Page 154 of Sands of Atonement

Lazerak.

His eyes were wide with surprise and fury. He didn’t say another word, but ushered me with his dark-skinned hand through the chamber and into the next. Casimir and I passed his bedchamber, and to the further chamber he owned, a place with a low couch and a desk.

A place where we could speak our thoughts.

“There are two of you? Fucking hell.” Lazerak brushed a large palm over his white beard, which matched the curls on the top of his head. “There should be a law about that. That’s fucked up, Ruhn.”

Only my men know me by that name.

“Or should I say Ezra?” he proceeded with a brow raised.

My eyes darted to his, and I narrowed them.

“That’s right. Targon just told everyone. A lot of them weren’t too happy to hear their leader was also leading Tehara… a clear conflict of interest.” He crossed his arms.

I placed my hands into my pockets, trying to compose the rage that built up within me, and lifted my head to meet Lazerak’s eyes.

It wasn’t as dangerous for the Atrove to know who they worked for or with, but rather people who were not part of the Atrove. If my men knew I was a Qahl, it would have complicated some things, but it wasn’t a life-and-death situation. But with the right man and the right manipulation, it could be used to persuade a few others to betray me.

I palmed my own face and took a breath.

“You weren’t here when he came in. The older Atrovians thought they were seeing God for the first time. It was fucking ridiculous.”

“I bet,” I said. “Listen, how many have converted?”

Lazarak merely shrugged. “I’ve only spoken to Ylias, Solomon, Aulus, Clyde, Silas and a few others.”

“What was your plan?” I asked, needing to be brought up to speed.

“We’ve been waiting for you, even though Targon said you’d be dead. Some didn’t believe his words, so we’d been keeping quiet. We actually have a meeting tonight. You got here just in time.”

I took a seat on the low couch, fucking exhausted. “No more waiting. This isn’t Targon’s doing, as he will come and go as he pleases.”

“I know.” Lazerak shook his head absently, staring at the floor ahead of him.

“Knowing my identity shouldn’t rile so many against me,” I spoke my thoughts out loud. I was disappointed. “I expect my men to be loyal, Goddamn.”

“You’re right. I think the older Atrovians… they got to some of the others before I could. But I know there are some of us, more than I can count, who don’t agree with any of this. Some that are still loyal to you.”

I took another deep breath, but the air seemed unwilling to fill my lungs. My chest was tight as I spoke. God, how many of these do I have to take in order to feel like I can finally breathe again?

“Anything else you can think of that I need to know? What has Targon been up to while he’s been here?”

“He just got in a few nights ago. Another man was here, Gabriel. Riled some up, knowing he wasn’t one of us—some thought he looked familiar. He took a woman with him that Targon promised⁠—”

“Norrah?” My voice rose without control. I lifted myself from the couch.

Lazerak looked at me quizzically. “Yes… I—I think that’s what her name was.”

“Holy fuck,” I heard pure exasperated dread from Casimir. His head was in the palms of his hands, and he was taking a deep breath.

“No… no.” I shook my head in disbelief. Are you fucking kidding me? “Norrah was under my protection,” I explained to Lazerak. “Was she here with⁠—”

“Princess of Zyriah, Eshe. Yes,” he answered with eyes wide, as if he didn’t know how important these women were to the Atrove or to me. “She was taken by Targon.”

“Where is she? Where did he take her?” I lurched at Lazerak, holding him by the tunic in my hands. I couldn’t see straight. I was seeing blinding red.

“Ruhn, she’s here.” Lazerak held his palms in front of me. I knew he was loyal to me. I knew that I had to calm down, but I just couldn’t. She was everything to me. “She’s safe. She’s here,” he repeated, placing his palms on my shoulders.