44. Eshe
Eshe
Crahst, Zyriah
Zyriah had always been a lively and magical place in my mind. That was how it used to feel when I would dream about home from Mongah. But now, I found myself seeking that feeling once again as I strode through the streets with Ezra by my side, pulling our horses by the reins.
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.
“Wow. This is what I imagined heaven would be like,” I muttered and petted a black-striped brown kitten that jumped off the balcony edge.
Its tiny purrs encouraged me to continue as it brushed its head and little body against my leg.
The kitten pranced into the room while I walked to the balcony wall.
“Mmm, I agree,” Ezra said in a low, husky tone before he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. His lips lowered behind my ear and teased his tongue around, and I let out an uncontrollable giggle. I was able to wriggle myself out of his hold.
“Do you come here on business often?”
“More than I would like to. It was difficult to see Kavid after all these years. Every time I stepped foot in this goddamn city, I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking of that night.” His eyes turned distant as he looked out into the enclosed garden. “If only I had kept you hidden with me.”
“You can’t think like that. I mean, it made sense why he kept me. What kind of business would Kavid do with you?”
“He wants some land from the West Coast of Tehara. He’s been arguing it since he’s become Qahl.”
“Isn’t that where the Atrove is?”
“Yes. For now, anyway, I’m considering moving it. It’s not safe nor smart to be in the same place for too long, and it’s been there for two generations.”
Looking up from the garden, I caught his eye. I could barely see the gold in the midst of his dark pools.
“What is it?” I breathed. I knew that look on him now. It was intense, passionate, and nothing could stop him from taking what he wanted when he took a step toward me.
By habit, I took a step back and braced myself.
With each step, he enunciated his next words to me. “You are equal to me in every way that matters, Eshe.” He placed his hand at the back of my neck and pulled me to his warm lips.
I melted in the strength of his arms, and his tongue swept into my mouth, heating my entire body. He was everything I needed and more.
There was a time not long ago that he preached that women had no business in politics.
No business in training to fight, no business in learning anything besides motherhood.
And there was a time not long ago that I would have never thought I could be happy or in love with a man like Ezra, who I thought to be controlling and arrogant, but here we both were wrapped in each other’s arms, madly in love with one another.
Ezra lifted me up to the stone wall of the balcony and stepped between my legs, where I sat. His hands pressed on my hips, pulled me roughly forward, and I gasped when I felt his length between me.
“Is this what happens when I talk politics?” I pulled his hair so I could see into his deep eyes. I could feel his shudder against the peak of my breasts.
“It’s every time you open that mouth of yours.” His gaze lowered to my lips, and a yearning sensation pooled below my core. I bit my lip, but as I released it, he had it between his teeth.
Before I could retort, his hands worked around my thin robe that lay over my dress, flinging it off me and onto the floor of the balcony.
He plucked a strap of my dress with his fingers and yanked it down as he captured my mouth again.
My breast tightened even more with the breeze that circulated the small private garden around us, and all I could think about was his mouth and what it could do.
I never thought life could be this beautiful. I never thought that he could be mine after all these years, that he could ever possibly love me.
That he could love me like this.
His hot mouth trailed down my neck. Because he was so tall, he lowered my back over the balcony but kept his arms around me so I wouldn't fall off.
I could say that I was scared he’d let me go and that I’d meet my death, but that would be a lie. I trusted him with my life.
He kissed the center of my chest, trailing to my breast, biting what was exposed, and my voice echoed in the balcony. My hips moved along his body and strength, begging and craving for more.
I loved the feeling of my life in his hands.
I loved that he held it and caressed it. I fully trusted him.
He lowered me an inch further, and my fingers curled around his head once more. Now with one arm around me, he pulled my other strap lower and lower.
An unnatural growl escaped his mouth as he feasted on me.
He yanked me back, and my body slammed onto his chest before he carried me back inside.
Dropping me onto the bed, my body sank into the plush bedding.
My hot cheek cooled against the sheets for a moment before Ezra was above me without a piece of clothing on him.
My body was now fully charged with intoxication by the sight of him. My lips pulled apart.
My dress pooled around my waist, and I could see it in his eyes as his hands wrapped around my fabric—
“No! Don’t ruin another dress, Ezra. I love this one.”
“I’ll buy another.” His hands were about to rip it from me.
“Don’t.” I pressed a hand against his chest. His eyes locked with mine, and I could see I was testing his patience. His lips twitched for a moment, and he leaned back.
“Fine. Take it off.”
With ease, I withdrew my fingers from him.
I gently slid the dress down, lowering it from my hips while he stood near with eyes that never left me.
His eyes darkened with intensity, eradicating any air from my lungs.
Slowly, I secured it from my body, still intact, and placed it near me.
I raised my head and smiled at him innocently.
“There.”
“That. Took. Too long. What did I say about anything not keeping me from you, hmm?” Something flashed across his eyes.
My jaw dropped. I feigned innocence, but I couldn’t contain the laugh from within. “You couldn’t possibly be angry at a piece of clothing, Ezra!”
“Don’t act all innocent. I’m going to destroy that fucking dress,” he promised as he crawled on top of me. Our warm bodies pressed against each other.
My lips curved into a smile, knowing I got exactly what I wanted from this. I just wanted him to suffer a bit. Patience was a virtue.
He saw my smile. “You little—”
I kissed his words as he muttered them in my mouth. He pressed himself for a moment between my legs and locked his eyes with mine.
His eyes darkened even more as he gently entered me, my body trembling as if it were the first time all over again. When I tensed, he whispered in my mouth, “Breathe for me, Eshe.”
My body began to relax more with each sound of his breath, with each kiss he gave me, and I allowed him further and deeper, letting go completely.
I pressed my hand on his shoulders, and this time he didn’t fight me as I crawled on top of him.
I lifted myself so that I was seated on him, and his hands took control of my hips.
I never felt so connected, so vulnerable with anyone before, not in the way I did with Ezra.
He saw me for who I was and met me every time, showing me I was safe with him.
Feeling him completely and deeply inside me sent a spiral of thousands of sensations building upon each other within me.
“Ezra. Ezra.” I couldn’t handle it when he pressed into me deeper, as he in turn answered my calls with my name. He was it for me. He was my person. He lifted his body to capture my moans, but his hands never left my hips, guiding me faster.
“I got you, Eshe,” he said with a gentle voice.
And he was gentle. Unlike the first time when we unleashed so much from within.
This time, he held me, caressed me, kissed me with a thousand kisses, and made me fall even deeper in love with each side of him.
I let go against him, arms curled around his neck just before he released into me.