The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1)

by Renée Ahdieh

“Why did you go to Amardha?” His eyebrows drew together. “I heard Jalal arranged for you to meet Musa Zaragoza. Undoubtedly, you learned interesting facts about my childhood while he was here. I assume you know about my mother now?” “He told me about her, yes.” “The Sultan of Parthia and I have a tacit agreement. Every six months or so, I go to see him and make veiled threats, posturing like a peacock in a show of force meant to dissuade him from suggesting I am not the rightful heir to the Caliphate of Khorasan.” “Excuse me?” Shahrzad sputtered. The caliph continued. “It’s logical, really. He openly calls my mother a whore. And everyone questions my parentage. Then he’s able to rally support and wage war for the caliphate. Only, he lacks the strength and the numbers to take a stand. And I intend to keep it that way.” “He—would call your mother a whore?” “It shouldn’t shock you. My father said as much to me. Many times.” Shahrzad took a careful breath. “Did your father also question whether or not you were his son?” The caliph raised the cup of wine to his lips and took a long sip. “Again, it shouldn’t shock you.” She almost wished she had misheard his words. What kind of loveless childhood did he have? “And this is normal to you?” He set his cup down on the table. “I suppose I have a skewed understanding of the word.” “Do you want me to pity you, sayyidi?” “Do you want to pity me, Shahrzad?” “No. I do not.” “Then don’t.”