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I can see the grin stretch across Nyx's face in my peripheral vision, but I keep my focus on Atlas. Words betray me once again when I fail to think of a witty retort. He said something similar to me in Bava after he'd kissed me in the Brothel District, and I'd refused to talk to him the entire walk back to Hotel Zulmara.
"Normally, I'd be overjoyed that you weren't talking to me, but I don't want to part ways with tension between us."
I fold my arms over my chest, popping my hip to the side. "What exactly do you want me to say?"
"You can say anything you want as long as you talk to me." He steps closer. "I've come to appreciate the sound of your voice and the last hour of your silence has been maddening."
We pull up in front of the Harland House before I have a chance to respond, and when we come to a stop, Atlas swings the carriage door open and hops out in one swift motion. Nyx gestures for me to exit first and I'm surprised to find Atlas extending a hand to me, confirming he waited for me. I wonder how angry he would be, if I slapped his hand away and marched up the steps without him. But when I meet his gaze, there's a longing that spurs my heart into racing. The way he looks at me, as if I'm the light to his darkness, has me rethinking my plan to ignore him for the rest of the evening.
"Everything alright, Kitarni?" Nyx asks from behind, startling me into breaking eye contact with his brother.
Quickly, I slip my hand into Atlas' and allow him to help me from the carriage. The second my feet hit the cobblestone street, he lets my hand go. If I had blinked, I would've missed it, but for a quick second I swear I notice him flex his hand before reaching into his pocket to retrieve his keys. He unlocks the front door and opens it for me to walk through first. Despite our argument and the vicious words I spewed at him, he's remained a gentleman, and I hate him for it.
"You're back!" Eris exclaims with a wide smile as she sets the table for dinner.
The second I step inside, the heavenly scent of roasted vegetables and smoked meat fills my nose and washes all the stress of the day away. My shoulders, which I didn't even realize I was holding so tightly, loosen and I stand a little straighter as I make my way toward the Sea Elf.
"How did it go?" she asks, her smile fading a smidge when I don't answer immediately.
"It went as well as I could have expected." I flash her the best grin I can muster, before taking the forks from her grasp, and helping her finish her task.
"So, what happened?" she presses when I don't offer more information.
I shrug. "I met Soren, we talked –"
"Wait a minute," Nyx interrupts, resting his elbows on the back of his favored chair. "Did you just call him… Soren?"
"What else should I call him?"
"I don't know," Nyx guffaws. "King Soren, Your Highness, Your Lordship, something other than his birthname?"
"That's what he told me to call him."
The way Nyx's mouth drops has me wrestling a giggle. "He allowed you to address him as Soren?"
"Yes," I nod. "And I told him to call me Shaye."
"I don't even think his wife is allowed to address him as Soren," Nyx scratches his face and I can no longer hold in my laughter. "What?" He meets my gaze and shrugs. "What'd I say?"
"Perhaps your uncle likes Shaye more than the rest of you," Eris teases, gently elbowing my arm.
"Well of course he does," Finn chimes in as he pushes the swinging door to the kitchen open, holding a platter filled with tonight's dinner. "She's not only easier on the eyes than the rest of us, but she's probably the only person who would willingly stand up to him."
"How do you know I stood up to him?"
"I would expect nothing less from you," Finn sets the tray in the center of the table and motions for us to take our seats. "Besides Uncle Soren, most Tronovians won't risk a confrontation with Atlas, but I've seen the two of you in action and know you won't willingly back down from a fight."
I risk a glance at Atlas, who takes his seat at the head of the table to my right. He's staring at his plate and empty glass, deep in thought. I was harsh with him on the ride home. I know he wants to help me, but the thought of him possibly wishing I would have just left and returned to Midori wounded me. I never want to feel like a burden, and I certainly don't want to feel like I'm overstaying my welcome. Maybe Atlas just needs space, and I can give him that.
"I was thinking of taking your uncle up on his offer of staying in the castle as his guest." All of them stop serving food and pouring drinks to stare at me. Atlas breaks his silent stare off with his cutlery to eye me. "I know I can be quite the handful and we've spent a lot of time together and will continue spending a lot of time together with my schooling, so I figured it might be better for all of us if I – "
"You aren't a burden," Atlas interrupts me, earning my teary-eyed attention. "If you want to stay with our uncle, you are free to do so, but don't feel obligated to because you think it's what we want. I can assure you," his voice is low and speaks to my very soul, "we want you to stay."
"Atlas is right, Shaye." Finn scoops roasted vegetables onto each plate. "We want you to stay with us. We enjoy your company and if I might be so bold and speak for us as a group, you belong here. You are not a burden."
I swallow the lump in my throat and fight the stinging tears begging to slip down my cheeks. There will be no crying at the dinner table tonight. I clear my throat and once I'm sure my voice won't waver and my lip won't quiver, I smile and say, "Then I think I will stay."
"Thank the Stars!" Eris croaks. "I love you boys, but it's been so nice to have another female around."
