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"Consider this your wake-up call. If you have feelings for Atlas, show him, tell him. Don't play with him. Don't use him for your gain and abandon him when it suits you. He might act like nothing bothers him, that he's not affected the way others might be by a broken heart, but it would crush him." She slides to me and takes my hands in hers, forcing me to meet her soft gaze. "I would rather you set up boundaries with him, if you know where your heart truly lies, then let him fall in love with you and break him later."
"I should have known both of you would be here. It has the best view of the city."
We turn and see Atlas leaning in the doorway, hands crossed over his chest. That playful smirk of his could light up the deepest, darkest depths of my soul.
Soraya lifts my glowing hands and examines them before locking eyes with me, a knowing smile smeared across her face. "I will let you have a moment to yourselves. I'm sure there is a lot for you to discuss." She wraps her arms around me for an unexpected hug and whispers kindly, "Be brave," before taking her leave, patting Atlas' shoulder on her way back up the trail.
He waits for his mother to make it around the bend before saying, "You and my mother seem to be getting along."
"I see where you and Nyx get your personalities from."
He flashes a warm smile that makes my heart leap. "And competitiveness. Don't forget the competitiveness."
I laugh, "How could I?"
The corners of his mouth tilt downward and slowly but surely his smile falters as he holds my stare.
"Lose the battle of wills with your uncle?" I hope to ease the tension, but I do the opposite.
"Something like that," he says. For a split second, my heart pounds in my chest thinking he might have overheard what his mother and I were talking about, but then he says, "In Tronovia, you're protected. Out there," he motions to the bay behind me, "I'm not sure what is waiting for you and I'm afraid of what would happen, if I fail you."
"Fail me how?"
"Fail to protect you. That happened once in Bava, and you had to fight for your life in the Necropolis." He shakes his head, as if freeing himself of that memory. "I don't want that to happen again."
"So, what?" I flick my hand in the air. "Do you expect me to stay here in Tronovia forever?" I watch him lean against the arched entrance and slip a hand in his pocket. "I have Frost Elf features, Atlas. You and I both know I need to go to Elowen to find more answers."
"I figured you would say that."
"Then why try to talk me out of it?"
"I'm not trying to talk you out of anything." Atlas runs his free hand through his hair and takes a step toward me. "I just want to make sure you are willing to face whatever might be beyond our borders."
"I told you inside, I'm ready." I lift my chin to maintain eye contact. "I might be afraid, but I won't cower anymore."
He nods. "Then I'm going with you."
"You don't need to go. Ronan will – "
Atlas' laugh catches me off guard.
"What's so funny?" I cross my arms across my chest, furrowing my brow.
"Listen, I love my cousin as if he were one of my brothers, but I wouldn't trust him to protect a pet hamster, nevertheless you, from whatever Bastian and Vesper throw your way."
"We haven't heard from Bastian or my parents. What makes you believe they'll know – "
"Vesper knows," he cuts me off, a seriousness in his tone. "She will always know." He points to his forearm with an index finger, reminding me of where I charred her arm. "Your scent is imprinted on her."
A frightening realization for sure, but I can't let her or anyone else stop me from discovering the truth. "Regardless of that," I put on a brave face, and press forward, "you don't have to come with us. I've learned how to use my magic and Nyx has been training me in hand-to-hand combat. I can handle myself."
"Be that as it may," he eats the little remaining distance between us, towering over me, "as your Magical Warfare instructor, I'm going with you."
"What about the rest of your students, Professor?" I say with a little more sass than necessary.
"I believe you take priority. Besides, Professors Fenwick and Darmas will be more than happy to cover the next few weeks in my absence." He smirks down at me, whispering, "Between you and me, I don't think Philomena will miss me."
I stifle a giggle and snip, "You just don't want me to be alone with Ronan for an entire month."
