Page 53 of Sands of Atonement

Nothing was working. How was nothing working? I was trained for this. But clearly, Ezra had been trained better than I had. My body couldn’t stop trembling from how much hate ran through it.

My eyelids grew heavy.

Tomorrow, the servants would hopefully help me.

The sun peeked through the curtains and woke me. I looked up, my wrists still tied to the bed. My arms and shoulders ached. I glanced down at my ripped dress. My breasts were nearly exposed, but not quite.

Pounding rang in my ears.

I was calm. I was at peace. Calm. Peace.

Through the window, I could see the sun was already halfway through the sky. My stomach growled at me. I swallowed dryly. The servant would have already come by now, but I didn’t hear anything.

Suddenly, the door slowly creaked open.

Thank fucking God.

My breath caught in my throat.

No.

Ezra walked in alone. His pants were hanging low, and his beige tunic opened at the top, revealing his strong, tan chest. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.

I was going to kill him. I glared at him as he strutted toward me.

“Are you going to listen?”

I pressed my lips against each other.

“You’re putting yourself in this position, Eshe.”

“No—you put me in this position!” My affirmations went out the window, and I wanted nothing more than to snap his neck.

Ezra leaned against the bedpost across from me. Not too close, or else I’d be tempted to strangle him with my legs. Smart.

A few moments passed. I calmed myself once again, thinking happy thoughts. My brother was alive. Seda visited the other day. Norrah was the sister I never had.

“Are you ready to listen?” Ezra interrupted my happy thoughts.

“I have nothing else I could do but listen.” I looked away from him toward the window.

“No.” Ezra chuckled. “You clearly don’t understand what I mean.” I looked back at him questioningly. “You are going to listen to me from now on. If I so much as suspect that you have disobeyed me again, the consequence will be far greater.”

“You”—my heart raced—“are not my father. You do not tell me what to do. I will die here, and I wouldn’t care as long as you know that I am not yours to do as you please.”

“It’s your choice,” Ezra grunted with a shrug, like he couldn’t care less. He started to walk toward the entrance of the room.

“Ezra—wait!” I shouted. There was nothing I hated more than being confined. Being confined. I felt like I could be drowning, the walls caving in. Anything could happen here with me tied. I couldn’t⁠—

My breathing quickened again.

Ezra stopped and turned slowly, his hands in his pockets.

“What exactly do you want from me?” I managed to get out.

“Do not sneak around my business or question the people that are mine. Rather simple, really,” he whispered.

“I want to be able to fight in your arena here at the palace.”