Page 95 of Sands of Atonement

“Enough,” the man in the middle warned, raising his hand to him.

“Is there anything else I can help you with? I really don’t appreciate that my wife is in this position,” Ezra growled.

“I understand all too well. The Atrove stole my own. Well… She was going to be my wife until they took her.”

The world started slowing to a brutal halt.

No, it couldn’t be.

Could this be the Gabriel Halim?

“I’m sorry to hear that. What a tragedy.” I placed a hand on my chest, as if I were so shocked someone would do that. “What is her name so that we might keep an eye out for her?”

Ezra scowled at me, probably because he wanted them gone, not making small talk. He didn’t understand what I knew—what I had to find out.

The man didn’t hesitate. “Her name is Norrah.”

Norrah.

My heart pounded violently against my ribcage—I thought it would burst open. My Norrah.

Ezra stilled, staring at Gabriel with cold eyes, realization dawning on him as well. My hands squeezed the wool blanket, imagining it was Gabriel’s throat.

“We will be on our way. We apologize for any… disturbances.”

They turned around just before Ezra said, “If you’re looking for the Atrove, they most likely already know this. They may be fooling with you.”

Gabriel’s lips twitched, the only expression I’d seen on this man. “Oh, I know this. I’m counting on it.”

All three men turned on their heels, dropped the flaps, and left. We heard the hooves of horses fading into the dark desert sands.

Not a second went by before he was up, placing his white robes over his shoulders.

“W—what are you going to do?” I stammered, keeping the wool blanket over my breasts. His hard tan chest disappeared over fabric, and I swallowed.

“What does it look like?” He placed his belt over his hips and disappeared through the flaps.

Without wasting another moment, I wrapped the blanket more securely around my body and stormed out to see what he was doing. Ezra gathered the reins to his horse, and his weapons were on his hip, sword attached to his back.

“Here.” His hand reached out with a dagger in it, and I met his eyes.

He was handing me a dagger.

My mouth went dry. This night just kept getting more interesting. One moment I was in Ezra’s arms, his lips on my neck—then the next I was backing Ezra up, saving his life so his identity wasn’t found, and now he was handing me a weapon knowing full well I could use it against him. “Just in case. I’ll be back before long.”

“There are three of them and one of you.” The words spilled from my tongue.

His lips twitched, but they didn’t quite seem to reach his eyes. “Your sentiments are noted. Take it.”

With hesitation, my hands wrapped around the dagger.

“He’s the General of Brestan. Don’t start a war over it,” I warned, taking a step forward. “I’m sure he won’t find Norrah—she’s safe in Urnaz.”

Ezra hoisted his body over the horse’s back and met my gaze.

“I know they won’t find her. That’s not the problem. That man looked at you like he wanted to ravage you and ruin you,” Ezra spoke of the man nearest to me, staring at my draped wool, “and in my world, anyone who looks at you like that is enough to start a war.”

My lips parted, but before I could say anything else, Ezra clicked his tongue twice and was dust in the wind.