Page 156 of Sands of Atonement

No.

Her soft red lips were open and bleeding.

As soon as I lifted the rest of the debris off her body, I brought her into my lap and felt for a heartbeat on her pale neck.

Please, please be alive.

The heartbeat was so faint, I barely breathed.

“Eshe, please,” I whispered, swallowing thickly.

I coaxed her. “Wake up…” The morning light gave her face more clarity now. Her eyes were shut, and I couldn’t see those silver-grays. I was angry. I was out of control. I squeezed my arms around her body.

“I will protect you, I swear… I’ll keep you somewhere safe. No one will be able to find you and hurt you again. Give me another chance.”

Footsteps slid behind me. “She’s unconscious, but she’s alive.”

I placed my trembling hands around her heart-shaped face. “Eshe, come back to me,” I whispered in her ear. My forehead pressed into hers. “Just give me another chance…”

“Targon’s been giving her the tea.”

I nodded, letting out a breath, pleading with her to wake up soon. “Of course, he would. She’s relentless when it comes to escaping chambers.”

Casimir scoffed quietly behind me. I slid my arms under her knees and her neck and brought her close to my chest.

We locked the chamber again before we brought her to Lazerak’s second chamber, on the low couch. I had no idea when they last forced the tea into her, so she could be waking up at any moment. Placing her on the couch, I brushed my lips against her forehead. My chest tightened at the sight of her completely vulnerable.

I hated it.

I needed her in front of me, arguing with me, pushing or pulling me, whatever she wanted. I needed her touch, her words, her fighting strength. I needed her with me because we promised if we did something, we would do it together, and right now I needed to burn this fucking place to the ground.

Swallowing the painful lump that rose in my throat, I stood up and met Lazerak’s eyes. He now knew about Eshe and me, and I didn’t care.

Things were going to change around here, and it was about time they did.

The meeting was held in Lazerak’s first chamber, curtains pulled closed so that no one saw Eshe lying lifeless on the couch.

Ylias, Solomon, Aulus, Clyde, Silas, and more showed up with hoods down. There were perhaps fifteen of us, and when Lazerak pulled the linen curtains closed, I pulled my hood down.

I heard murmurs, lots of swear words, and sighs of what seemed like relief.

“You’re back,” Solomon, one of my best warriors, muttered.

“About fucking time,” another said.

“Where’ve you been?” Aulus asked.

I took a deep breath before I placed my hands out, silencing them. “I was attacked by some of the Atrovians on the east side.”

“Holy shit,” Silas said in his hands. No doubt thinking this was all a mess. Which it was.

“I came as soon as I realized the shift was happening,” I explained. “But… before you decide anything, there is something you should know if Targon’s reign is truly over.”

There was a quietness that wafted through the chamber.

“I’ll be changing the law.” My men, including Lazerak, began to shift their feet, but I kept mine planted. I had to remain calm and collected through this bomb I just planted in front of them.

Something that would shake the entire Atrove. Something that could change it forever.