Page 63 of Sands of Atonement

I could feel her breath across my lips, and the air suddenly grew thick and warm.

Eshe’s hand slowly wrapped on top of mine, and I suddenly was aware that my hand had tightened on the handle. Eshe pried the dagger from my palm. I let her, of course.

Without waiting another moment, she flung the dagger at the target.

Her knife landed closer to the middle than mine did.

“I bet you can’t do better than that,” she grunted with a smirk.

I knew what she was doing. She wanted to challenge me so that she could continue training with me. She didn’t think I’d allow her to. And the strangest thing occurred—I let it happen.

The next dagger I threw was indeed closer than hers, which infuriated her. God, she was so easy to ruffle up. Had not changed in the slightest.

For a few minutes, she continued hurling my daggers at the target while I stayed behind. With my arms crossed, I studied her with my exceptional observational skills. The way she leaned on her front leg more than the leg behind. How her wrists were gentle yet firm as she flung the daggers. How her core was engaged and her back steady.

I hated to admit it, but her form was excellent.

There was just one thing wrong.

I walked up from behind Eshe and did not hesitate when I pressed my thigh against the inside of hers.

Her back stiffened, and she froze.

“The distance between your legs is too close.”

I pressed her legs further apart.

She followed the direction I pressed.

I laid a gentle hand on the small of her back and pushed. She resisted. Better. She was steadier now.

She looked behind and caught my eye.

The thought of her flushed up against me, and her looking at me like that stopped my breath. My lips parted barely, air drying the entirety of my mouth, causing me to lean slightly forward. For the briefest moment, my hand drifted to her hip and tugged her slightly toward me.

Something flashed in her eyes as well, and she immediately turned to face forward again.

She nodded at my instructions.

I reluctantly took a step back, flexing my hand, and she threw another dagger, hitting exactly where the middle target was.

My lips twitched.

This was so wrong, but I couldn’t bring myself to end it. What would my father think of this? What would my men say about me?

But then I wondered, did I really care at all?

“I need to know something.” Eshe turned around with no daggers left to throw. “Is Norrah safe?”

The arena turned quiet as I stared at Eshe.

So Norrah told her what I did. I doubt Norrah freely gave up that information. Eshe was hard to back off. But still, Norrah betrayed my orders.

I tilted my head, studying her.

“Don’t concern yourself with politics that have nothing to do with you, little warrior. The sooner you learn that, the better.”

“Norrah does concern me,” she stated.