Page 69 of Sands of Atonement

I understood what he was warning me about. Don’t speak of what he did—keeping me from seeing my brother. The meaning between his words—Don’t be the reason war will start between us again.

I nodded, agreeing with his request. To be quite honest, I didn’t care for adding drama between the two countries’ Qahls. I just wanted to see Kavid.

He slowly turned toward me. He was tall and built with strong bones. His face was closely shaven, giving way to his chiseled, angular face. That was my Kavid.

Though there wasn’t light in this hallway aside from the few windows on the right side of us, I could recognize him in any phase of his life. I would recognize him in any lifetime.

His eyes slid to the left of me. To Ezra.

My heart thudded against my chest.

The space between Ezra and me tightened as he tensed, almost realizing the same thing.

My brother didn’t recognize me.

Ezra kept his gaze on me, seemingly reading me.

I took a step forward and swallowed. “Kavid.”

The man before me returned his attention to me. After a moment, his face crumbled in final recognition. No doubt in complete disbelief that his sister was alive.

His jaw fell. “Eshe… How. How is this possible?” His voice was shaky.

Kavid’s face paled as if he were seeing a ghost. He took a step forward, but I couldn’t stop myself from running into his embrace. His arms caught me, and they were just as I remembered. My heart burst with joy. My brother was here. In my arms. In my life. Alive! I could cry.

“Kavid, you’re alive,” I muffled against his chest, tears nearly choking the back of my throat.

“You’re alive! How did I not know? How are you alive? How is this possible?” He repeated himself, pushing me out for a moment to study my face.

“Salazar saved me that night,” I explained as I studied his own with my hands. The texture of his sandpaper skin, subtle but sharp, tickled my fingertips.

“He what?”

“He found me buried and pulled me out. He brought me to safety in Mongah. I had no idea you survived, or I would have been home with you,” I said.

His dark brown eyes scanned my face and my body, ensuring I wasn’t a ghost. That I was real. “My God, Eshe. I can’t believe my own eyes. You’re alive…” He shook his head and pulled me back into the warmth of his arms. I wasn’t used to receiving so many embraces from men, but here I was, one after the other. I was grateful that this one was my brother. I allowed myself to fully embrace him, holding nothing back.

“Wait, how are you here now? Why are you… here?” he asked, brows furrowing.

My gaze turned behind me to Ezra. He was leaning lazily on the wall, his expression stone-cold.

Our eyes locked. A chill traced down my spine.

“Ezra, do you mind giving my sister and me a moment?” Kavid grunted.

“Actually, I do.”

Both our heads snapped toward Ezra. My back stiffened.

“And why is that?” Kavid gritted out. “She’s my sister.”

“Eshe tried to kill me.” Ezra’s eyes held mine, not budging. I could almost feel him testing me, challenging me to push him more. “In my own home.”

Kavid slowly turned his gaze back to me. I nearly trembled at my brother. He was disappointed.

“Why would she do that?” he drawled.

“Revenge,” Ezra answered.