Page 172 of Sands of Atonement

He wore an all-black outfit with a black hood around his beautiful, angular face. I wore a white tunic, threaded in thick gold that weaved through the threads of the fabric, and a soft black robe that covered my head. Last time I was here, I was barely eighteen and full of life. I thought I would have plenty more years in Urnaz as a princess. I pulled the hood over my face when I saw someone catch my eye with a flash of recognition on their face.

I still wanted to have the element of surprise when I reached my brother.

Ezra brushed his fingers against mine, and electricity ran down my body. Every touch he gave me was like a jolt of energy that sprang from within. It had been a week since I killed Targon and saw Ezra’s life flash across my eyes and nearly went mad. It had been some days since Ezra made love to me and confessed to me that he loved me. Our bodies were drained and exhausted from the journey and needed rest, but we’d barely stopped for any.

As we walked through the crowded cobblestone streets of Crahst, I found myself inching closer to Ezra, brushing my arm against his, seeking his warmth. It was chillier since we were currently in the third and last season of Zyriah. It didn’t get cooler than this until spring, then our long summer awaited. But still, it was colder than I was used to living in Urnaz. There were more rivers flowing through and around Crahst, and trees and shrubs covered the outskirts, giving more shade from the heat during the long summers. It was cooler than Tehara, but not by much. Tehara was just more brutal when it came to the extreme elements of the desert.

We came to a stop at a small palace that I had not recognized.

“Where are we? I thought we would stop at an inn,” I said as I craned my neck at how tall the metal gate stood.

“It’ll be safer to stay. And more comfortable,” Ezra muttered.

We approached the gate, and a guard—technically Ezra’s man—stepped forward. Ezra dropped his hood, and the guard widened his eyes for a moment before bowing and stepping aside, pushing the gate open.

“Come.” Ezra reached for me. As soon as I passed the gate, he placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me through. The creak of the gate sounded as it closed, and we entered a beautiful oasis-like courtyard. An exquisite fountain of a sphinx spread out in front of the palace, sputtering water out of its mouth. Tall, green palm trees shielded the home and welcomed us on the path to the door.

“What is this place?” I breathed.

“It’s our emissary’s palace. The fake one—the one your brother thinks is our emissary’s palace—is across Crahst, far from here. I didn’t trust him with where I stayed. Still don’t. However, this is where I stay when I have affairs to work through with your brother. I also don’t trust myself not to burn down Kavid’s palace for what he tried to do to you.”

I glanced over to find him scowling before he rapped on the wooden door in front of us.

Moody. Oops.

The door swung open, and a tall, middle-aged man with furrowed brows walked through.

His jaw dropped and slammed shut. Opened again, “Qahl Ezra? My God, it is you. I haven’t received any letters you’d be coming! Come in, come in. Ah, who is this woman that you have with you?”

He wouldn’t notice who I was, I hoped. But even if he did, this emissary was Teharan, not Zyrian. Suddenly, I felt safer with that knowledge, but it left an empty feeling in my chest.

I smiled. “I’m Mara.”

“Mara, beautiful.” The man smiled. Another moment went by, and his face dropped as soon as his eyes fell on Ezra.

“Yes, Charon, she is.” He stepped right in, gripping and pulling my arm closer to him.

“You know where your room is, and I’ll have lunch prepared for you immediately. Welcome, Mara, it is my honor to host you.” Charon bowed his head respectfully once we came in.

“Thank you, I’m happy to be here.” And I meant it. I already felt more at peace being in his home.

The marbled living rooms within were wide open, with a vast opening sweeping directly into the surrounding courtyard. Hundreds of plants flooded the indoors and outdoors of this small palace, causing the air to feel fresh and light.

“The horses need to be bathed and fed. We’ll be back to speak to you soon, Charon.” Ezra pulled me up the spiral staircase to the right of the entrance.

“Will you need separate rooms prepared for you?” A twinkle in Charon’s eyes told me he was full of teases, as a beastly growl came from the back of Ezra’s throat.

We were already halfway up the stairs when he was about to turn around, but I continued pulling him toward the top of the stairs. I could tell he was ready to pummel his own emissary to the ground, no matter how innocent he was.

He wasn’t kidding about not letting anything or anyone keep me from him.

My toes curled with how passionately he kept his promises, but I had to keep him from killing any innocent bystanders.

As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, he pulled me to the right and through the hallway where wide-open curtain windows let the air flow in from the palm tree garden below.

“This way.” He opened a door at the end of the hallway on the left.

A large room with a bed—it felt as if years had gone by since I had lain in one of those. My heart skipped a beat thinking of what could happen with Ezra on that bed. My head lifted, and I was welcomed with floor-to-ceiling openings to the balcony. Curtains flowed in with the cool breeze that entered. I walked through the room, my fingers brushing along the indoor plants that spread near the balcony.