Page 68 of Sands of Atonement

He wasn’t around here.

Where could he be? My mind raced.

Biting my lip, I darted forward.

Perhaps Ezra’s study.

I heard several more shouts and footsteps pounding on the marble floor, but I didn’t stop.

My hands were shaking—I hadn’t seen him in eight years. I wondered how much he had changed. I wondered, as I peered into the next empty study, if he had grown taller, or if he had finally grown that beard he prayed every morning for. I wondered what he was like now—if he was just as protective as he was when we were younger. I passed by room I saw Ezra and Amr talking about Gabriel—he wasn’t there. I sprinted to the next one, probably the one meant for enemies instead of men who worked for him.

As soon as I turned another corner, a tan, iron-hard arm lunged out of nowhere and wrapped around my core. I almost thought my body had been cut in half. I slammed into the arm so hard. I let out a cry.

My stomach felt like it was no longer where it was supposed to be, and my feet were swept from solid ground.

I didn’t need to lift my head to know what it was.

Ezra had grabbed hold of me.

“Let me go!” I raised my voice, not caring who heard anymore.

But it was as if Ezra hadn’t heard me. He carried me by my core while I kicked him from behind. The pressure around my waist took my breath away, leaving my limbs weaker. “I need to see him, Ezra! Let me go, you fucking psycho!”

Ezra didn’t say a word. He didn’t budge.

I screamed Kavid’s name at the top of my lungs before Ezra slammed a hand over my mouth, covering my cries.

I could barely breathe as I continued to fight against his strength. My shoulders trembled as I tried to breathe through the screams, the panic, and the attack.

“Let me go,” I muffled against his hand when he turned another corner.

This was becoming a new nightmare. My brother was alive, and I couldn’t reach him.

Voices floated down the next tapestry-filled hallway. It was a darker hallway, perfect for the occasion. I froze in Ezra’s arms for a moment.

It was him. It was Kavid. It was soft, and I could barely make out any words, but it was him.

I hadn’t checked these rooms when I rushed to Ezra’s study rooms. I wanted to slam my head into the marble walls. How could I not have peeked into these rooms?

Ezra continued to carry me across the hallway. I elbowed his side and slammed my heels against his shins. He doubled over for a moment, and my free hand yanked his from my mouth.

“Kaviiid!”

The voice stopped speaking before Ezra covered my mouth once more. We were about to get to the end of the hallway when the door creaked open.

In that moment, Ezra dropped my feet onto the floor, and I felt a knife pressed against the small of my back. I stiffened.

“You fucked up, Eshe.” His whisper was low and rough near my ear. It sent a shiver down my spine.

I saw his foot before his entire body appeared through the now-opened door and walked into the hallway. He faced the opposite direction, and I froze.

Not caring at all, there was a threat just behind me.

My chest swelled with pride. He was here. He was alive.

My brother.

“Don’t do anything that would jeopardize this relationship. You’re in my palace and in my kingdom. So is your brother. Do I need to say more?”