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"I'm fine," I say a little too quickly to come off as natural.
"Good." The baiting in his voice doesn't go unnoticed.
I square my shoulders to his. "Out with it. What does that 'good' mean?"
"What do you mean?" He feigns confusion, though there's nothing but mischief in those hazel eyes. "I'm glad you're fine."
I narrow my eyes. "If there's something you'd like to say, Nyx Harland, then say it."
He pushes up from the wall he's leaning against and saunters back toward the living room, but as he passes me, he whispers, "It definitely doesn't smell like sex in here."
Shit.
I whip around, but there's nothing I can say in response. My eyes find Atlas but he's already watching me, still sitting on the floor with his back up against the couch, his legs stretched out in front of him while Finn plops a few tablets into his awaiting palm. The way he's looking at me has me ready to say to hell with it and straddle him in front of everyone just to feel his lips against mine again, but instead, I grab the quilt we were using off the rug, wrap it around myself, and sit in one of the armchairs.
For the next hour, we swap stories from our run-ins last night. Ronan nearly lit the forest on fire when he used his magic, and even though he managed to dispatch an Ongok on his own, the fact that he fell out of a tree forcing Nyx to protect him, is something the youngest Harland brother swears he will never let his cousin live down. Eris and Finn managed to kill the two teams that chased after them with more teamwork than Nyx and Ronan. I am curious if Finn used his magic at all, but when I observe him, I don't see any heaviness or guilt weighing him down, so I can assume the answer is no, he didn't use his affinity. Eris, on the other hand, used her water creatures to combat the hellhounds while she and Finn took on the Ongok. I'm mesmerized by their accounts and nearly forget that Atlas and I also have a story to tell.
Eris once again grimaces when I mention how I fell through the ice, but the men seem proud I held my own on the river.
"You could have died," Finn states plainly, as if that thought is sobering to him.
It's the same thing Atlas whispered to me last night, propelling me to dare a glance in his direction. This time he isn't looking my way, he's lost in his own thoughts, probably reliving that horrific moment.
"I could have," I admit, which seems to snap Atlas out of his stupor. "But if I hadn't done something, Atlas might not be here, and that's not something I could live with."
We spend the rest of the morning eating breakfast, showering, and repacking. Thankfully, Eris and Finn stumbled upon the horses Atlas let loose, and were able to retrieve all of our supplies, including my clothes. At least I won't be crossing the lake to the Frost Kingdom in nothing but Atlas' shirt and socks.
Once I'm dressed and ready to go, I slip my coat on and step outside onto the front porch. The sun has risen and it's a little warmer out, but I still tug a blanket around my shoulders to fight the chill as I stare across the lake at the City of Elowen. The castle sparkles and when I squint my eyes, I can just make out all the ships sailing in and out of the bustling harbor.
Part of me is terrified for what I might find there, but the other half of me, the hopeful side, is excited to receive some answers as to why I have Frost Elf features.
"Beautiful view." Atlas startles me when he comes out with two mugs of hot coffee.
"It is," I agree.
"What's your favorite part?" He joins me at the railing and hands me a cup.
"All of it. The lake, the castle, the cabin." I blush thinking of his fingers curled inside of me and clear my throat. "If I had to pick, I'd say the snow might be my favorite."
He takes a long sip of his beverage, eyeing me curiously, as if he knows exactly what memory flashed in my mind. "Is this the first time you're seeing snow?"
I nod. "Yes." I yank the blanket tighter around my shoulders. "I thought Bava was the most beautiful city I'd ever seen, but then I saw Tronovia and I changed my mind. Now, I think this view might be the most stunning yet."
Atlas roots his elbows to the wooden banister and stares across the lake. "Compared to seeing Midori all your life, I suppose anything new is exciting."
Silently, I tap my fingers against my warm mug. "I've never seen Midori," I admit sadly.
"What do you mean?" His eyes meet mine in bewilderment. "You've lived there your entire life."
"I mean…" I clear my throat, ready to open up to him. "I've never left the Golden Palace before. Not even to walk in my own city."
He stands up straight, towering over me. "Never?"
I shake my head and break eye contact. The pained and angry look on his face has me stifling tears pricking at my eyes. "I was forbidden from going into the city. At first, I thought my parents were protecting me from potential threats, but now I'm beginning to wonder if they kept me locked away because they were trying to keep our people safe from me."
I can feel his gaze pinned to my profile and his silence provokes my heart to thunder inside my chest.
"I suppose I shouldn't complain," I continue, breaking the silence by putting on a brave face, refusing to let one single tear streak down my cheek. "I had an easy life in the palace."
