Goings - The Spider Prince

Carnal Passions Presents

The Spider Prince

Desert Princes of Jikkar Book IV

By

Rebecca Goings

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Carnal Passions

A Division of Champagne Books

www.carnalpassions.com

Copyright 2011 by Rebecca Goings

ISBN 9781926681986

February 2011

Cover Art by Amanda Kelsey

Produced in Canada

Other Books By Rebecca Goings

The Viper Prince

The Scarab Prince

The Falcon Prince

Dedication

For Tuomas, Marco, Emppu, Julius, and Anettethe members of Nightwishfor inspiring this entire series with their song SAHARA.

One

Ziyad Bihar, Spider Prince of the Golden Desert, you stand before me with your intended. You have chosen Amani Bantish to be your Spider Princess.

Amani watched as Ziyad raised his hand to stop the young Jackal Prince from going any further. My wife, Siraj, not my princess.

Amanis heart fell and she trembled violently. The Spider had told her not long before the ceremony that he didnt love her. He was marrying her out of obligation, to provide himself and his caravan an heir to his throne. She suspected as much when hed made her wait almost two full cycles before finally claiming her.

Im sorry? The Jackal looked just about as nervous as Amani felt. He was young, a few cycles younger than she was, but hed reigned his oasis for a while now, ever since the Viper deposed his father. Hed been the only caravan prince available to marry them in Suridesh, and this was obviously his first time officiating the ceremony.

Amani will be my wife, not my princess, Ziyad explained once more.

The Jackal knit his brow in confusion, but nodded and continued. Do you pledge to serve her for the rest of your days, to give her children and protect her with your very life?

The Spider returned his gaze to her, piercing her to the core. His eyes were cold, as if he was remembering the wife hed lost beneath the hooves of a raiders horse, the woman hed always regard as his princessKaris Bihar.

Amani couldnt breathe. Her own eyes filled with tears. Holding Ziyads eye contact was the hardest thing shed ever had to do.

I pledge it.

His empty words sealed her fate, like the sealing of a tomb rather than a vow of marriage. His distant demeanor had her remembering happier times, when Ziyad had actually smiled and Amani had heard the peals of his laughter.

But that man was gone, replaced now by the one standing before her, detached and uncaring. Amani had been offered to him once before, but hed chosen her good friend Karis instead, whod left Suridesh with him after they had wed. Long had Amani envied her friend, loving Ziyad, carrying his child

But Karis had been killed in a senseless accident, bowled over by a group of raiders who hadnt stolen a drop of water from the Spiders caravan. Amani had mourned not only her friends passing, but that of Kariss unborn childof Ziyads unborn child.

By the law, you must pledge by blood. The Jackals voice was louder now, able to carry out to the crowd that had gathered near the Spiders caravs outside the city wall.

The Spider produced a wicked-looking knife from his belt-wrap. On its hilt was a spider inlaid with black onyx, while the entire length of the blade was etched with spider webs. The weapon glinted in the sun as he gently cut the pad of his thumb, drawing a drop of blood from his skin. He held it up to her mouth.

Amani took hold of his hand and licked the bead just as her tears fell down her cheeks. As soon as shed tasted him, Ziyad dropped his hand from her grasp.

Amani Bantish, the Jackal said, turning to her. Of the tent city Suridesh, you stand before me with your intended. You have chosen Ziyad Bihar to be your Spider Prince. Do you pledge to serve him for the rest of your life, to give him children and love him until your dying day?

Ziyads previous words to her suddenly came back in a rush. I wish to marry you, Amani, but not for love. For an heir. I do not want to fan your hopes or give you lofty dreams. Our marriage will be one of convenience only.

There was still time to walk away. There was still time to say no and let the Spider choose someone else to bear him sons. If hed truly wanted her, he would have chosen her over Karis. But he hadnt.

Even the Scarab Prince had refused her.

After the Scarabs rejection, her father had also offered her to two traders and a goat merchant. All of them had passed over her.

No one wanted her to be their wife. Not even the Spider. There was no love for her in the dunesshed accepted that fate long ago. The only hope Amani had for love now was to have a child who adored her.

At least the Spider was offering her that much.

I pledge it, she said, pleased her voice did not waver.

The Jackal nodded. By the law, you must pledge by blood.

Ziyad handed her his dagger. She took the hilt, but her shaking hand and blurred vision made it nearly impossible to cut her thumb without doing more harm than she should.

After a few tries, Ziyad took her hands in his to steady her. Try again, he whispered, helping her.

Amani bit her lip, but this time was able to draw a small line of blood that grew into a fat droplet. The Spider pulled her toward him and took her thumb into his mouth, suckling her gently before letting her go.

That one, hot, wet contact had her reeling back. For the first time in a long while, she admired the Spider for the handsome man he was. His thick, black hair was tucked behind his ears, but one pesky lock had decided to fall over his forehead. His face was clean-shaven, except for his chin, which was covered with a patch of black hair.

Even his eyes seemed dark against the black of his robes, the color of his caravan.

It must have been her imagination, but he seemed to be looking differently at her now, as if to tell her once and for all that she now belonged to him.

Now the Spider must claim his The Jackal paused. Wife.

Amani closed her eyes. She was humiliated enough that Ziyad didnt love her. But the fact that she would never be his princess was now known to one and all.

Ziyad took her right hand in his and placed something on her third finger. Amani peered down and gasped. The finest ring shed ever seen adorned her hand. It was a spider, made of black onyx, much like the hilt of Ziyads dagger. The band was the purest platinum, which held the stones perfectly, and the legs of the arachnid fanned outward, just barely covering her other fingers.

With the gods blessings, the Jackal exclaimed, you are married. Go, and rule your caravan with firm hands and gentle hearts!

A shout rose up from the crowd, probably from Amanis fathermost likely a shout of relief. She gazed down to Ziyads silver belt-wrap, unable to look him in the eye any longer.

I must kiss you now, he whispered in her ear. Its tradition.

Tradition . Thats all it was for him.

Amani gave him a short nod and turned her face to his.

The moment after his lips touched hers, she pulled away, not wanting to linger. If she kissed him for any length of time, she might swoon. Her heart was not safe and she knew it. Amani had fancied the Spider Prince at one time, but hed married her friend. Now, however, he was