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Prologue

Twenty-four years ago

The slap fell on Haidar’s face, stinging it on fire

Before he could gasp, another fell on his other cheek, harder, backhanded this tied line of pain into his flesh

Disoriented, he heard a crack of thunder as tears ain as more slaps tossed Haidar’s head from side to side One finally shattered his balance, sent hied the fresh cut like a harsh antiseptic,with the blood

A tranquil voice broke over him “Shed eon For a week”

He sed, stared up at the person he lovedhi this?

His otten the knuckle raps or ear twists his twin, Jalal, drove her to reward his mischief with He was her favorite She told him so, showed him her esteem and preference in every way

But there had been times lately when she’d been displeased with hi Actually, when he’d done so could have prepared him for her out-of-the-blue, ice-cold fury just when he’d expected her to shower hiht, looking as he’d always ioddess of myth would, her eyes arctic “Don’t co Stand up and take your punishe”

Haidar almost blurted out that it was Jalal—and their cousin Rashid—who deserved the punishainst and had refused to take part in had caused the fire that had consumed a whole chamber in the palace and ruined his and Jalal’s tenth birthday party

Being habitually wild and reckless, Jalal and Rashid had long depleted their second chances with their elders Their punish the one with a track record of caution and commitment, his reserve of leniency was intact So he’d stepped forward as the accidental culprit

Just when his confession had garnered what he’d expected frouardian—surprise followed by acceptance of his explanation and dismissal of the whole debacle—his mother had walked up to him

Her eyes had told him she knehat had really happened, and why he’d stepped forward He’d expected admiration to follow the shrewdness that ht What had folloere the slaps that hadn’t stopped even when her husband, the king of Zohayd, had ordered her to cease

Haidar rose and lifted a tre across his left cheekbone She swatted it away

“Now beg your twin’s and cousin’s forgiveness for being slow in coression, al therin seared his chest It was one thing to take punishize to theirls!

His ing into his wound “Do it”

She released him with a shove, made hi at their feet, faces red, chests heaving

“Jalal, Rashid, look at Haidar” His mother now spoke as Queen Sondoss of Zohayd, her voice clear and co to the whole ballrooiveness in front of everyone”

Jalal’s and Rashid’s gazes wavered up to her before turning to hi in their eyes

His mother prodded him with a head whack “Tell theain”

Burning with mortification, he looked into his twin’s eyes, then into his distant cousin and best friend’s, and repeated her words

“I didn’t do it!”

Haidar blurted the words out as hishis wound Now that they were in the privacy of her chambers, he had to exonerate himself, if only in her eyes

Her smile was filled with pride and love as she kissed the injury she’d inflicted “I know” So he’d been right! “I know everything Certainly about you and Jalal and that rascal Rashid”

His confusion deepened “Then…why?”