idea if touching Ziyad was against their law,

but right now, she didn't much care.

      Reaching out her hand, she touched the top of his head. Ziyad's entire body quaked when she threaded her fingers through his hair.

      "By the law, the Spider Prince has made his case before you, Amani," her father said, his voice gentler than before. "Do you choose to stay in his caravan?"

      "I must know one thing first before I make my choice," she said, finding her courage before the princes of the desert.

      "By all means," Ahmed replied, raising his hand.

      She swallowed hard. "Ziyad, look at me."

      He took a moment, but he raised his head dutifully. Amani was shocked at the sight of him. His eyes were red and wet, and his chin trembled in an effort to hold back his sobs. It was all he could do to control his emotions. Once their gazes locked, a few tears escaped him.

      "I do not wish to be your princess if you were forced to this decision," she said, still threading her hand in his hair. "I don't want you to ever forget Karis. She is your princess."