Page 76 of Sands of Atonement

“Isn’t that the North Star?”

Kavid followed my gaze and smiled, “Yes, it looks like it is. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but Kavid—we shouldn’t be seeing that if we traveled east?” My mouth dried. “Are we heading west?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t we be?” Kavid asked, flabbergasted. “You know that’s the quickest road home.”

I swallowed. “Isn’t that where Ezra told you not to go?” I glanced at Kavid.

He turned toward me. “I would never listen to a word Ezra says. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. Why are you looking at me like that? He’s a snake, Eshe.”

I didn’t trust him either, but… “Kavid, I think you should have listened to him. He knows these lands better than we do. The Atrove has been rumored to be more active than before…” My voice turned quiet and trailed off.

“The Atrove, the Atrove…” Kavid rolled his eyes. “My dear sister. The Atrove had nothing to do with what he was saying. He didn’t want me to go west because he didn’t want me to see the land that would belong to me one day.” I narrowed my eyes, trying to understand his thought process. “After you’re married. He’s still trying to maintain some sort of control over it, and fear of the Atrove isn’t going to stop me or change my mind.”

“Ezra wouldn’t lie about this,” I said, strangely defensive of Ezra. And suddenly I wondered why I was so sure that Ezra wouldn’t lie to us.

“And how would you know, Eshe?”

“I… Because… He just wouldn’t.” I didn’t understand why I was saying anything. My brother was so stubborn sometimes. That hadn’t changed. He was as overbearing, protective, and stubborn as he always has been.

“This conversation is over, Eshe. I’m doing what is best for you and me.” Heat radiated from his body. “You are safe, I promise.”

Kavid glared at me long enough for me to believe his words.

I knew I had pushed his buttons and had to change the subject so that at least we’d go to sleep on the right terms. I’d never leave again feeling unsettled.

I softly brushed my shoulder against his.

“Can you tell me a story like you used to do on nights out in the desert?”

Kavid smiled and nodded. “Give me a moment.”

I waited, hugging my legs, and stared into the fire that burned ahead of us. There were many surrounding us, but this fire was just for Kavid and me. It was nice to connect with him finally, after the long hours inside the palanquin, despite how the conversation turned.

“There was once an important man who lived inside the palace walls. Walls that would never crumble down, walls that protected, no matter the threat.”

His voice floated around the warm fire.

“This important man had a secret that no one could find out, otherwise they would die. It was a curse, and it was a secret worth killing for. He was Atrovian.”

His voice turned quiet. The sky for a moment turned darker, almost like the stars were dimming one flicker after the other, just by that name, Atrovian.

Chills ran down my arm.

“That wasn’t the only secret this important Atrovian man carried.” Kavid paused. He became distant. “He fell in love with a woman. A beautiful woman.”

I gasped. Forbidden love, how juicy. Oh, he was good at storytelling. Always had been. I was already hooked. One time, he told me a story of a woman ruling a country as Qahless, and it was my favorite. I made him tell me that story on repeat for two weeks straight.

I’d never admit it, but he was to blame for the fight within me.

Kavid continued his captivating storytelling, whispering, “He made love to her one night⁠—”

I inhaled sharply. “No…”

“Yes, he did⁠—”

“But he’s an Atrovian! That’s like… the worst of sins to them.” God, I was soaking this up. I loved it when someone broke the law. In fact, I might even encourage it from time to time. It could be therapeutic. “Totally against their moral code.”