Page 111 of Sands of Atonement

All three of them snapped their heads to Eshe, who was leaning on one of the tables near us. But I stared ahead and rolled my eyes.

After a few moments, I threw her a death stare to shut the fuck up, but she only curved her lips even further.

“No way…” Casimir drawled, his eyebrows high. “Who killed it?”

“Me,” Eshe and I answered simultaneously. We glared at each other.

“One of you is lying…” he sang. “Who could it be?”

“It was my kill. Ezra stole it. It’s just like him to steal the choice of everything.” Eshe looked over to Casimir.

I narrowed my eyes at her. What was she getting at?

“Ah, typical.” Casimir pursed his lips in defeat. “Anywho, let’s smoke this venom and have the night of our lives, shall we?” A twinkle flashed in Casimir’s eyes, and he winked at Yven.

“No, that’s not happening,” I blurted.

“I’ll go get it!” Eshe beamed.

Norrah bit her lower lip, looking more curious and brave by the minute. “Oh my God, I’m scared,” she squealed.

I whipped my head toward Eshe. I could tell she was up to something. I was this close to wrapping my hands around her neck and throttling her. She had no idea what she was messing with.

Eshe turned on her heel and walked through the dim room, but I caught up quickly. I grabbed her elbow and twisted her body to face me.

“I’m not talking to you tonight,” she hissed. “And I’m still thinking about whether I’ll talk to you for the rest of my life.”

She yanked at her elbow, but I only tightened my grip. “And why is that?”

“You lied to me.”

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

She pursed her lips, pink splashed high on her cheekbones.

“You could have brought me to the stairs. Yven told me there were stairs,” her voice wavered. “You liked seeing me weak. You liked seeing me—be like that!”

She was hurt. Something I wasn’t used to seeing on her face. Usually, she was more composed.

“You’re not even going to deny it?” She pressed.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Eshe.”

“Then don’t.” She twisted against my hold, but I just pulled her closer. I couldn’t hear the voice in the back of my head that frequently told me to keep her at arm's length.

That fucker was gone.

“Let me go! I’m over your games!” Eshe whisper-yelled at me, ensuring no one else heard our argument.

“There is no game,” I hissed back.

But God, aren’t I playing a fine line here?

Her eyes cut into me again⁠—

“You are when you wanted to see me cry, you wanted to see me hurt and in pain. You liked it—reveled in it. You’re a heartless, cruel man, Ezra.”

My chest tightened. I didn’t know why her words bothered me so much.