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I grimace, but before I can apologize, he continues, "I have not only loved, but I have also been loved in return. Sadly, I also know what it feels like to lose someone I love."
My mind jumps to Atlas losing his friends when Vesper and her crew killed them. I have no idea what it feels like to lose someone I love, and I pray to the stars, seas, and celestials above that I never know such grief.
"So, you see, Princess," Atlas' voice sucks me back. "I also have fears I battle daily. I fear losing those I love. I fear losing my home to a demon king hellbent on conquering our mortal realm. I fear losing my brothers in battle. I fear losing Eris and Ronan to Soul Eaters who hunt magic wielders. I fear losing…"
"What else?" I press when he trails off, his gaze fixated on what remains of his stew. "What else do you fear losing?" I whisper.
The corner of his mouth tugs upward slightly, "I think this beer has loosened my tongue. I've given you far more damning information about me than you have of yourself."
To hell with who might see us, I snatch his hand and squeeze reassuringly, drawing his sorrowful gaze. "Who do you fear losing?"
Those green eyes of his soften as he circles the back of my hand with his thumb. "Do you really not know, Shaye?"
With just six words, Atlas simultaneously surprises and scares me. It's the first time he's used my name, and hearing my name come from his lips sends a shiver down my spine. My belly heats and my breathing is labored. "You… you just used my name."
He doesn't say anything. He just stares at me as if he, too, is shocked he allowed himself to address me so informally. "If you would rather I didn't – "
I shake my head, cutting him off from finishing that thought. "I like the way it sounds."
He leans closer and raises his hand to wipe loose strands of hair from my face, tucking them behind my ear. The gentleness of his touch, the intimacy of the gesture, has my heart racing. "Shaye," he says like it's the most wondrous thing he's ever heard.
"Atlas."
"Atlas!"
We twist toward the front door where Nyx and Ronan barrel inside with bright smiles and knowing looks on their faces.
"Well, well, well," Nyx coos, eyeing our close proximity. "Funny seeing you two here."
"Is it funny?" Atlas huffs, retrieving his hand from mine and returning to the last sip of his drink. "Or is it just wildly inconvenient?"
Nyx slips his arm across my shoulders and Ronan slaps his hand down on Atlas' back, claiming the empty stool next to him.
"We just had a wonderful dinner with father," Ronan chuckles, clearly already tipsy. "Baelyn! Baelyn, where are you? Your future king is dying of thirst!"
Baelyn strolls up, wiping his hands with a towel. "I'm surprised, knowing how impatient you are, you didn't hop over the counter and pour your own drink like last week."
Nyx howls in laughter as Ronan tries, and fails, to frown, but ends up laughing alongside his cousin. He taps his fingers on the bar top. "Forgive me, Baelyn. I promise I will sit here and wait patiently for you to pour my drinks tonight."
Baelyn scoffs before grabbing a stein to fill. "The usual?"
Ronan claps his hands together. "Please!" Turning the full weight of his curiosity to me, he asks, "So, what are you two doing? Is this…" Ronan's mouth drops and he slaps a hand to his cheek. "Are you two on a date?"
Nyx stares at me, his eyes sparkling, as if he's expecting me to confirm Ronan's suspicions, but the truth is, we're not on a date. We're two friends grabbing dinner. Like Finn and Eris. I scoff internally at the thought that Finn and Eris are just friends, but I don't linger on the couple long. I have three sets of eyes pinned on me, waiting for my response.
"I tried baking Finn a birthday cake and made a bit of a mess in the kitchen," I quickly explain, bringing my cup to my lips. "Atlas offered to take me out for dinner, since neither of us cooks."
Ronan and Nyx exchange a knowing look, grins spreading across their rosy-cheeked faces. "Interesting choice for a first date, Atlas," the prince teases.
"I think she has enjoyed herself." Atlas answers him, though his eyes are fixed on mine.
"I have," I nod and smile at him. "I think I need another one of these," I tap my empty beer glass when the sudden silence stretches too long.
"That's the spirit, Kitarni!" Nyx pats my back like a proud father, before waving Baelyn over. "A round for all four of us. Put it on my tab."
The bartender nods his head and scurries to fill the order. Music I hadn't been paying attention to earlier speeds up and I glance at the patrons dancing. It reminds me of the type of dancing Nyx taught me in Bava and I have the sudden urge to join them. The second Baelyn sets my second beer in front of me, I chug half of it before abandoning it. I stand up, a little wobbly, and declare, "I want to dance."
Ronan jumps up, just as wobbly as me and offers me his arm. "Let's go, Princess."
