Page 55 of Sands of Atonement

I shrugged. “Just a simple lesson. She’ll be fine.”

Casimir scoffed. “Knowing you, it most likely wasn’t as simple as you say.” He moved his damn bishop again. “Fear is not going to be how you control anyone.”

“On the contrary”—I moved my knight—“inducing fear can be quite effective. I speak of this from experience.” I shot him a wink.

“Yes, but when it comes to Eshe, maybe a gentler method would work better,” he countered.

“Gentler method? Do you know of whom we’re speaking?”

Casimir laughed, moving his palace piece to the side. I moved my pawn one square up.

“Just in my personal experience with women, they respond better with this. I’ve never had an issue getting what I want.”

It was my turn to laugh. “You speak truth, my brother. I just want Eshe out of my business.”

“Then why don’t you let her go? I’m sure you wouldn’t have this issue anymore.”

For a moment, a memory came to the forefront of my mind from eight years ago.

I walked eagerly near my father’s desk in the guest quarters at the palace in Crahst, capital of Zyriah. He had called me in for another meeting. There’d been a lot of those lately in preparation for the engagement. I would be marrying Eshe to keep the peace from the wars that have been going on between our families for generations.

“I have some news, Ezra, and you’re not going to like it.” The column of his throat worked before he cleared it. “Eshe will be marrying Casimir. It will be announced during her celebration tonight.”

The tapestry from under me threatened to pull up. For a moment, I saw only red. I could feel heat vibrating through my body.

“How is that possible?” I snapped, pressing my fingers to my chest. “I’m the oldest.”

“Her father is… unorthodox in his ways. He let his daughter decide,” my father explained.

I loved my brother, but for a split second, I hated him. I felt guilty about that instantly. But Eshe was mine. I could feel it in my bones. I wanted her—I needed her.

Though it was pouring for the first time this year, the rain would not cool my body enough to calm me once I left my father’s chambers. My hands shook, and I pulled them together until they squeezed white.

I never wanted to hurt someone more than in this moment.

As I passed by the outdoor baths, I heard screaming. Though it was late in the afternoon and the storm made it hard to see through, I saw her. Alone, gasping, nearly drowning in the flooding bath. She was tied against one of the railings, and quickly and without sound, I loosened them. I waited to ensure she noticed that the rope had loosened. She finally lifted herself up from the bath, trembling and freezing. She looked around and found no one. I disappeared around the columns, and the thick, dark storm surrounded us.

But I found someone other than Eshe there at the baths that night.

He was there, watching.

My hands throbbed to murder him for what he did⁠—

Casimir cleared his throat, waiting for a response that took too long for me to give.

“I haven’t decided what I want to do with her,” I said at last.

The door opened, and our servant came to let us know dinner had been served in the dining room.

Casimir and I left our chess game and walked to dinner in silence. The spices wafted through the air as we entered the room. The table held multiple types of sauces, meats with rice, but my appetite had not yet returned from the memory that pronged my mind.

We sat on opposite sides of the long wooden table. Typically, our father would be here, but he hadn’t sat for dinner over the last year, as his health had been declining.

Our mother entered. She was dressed in her dark purple robes. They arrived earlier today, tired but seemingly rejuvenated. As usual, she sat near Casimir because I was never one to make good conversation. I would eat as fast as I could and leave even quicker. Conversations were a nuisance and distracted me from my duties.

I gave our mother a quick nod before the three of us sat in our places.

Before I had time to pick up my fork, the door swung open again. Eshe walked in without so much as a glance in my direction. Her thick black hair waved loosely past her half-bare shoulders. She wore loose black pants and a fitted top, showing more skin than I would have cared to see.