Page 122 of Sands of Atonement

I dropped my hand just in time for him to grab my wrist.

The touch sent a shiver down my spine, and he took another step⁠—

Another one⁠—

His hand was pushing me from below my stomach⁠—

I was in the waters.

The water flooded above me, and I felt his arms pull me up to life—to the surface.

I took the largest breath I could and gripped myself to him.

He pulled me further and further away from the sandy shallows. All I could do was lean against Ezra and let go.

Something in my heart did too.

I wasn’t fighting it anymore. I trusted him. I wanted to be near him and to touch him.

Through the water, I wrapped my legs around his thick core, my thin dress trailing around me.

His body tensed beneath mine, but his arm reached around me and secured me closer.

Why was it that we could only get along when we were touching? When we weren’t touching each other, we wanted to kill each other? Figuratively.

It was like stepping into a different world—a silent one—when we made contact.

I saw Casimir glance at us. He shook his head slightly, amused. Yven smiled and waved at me. They were becoming smaller and smaller the more Ezra swam across the waters with me. Suddenly, I saw a large shadow of the cliff above us, and the waters became chillier.

We passed large boulders in the water, and eventually Ezra stood in front of one and sat me on it. The water came to my waist, causing my breasts to be wildly exposed to the chilled weather. Although I felt safe in his arms, this boulder would do. It was better if he wasn’t touching me anyway.

“You asked me a question,” he said to me with the most solemn eyes. I nodded. “I answered truthfully. Now, it’s your turn to be honest.”

My mouth went dry, trying to read his eyes. “Go ahead.”

“Why did you pick him?”

I remained still. Not breathing, not moving.

I shook my head—I couldn’t answer it. That was something even I had a hard time admitting to myself.

“Eshe,” he warned.

I glanced toward the waters in front of us. What could I say?

“I… I wanted you…” I stared into the bottom of the lake, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Then why did you pick him?”

I met his eyes, which, surprisingly, were just as angry as mine.

“Because you hated me,” I said, feeling my body tense. “You ignored me. You belittled me. You didn’t like me. I picked Casimir because—because I wanted to hate you back.”

A part of my young heart cracked. The truth was out. I could drown right now, and I would be happier than in this moment of vulnerability.

Ezra pushed his hand through his hair. He broke eye contact with me.

But I had to know. “Why did you?” I breathed. “Why did you hate me?”