The Jackal Prince

by Rebecca Goings

  Khalil gave her a sidelong glance, making her stomach flutter. Knowing he wished he could do things differently had sorrow pierce her heart. She wished her fate could have been the one he would have offered her.

  “There are many princesses of the desert,” he continued. “But only two are naturally born rather than inheriting the title from their husbands. Trianna and you. Every royal child since your birth has been a prince. That makes you unique and special, Yasmin.”

  She swallowed hard to dislodge the lump in her throat. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

  The Falcon held up his hand. “You don’t need to say anything. I have found you now. If you let me, I would like to…be the father you never had.”

  She stumbled in the sand at his words. Khalil steadied her and she held onto his robes in an effort to calm her breathing.

  “You are my daughter, Yasmin. I want the desert to know the Jackal Princess is a natural born princess. And as such, you will have the protection of the god of Falcons as well as the god of Jackals.”

  She smiled at him. “I know. Siraj saw a falcon circling us after the Jackal healed me.”

  “You have no reservations about this secret coming to light?”

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t have to read your mind to know you truly wish things could have been different. So do I. And we have the chance to make it so. But there is one thing I might not be able to do right away.”

  Khalil swallowed hard. “And what is that?” he asked, seemingly uncomfortable.

  “Call you Father.”

  His trepidation melted. “Perhaps that will come with time.”

  “Perhaps.” Yasmin stopped the Falcon to face him. “Thank you. For accepting me.”

  His countenance softened and he gave her one single nod. Without a word, she embraced him and rejoiced when his arms circled her as well.

  Finally, after years of being alone and fending for herself, Yasmin belonged to a family.

  Twenty Six

  Siraj sat straight up and gasped. Covered in sweat, his heart pounded, and it was all he could do to calm his raging emotions. A tear slipped down his cheek as he remembered his dream, and he ran his fingers through his hair with shaky hands.

  “Siraj?”

  Yasmin’s voice seemed to caress him and he sighed, gazing down at the woman next to him. She lay on their pillows, staring at him with concern in her sleepy eyes. “Are you all right?”

  Siraj didn’t know what time it was. It felt like nighttime, but the sun was shining. Yet it was too far in the sky to be morning. Disoriented, he pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned, finally remembering they’d taken a nap that afternoon.

  “Siraj?” Yasmin asked again, this time sitting up to rub his bare shoulder.

  “I am fine, Yas,” he said, his voice gritty. “I had a dream.”

  She nodded but didn’t prod him further. He felt her concern.

  “It wasn’t a bad dream,” he told her. “It was…intense. I was visited by the gods.”

  Yasmin’s eyes widened. “What?”

  He opened his mouth to tell her what he’d dreamt, but at that moment, Khalil’s horn blew, announcing their arrival at Suridesh. The sound was a welcome break from the monotony, after many days in the dunes. Soon after, another horn sounded, one very familiar.

  His own.

  Siraj leapt from the blankets and tied on his robes, giving his wife a grin from ear to ear. Once he’d finished with his belt-wrap, he hauled her up to stand beside him and kissed her soundly. She squealed at the unexpected assault, but surrendered easily enough.

  “I cannot wait to see my brother!” he exclaimed after releasing her lips. His giddiness seemed to flow into her. Yasmin smiled and tied on her own robes.

  “You have something to speak to him about?” she asked, probably reading his mood.

  Siraj nodded. “The Jackal told me the god of Cobras has returned to Jikkar. He’s chosen another steward!”

  Yasmin’s sudden intake of breath seemed loud in their carav. The carriage finally ceased rocking back and forth as Khalil brought his caravan to rest outside the walls of the tent city.

  “You don’t think…” Yasmin gazed at him in wonder.

  “I do,” Siraj answered, ripping open their door. Not too far away was his own caravan, sitting right where Yasir had promised it would be. “Come, let’s go greet our people.”

  She didn’t waste any time placing her hand in his. With a confident stride, Siraj left the Falcon’s caravan and crossed the sand to his own, grinning at the sound of his people shouting and singing at the site of their princess.

  And there stood Yasir among them, raising his hand high, with his other arm firmly around his wife. His teeth flashed when Siraj returned his gesture. But it took a long while before he reached his brother. His people insisted on praising Yasmin’s safe return.

  Siraj watched with pride as she welcomed them, proving herself to be a loving and gentle princess. His heart swelled, and right there, before their people, he swept her into his arms and kissed her for all to see.

  “My princess has returned, and we have defeated her demons!” he bellowed, and cheers followed. Soon, they were surrounded by more well-wishers, and in no time, throngs exited the gates of Suridesh. They wore blue, red, and black, among other colors, telling Siraj that every prince in the desert was resting in the tent city.

  “I never doubted you, Jackal!” Yasir yelled, finally making his way through the people. “I knew you’d find Yasmin if you had to search every single dune!”

  Siraj grabbed him into a tight hug then held him at arm’s length. “We must talk, brother.”

  Yasir grinned. “That we do. I have something of great importance to tell you.”

  “You had the dream!” Somehow, Siraj knew by the gleam in his eye that Yasir had the same revelation that he did not too long ago.

  “Yes, can you believe it?”

  “Gods above, Yasir, you are to be the next Cobra Prince!”

  As if the gods were waiting for Siraj’s proclamation, the crowd surrounding them began shouting and pointing out at the desert sand. Both Siraj and Yasir looked at the same time, but it was Yasmin who gasped as she squinted at the black shapes approaching on the horizon.

  “Are those…Sentinels?” she whispered.

  Siraj’s eyes bulged. Never in his life had he seen the beasts outside of pulling the caravans. Everyone knew they didn’t roam wild on Jikkar—they were magical creatures, given to the desert princes by the gods themselves. And the fact that they made their way to Suridesh from the direction of the Cobra’s old oasis sealed in Siraj’s mind that the vision he and Yasir had seen hadn’t been merely a dream.

  The god of Cobras had chosen the Jackal’s brother for his steward. Yasir must have pleased him greatly. But Siraj wasn’t questioning it. His brother was a good man. He’d always known Yasir would be a wonderful leader, but the law of the princes prevented him from ever inheriting the Jackal throne.

  By merely choosing him, the god of Cobras had found another way to make Yasir a caravan prince. And that meant Siraj’s people would now be busy making colorful robes for the newest prince in the desert.

  “I don’t believe it.” Khalil’s awed voice was right behind him. Siraj hadn’t noticed him among the others. The Falcon gazed out at the unfettered Sentinels with awe on his scarred face. “Your brother is…” He didn’t finish his question—he merely gave Siraj an arched brow. Siraj nodded while his eyes burned.

  “We have much to celebrate!” With that, Khalil began barking orders left and right. People rushed to obey him.

  Siraj drew Yasmin to his side and hugged her close. Indeed, they had plenty of cause for celebration.

  Twenty Seven

  Yasmin sat on Siraj’s lap and took it all in. They’d been invited to the tent of Ahmed Bantish, the governor of Suridesh, along with the other princes of Jikkar. She’d never met the Spider or the Scarab, but they had been most gracious to her, even man
aging to make her blush when the Spider mentioned he was shocked she actually existed.

  She saw firsthand the ribbing Siraj had received from his peers for searching for a magical young girl with lavender eyes and the ability to shift into a falcon. They continued to poke him until she’d put a stop to it, defending him to one and all.

  “I can take care of myself, Yas,” he whispered after he’d pulled her into his lap. Siraj gave her a squeeze. “I’ve had to put up with these cretins for years.”

  She giggled and kissed his cheek. “Maybe you can,” she replied. “But as your princess, it is my job to make sure the name of the Jackal is not slandered to the winds, even by the other caravan princes.”

  Siraj raised his brows and fingered her Jackal armband she wore. “Taking your position seriously, are you?”

  Yasmin nodded and cupped his face. “You made me your wife. Because of you, I am royalty. Because of you, I have a say what happens in this desert. And I will not stand for anyone having fun at your expense.”

  The Scarab Prince chose that moment to smack Siraj’s shoulder and sit next to him on the pillows. “Your wife has a good head on her shoulders,” he bellowed. “And unlike the Spider,” Qadir gave Ziyad a friendly glare across the tent, “I didn’t doubt the existence of your lovely bride for a second.”

  Siraj scoffed. “Is that so, Scarab?” he challenged. “I seem to recall, on more than one occasion, mind,—”

  “To the Jackal Princess!” Qadir yelled, not letting Siraj finish his thought. Yasmin grinned while her husband chuckled and raised his wine glass along with everyone else in the governor’s tent. She did the same, and closed her eyes at the glorious burst of fruity flavor in her mouth.

  “You like the wine?” Siraj asked, his lips close to hers.

  “It’s exquisite.”

  “It is made from berries that grow at our oasis.”

  She gasped and gave him a wide-eyed grin. “Truly?”

  Siraj’s smile made her stomach leap inside of her. She hoped he’d always have that effect on her.

  “The clea plant is good for more than it’s lavender blossoms. I cannot wait to show you their beauty.”

  “Siraj. Yasmin! I am so happy to see you both healthy and breathing.”

  Yasmin looked up, right into the face of the Viper.

  “Tariq! Good to see you as well.”

  The Viper smiled. “If it hadn’t been for the Falcon’s birds sending me a message that you were safe in his caravan, I’d still be searching for you in that sea of sand.”

  “I’m sorry for that,” Yasmin said, swallowing hard. “I didn’t know my magic…was so strong.”

  Tariq raised his hand. “Think nothing of it, Highness. The important thing is that our Siraj is alive and with the woman he loves.”

  Yasmin glanced across the tent where the Falcon and the Spider were talking with Yasir. Siraj followed her gaze and nodded toward them.

  “Can you believe the god of Cobras chose my brother for his new steward?”

  The Viper looked at Yasir and nodded. “Your brother deserves his own caravan. He had a few hardships to handle while your caravan was on route to Suridesh. One of the caravs wasn’t quite travel-worthy. It lost a runner and almost overturned. But it’s said Yasir didn’t panic, he ordered your men to take care of it and only lost a few hours of the day.”

  “Truly?” The awe in Siraj’s voice was unmistakable.

  “Yes,” Tariq answered, taking another sip of his wine. “I’ve also heard the driver on the last carav fell from his bench and broke his arm. It just so happened Yasir saw him fall and halted the entire caravan. Otherwise, they might have left him behind in the dunes.”

  “No wonder he gained the attention of the god of Cobras!” Yasmin said in amazement.

  “Yes,” Siraj agreed. “But the gods can see our hearts as well as our deeds. The Cobra god knows Yasir is nothing like Malikk or Jaden Rahasha.”

  “Thank the ancestors,” Tariq said under his breath.

  “He’s already chosen his colors.”

  Yasmin glanced at her husband. “He’s not adopting the brown of the Cobra?”

  Siraj shook his head. “He wants a fresh start. He wants to make his own traditions.”

  “Like a true prince.” Yasmin had almost forgotten about the Scarab, still sitting next to them. “What colors has he chosen?” Qadir asked.

  Siraj rested his chin on Yasmin’s shoulder. “He has chosen a rich, royal amethyst for his robes, to honor the color of the Jackal Princess’s eyes.”

  Yasmin glanced at him in surprise, but Siraj wasn’t finished.

  “He has also chosen gold for the color of his belt-wraps and also for the embroidery of cobras around his sleeves and hem, in honor of my colors. I have no doubt he’s asking Zara right now to make him a Cobra armband for his wife Barika.”

  Yasmin watched as her father, the Falcon, grinned at Yasir while Zara nodded vigorously. A warmth entered her heart and she rested her head against Siraj’s cheek. She’d never been happier in her life.

  “We’ll have to hold a council for the Cobra to claim his princess,” Qadir said. “They’re already married, so I doubt it’ll be much more than a formality.”

  Siraj grinned. “We’ll have to make sure the people who ride his caravan see to it he’s tossed into the waters of his oasis.”

  The Viper and the Scarab both nodded and laughed.

  “Why?” Yasmin asked.

  “Tradition,” Siraj answered with mirth in his eyes. “Whenever a new prince is crowned, he is tossed into his oasis by his people.”

  “It will be amazing to see the Cobra’s oasis flowing once again,” Tariq said.

  “Yes, it will,” Qadir answered, waving at a lovely woman dressed in the Scarab’s blue. “Siraj, has your wife met your cousin?”

  “No, I don’t believe she has. But I am sure she will love your princess.”

  Qadir stood once the beauty in his colors had finally approached them. Her belly was round with child. According to Siraj, it was the first time they’d been able to conceive these past years, and they were both deliriously happy.

  Siraj stood as well, bringing Yasmin with him. “Yas, I’d like you to meet my cousin, Trianna Hadmas, the Scarab Princess. Trianna, this is my wife, Yasmin Pramtash.”

  Trianna shook Yasmin’s hand with a wide grin on her face. “I presume Siraj calls you his princess?”

  Siraj shook his head with thinly veiled irritation. “Of course I do!” he barked.

  Trianna’s laughter was infectious, making everyone around her laugh as well. “Never can tell after what the Spider tried to pull.”

  “Yes, well the Spider,” Siraj said dryly, “saw the error of his ways and rectified the situation.”

  “Indeed he did,” Trianna replied.

  As if he’d heard their conversation, the Spider Prince glanced their way and raised his wine glass, cradling his toddler son in his lap. He was leaning into the arms of his lovely wife Amani, the governor’s daughter. Everyone saluted him back with their wine, except for Trianna, who had a glass of tea rather than spirits.

  “Well, Jackal,” Trianna said. “I suppose we should let you get back to enjoying your own princess for a while.”

  “Yes, you should.”

  Yasmin had to cover her mouth to keep from giggling at Siraj’s response.

  The Viper and the Scarab took their leave, mingling with the governor and his family.

  Once they were alone, Siraj whispered in Yasmin’s ear. “Come with me to my private tent.”

  “You mean our private tent, Jackal?” she amended, holding his hands around her belly.

  He gave her one feather-soft kiss where her neck met her shoulder, and just like that, her pussy was wet. He leisurely licked her there as well, seemingly unperturbed by the people all around them.

  “Yes, I mean our private tent.” He pressed her back against him and the hard line of his cock poked against her ass.

  “We’ll miss
the bractav,” she teased.

  “That’s all right,” he whispered, now tonguing her earlobe. “I have a much sweeter dessert I plan on eating.”

  She groaned with desire. “How far away is your tent?”

  “You mean our tent?” His eyes sparkled when he caught her gaze. Her mouth went dry and she merely nodded. “Not far.”

  “Then take me, Siraj.”

  If the look on his face was any indication, he’d caught on to her double meaning. Siraj stood so fast, Yasmin stumbled, but she did not fall. The other princes chuckled at their hasty retreat, making her blush, but she didn’t care about their knowing glances. All she cared about was being with the man she adored more than any other.

  The cool evening air was welcome against her heated cheeks. She had to trot to keep up with Siraj’s long strides. He’d been correct, the tent wasn’t far, and he’d just barely led her through the flaps before he attacked her, pulling her to the ground and ripping away her undergarments.

  “What are you…?”

  “Shh,” he interrupted with a wicked grin. “Having you wiggling in my lap has set me on fire. Will you deny me?”

  Yasmin threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled his lips to hers. Siraj growled and fumbled with his own undergarments before he forced her legs open, settling between them.

  “Gods above, my beautiful princess, I love you.”

  Without another word, he thrust forth, his cock easily finding her channel. Yasmin bucked, crying out at the exquisite feeling of having him plunging deep into her pussy.

  “I love you, too,” she managed to say through her gasps. “Siraj, my Jackal.”

  “Come for me,” he whispered hotly, thrusting so hard their skin slapped loudly. Yasmin lifted her legs against him and followed his rhythm with her hips, rubbing herself on the hair surrounding his cock.

  Within seconds, she came, her orgasm thundering through her, seeming to crest on and on. Siraj rode the waves of her ecstasy, continuing to pound her, until his own pleasure released in a primal roar that echoed out into the night.

  With a few harsh pants and a gentle kiss, Siraj brought them both down from the sky then tucked his face in her neck and breathed deep. Yasmin’s entire body shivered before she embraced him and smiled, silently thanking the god of Jackals for giving her to the most wondrous man she’d ever known.