Page 62 of Sands of Atonement

I flicked my wrist and let the knife slide from my palm. The dagger whizzed past Eshe’s ear and into the practice target behind her.

Eshe stood still. Smart.

Too smart for her own good.

I grabbed another dagger from behind me and stared at Eshe.

Something flashed across her eyes, but she did not move.

I swung another dagger at her.

She didn’t flinch.

The dagger met the middle of my wooden target.

Something warm and unexpected swelled in my chest. My eyes hadn’t left hers.

I placed another dagger in my hand and took a step toward Eshe.

Her eyes fluttered down the length of my body, but she didn’t step back.

I finally stopped before her, looking down at her. When there was distance, she seemed taller than she actually was. But when I was this close, she was an entire head shorter than I was. I could crush her if I wanted to.

The thought led to images of her beneath me. In her bedroom.

“I chose not to harm you right now. Wouldn’t that be considered protecting you from harm?” I questioned.

“Did you want to hurt me?”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

“And you chose not to?”

“That is what I said.” I tilted my head, wondering where she was getting at.

“Then I suppose you did protect me.” Her lips twitched. “From yourself.”

I raised the dagger underneath her chin, and I could see the pulse in her throat fluttering violently.

“Don’t say I never protected you again.”

Her eyes locked with mine. She made a mistake then, and her eyes dropped to my lips. I allowed myself to look at her own full, wet lips. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to grab her and bite them as a punishment for making me feel this way.

“That’s manipulation since you were the one who put me in danger in the first place.”

“Is it? I think you put yourself in this position again, Eshe.”

Her eyes met mine again—her jaw tightened.

“I am here to avenge my family. And I will.”

I leaned my head forward, closer now. Just enough to almost touch her. I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I think you’re looking in the wrong direction.”

Her breath hitched, and the rhythm of her chest rose and fell quickly. I hated that I noticed it.

“If you know the direction…” she whispered against my skin. “Would you tell me where it is?”

“I might.” I was surprised that I admitted that. Her eyes met mine, and I saw something else besides pure hatred and rage. She almost looked human for a moment.