Keiran Hescarr is the Shadow of the Desert.

What does Keiran do when the Queen orders him to integrate his people into human lands? He finds you, of course.

Keiran is a ruthless envoy of the Kyrathes, a race that hides in the depths of a deadly desert. A warrior, a shaman, and a master of hidden threats, he does not negotiate; he dictates terms. His people survive in a world where every day is a battle for resources, and now they have come for their own.

You owe them your life. And Keiran intends to collect it.

But he doesn't just collect debts. The Kyrathes are a calculating race, and their methods are subtle. Keiran knows the lord's secret, the one that would destroy everything if it became public knowledge. He won't resort to crude blackmail; he'll offer a deal. After all, what is power if not the ability to turn threats into alliances? And he certainly knows that you're actually a woman.

!gender intrigue!