Death was never a concern to Veranesh. Those of yalari who had the wits and will to advance above others, to become kanyalari—the most powerful of their own kind—understood that death was a part of the endless cycle. Those who feared death never reached beyond the limits of their own bodies. Veranesh couldn’t blame them for being hesitant. After all, no matter how beneficial it could become, death was always a risk, and many preferred to keep their domains intact rather than pursue more power. Back in Yalarethe, he had not died for centuries, as death would bring him no benefit. Already on top, he had nowhere higher to climb.
As his wings carried him across the desert, his shadow skimming through the dunes like a hunting predator, he couldn’t help thinking how back then he was convinced t
