Page 89 of Sands of Atonement

I would rather take the poison of a Silver Snake than feel like death from my balls being shattered.

“Weak men with weak balls,” Eshe mumbled, attempting to push my heavy body off hers.

“I fucking hate you, woman.”

I took a deep breath, and then two. Her fucking jasmine scent was all over my face. I hated it. I hated all of it.

When I was ready, I lifted her squirming body over my shoulder and barged into my chamber, throwing her on my bed. It was a sight I would have reveled in, but time was of the essence. She quickly got on her knees and crept toward the other side of the bed, far from me.

I pointed a finger at her face. “Stay there.”

Her lips pursed, and red splotched her ears. The plan originally had been to find her with my men in the desert, take her from them and bring her where I wanted her—far from Kavid—so that she didn’t know who I was. I grabbed a white cloth and threw it in her face. Eshe’s jaw dropped, and I could feel her shaking with fury. She was about to spew something out of her mouth, but I was faster. “Put that on.”

She probably never had anyone tell her what to do, and it showed. The spoiled princess was going to learn today.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.” I glared.

She glared back.

I clenched my fists. “If you don’t put that robe on, I’ll strip you bare and put it on you myself.”

Eshe’s eyes widen. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Provoke me.”

She read my eyes and gave a nervous laugh. “I’m only putting this on so that I can leave this sick, miserable place.”

“Keep saying that.” I smirked, hiding the fact that the pain in my balls still hadn’t completely left. In a hurry, I packed a bag of valuables and another headscarf. I walked over to Eshe, who had put on the overly large white robe. Seeing her wearing my robe did something strange inside my chest. “And this.” I handed her the scarf. “Make sure you hide your face.”

Her teeth gritted, and the sight thrilled me more than it should have.

“Your plan didn’t go as well as you thought, did it?” She snickered.

“Actually, it went exactly as I planned, for the most part. Maybe my men would have liked to steal more from Kavid, but I got exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I didn’t plan for was you hurting my men—or to know I lead the Atrove.”

“Don’t hurt mine,” she mumbled.

I scoffed and rammed my pendant over my head, noticing she still hadn’t placed the scarf around her head.

“And you didn’t plan for my brother to escape from the hands of the Atrove, did you?”

“I couldn’t care less about your brother. But I do know he’ll be here again soon.”

I swung the heavy bag over my shoulder and wrapped the white scarf around my head, covering my tattoos.

She cleared her throat. “Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere your brother will never find you.” I walked toward her, and she eyed the chamber door. I slowed my steps just enough so she would think she’d have a chance.

I liked a good chase.

“I belong with him. He’s my family.”

“You don’t belong to him.”

“I will belong to Casimir, though.” Her eyes met mine again, and I swear she said that to rile me up. It might have worked if she hadn’t darted toward the door. My arm flung out and caught her waist. Eshe let out a cry from my iron slam.