Page 1 of Crown of the Dunes (The Ballan Desert #2)

Erix

T he desert screamed. Her voice in my mind was a constant whisper, connecting me to the vibrating web of life and death that stretched across my homeland. She had demanded many things from me: blood, pain, patience. Now, that voice threatened to shred my sanity.

The knot of magic at the base of my skull shuddered and I with it. The desert was missing her Heart, and she threatened to tear apart all creation if it was not returned. We had that in common.

The desert wanted her Heart, and I wanted mine.

Keera.