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Not giving Atlas a second to respond, Nyx starts to explain, "When we found you at the Necropolis, Atlas moved like death itself. Swift, accurate, unyielding. I've never seen him take on that many opponents at once and walk away totally unscathed."
Slowly, I peer up at Atlas. "Is that true?"
"It is." He says simply.
Why do I feel like I now have even more questions?
Is this draw I have to Atlas just our magic calling to one another? Is there more to our attraction?
As much as it pains me to admit, I know that Bastian is involved in some way in this scheme to unleash Drogon and his demonic minions. He's responsible for the slaughter of magic wielders all around Dalerin. He's not the man I fell in love with— not the man I should spend the rest of my life with. But these feelings I have for Atlas— I've been fighting them and rightfully so. I don't deserve him. He's so much better than me, I see that now. I've been spoiled and turned my nose up at those beneath me for most of my life, but not him. Seeing him for the man he chooses to be instead of what I assumed of him is truly humbling and heartbreaking. He's so much better than me. He's so much better than I deserve.
"Happy or angry?"
Atlas' voice pulls me from my self-deprecating thoughts, and I realize my hands are once again glowing. This will be wildly inconvenient, if I don't figure out how to control this reaction when I think about him. I blink and clear my throat but when our eyes meet, there's something different between us. As if he can sense my thoughts, feel my inner turmoil. I open my mouth to say something snarky to lighten the mood, but words fail me. Instead, I shake my head and he nods in understanding.
"Well," his shoulders loosen, "I think that's enough for today's introduction. I believe you have been given access to Calmara tomorrow, so our lessons will resume the following day." He eyes me up and down before saying, "Make sure you wear clothes you can move in."
"Why?" My curiosity gets the better of me.
"I teach Magical Warfare, Princess, which involves hand-to-hand combat."
"Right."
The thought of us tangled together, him pressing his weight on top of me, sets my lower belly on fire with the desire to feel his hands all over me. I immediately feel the burn of my cheeks and hope to the Stars I'm not flushed, but when I force myself to meet his piercing gaze, I find his eyes are already cloudy, as if he's swimming in a raging sea of emotions. I hate that I can't read his mind.
I watch as he blinks his green eyes to violet and hold my breath as goosebumps ripple across my flesh, itching, yearning for his shadows to slip over my skin and caress every inch of my body.
"Do you feel it?" he asks with a rasp in his tone.
I'm not entirely sure what he's referring to but I'm without a doubt drawn to him, like there's a taut string and we're tied on either end.
My magic hums beneath my skin. Normally where it itches to be unleashed, this feels different. Like my magic, my very soul, is reaching out to Atlas. Even though I can't see our connection and don't know what's running through Atlas' mind, I know he's reaching for me too.
"Do you feel it?" he asks again, taking a small step toward me, a hint of vulnerability and a dash of hope lacing his words.
I slowly bob my head and step forward. "I feel something," I whisper. I just wish I knew what it was that I felt.
This is the closest we've been to one another since our encounter in my bedroom a few nights ago. His shadows licked up and down my arms, across my neck, through my hair, and I would be a liar if I claimed I didn't want him to grab me and kiss me right now. I exhale a breath and shiver, sensing his shadowy tendrils advancing toward me. I close my eyes, waiting to feel his soft, seductive touch.
"Do you two need a minute alone?" Nyx's question breaks my concentration and extinguishes all trace of what was transpiring between me and Atlas. It feels like he took a bucket of water and dumped it over my head. I want to scream.
"Nyx," I croak. "I forgot you were here."
"Clearly." He grins. He's definitely adding this to the list of sexually charged moments to inform Eris of later tonight.
Atlas' eyes are back to their natural color, as is his indifferent demeanor. He clears his throat, "I have another class to prepare for. I will see you both at the house tonight." He takes one last long look at me before turning to return to his desk.
"Ready, Kitarni?" Nyx jerks his head toward the tunnel, and I quietly follow.
As we trek down the spiral staircase, I muster the courage to ask, "What happened in there?"
"You mean, what did I see?"
"I guess that's what I'm asking." I bob my head, even though he's in front of me and can't see the gesture.
"I saw Atlas' shadows, but they weren't moving like they normally do."
"What do you mean?"
