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I tear myself away and peer down at his confused, hazy eyes. Coming to himself, he opens his mouth to say something, but I hop off of him. He lifts himself up onto his elbows, but I don't wait to hear what he has to say. This time, I snatch my backpack and walk through the tunnel, practically sprinting down the spiral staircase, and don't look back.
Thirteen
Shaye
Ineed to take a walk, a cold shower, or even scarf down a piece of cake to figure out what is going on with me. Whatever I choose to do next, I know with absolute certainty, putting distance between me and Atlas is of the upmost importance right now.
Absentmindedly, I mosey through the city for at least an hour before I find myself standing in front of Finn's apothecary shop. The red brick building has large windows, black shutters, and a cerulean blue door. There's a dark wood sign dangling above the sidewalk that simply reads: Harland Apothecary. Short, sweet, and to the point. Just like Finn.
With nothing better to do and my curiosity piqued with the opportunity to finally see what Finn's workshop looks like, I push the door open and a little copper bell jingles to announce my arrival. Dried flowers hang from above, candles burn throughout the one level shop, and the faint smell of patchouli dances around me. The pine floors are scuffed, but there are several area rugs to bring in the cozy comfort I've come to expect of the Harland brothers.
"I'll be right with you," Finn's voice echoes from the back, so I busy my hands with touching glass vials neatly organized on dark shelves. In typical Finn fashion, he has them in alphabetical order and the attention to detail makes me smile.
Amphoria.
Benzinite.
Cardawell.
I skip down the line to the very end and scan over Ylenium and Zentilli… I wonder what they all do. Maybe while I'm here, I can find something to slip into Atlas' drink to make him chill out and leave me alone. I shake my head. No matter how angry or irritated I am with Atlas, I would never do that, especially knowing what it feels like to be drugged my entire life.
Just the thought of him has me aching for his lips to be pressed against mine. The surprise and excitement in his hazy green gaze when I left him on the floor of his classroom will forever haunt me. I don't know what possessed me to kiss him, but stars, I love how he tastes.
I wish I had a good reason for abandoning him the way I did, but if I'm being honest with myself, I left because if I didn't, I'd still be on top of him. I bite my bottom lip, reliving how his tongue stroked the inside of my mouth, his powerful, calloused hands gripping my thighs, hips, and waist. This kiss was different than our first. In Bava, it was filled with apology and confusion, but this kiss was filled with possessiveness, a claiming, and I liked it.
I groan and rub tiny circles against my temples. Maybe there's a potion in here that will extinguish my desire for Atlas.
"Well, this is a welcome surprise." Finn's sweet voice sounds behind me, spurring me to whip around with a grin plastered on my face.
"I hope I'm not intruding."
His kind hazel eyes sparkle as he shakes his head and wipes his hands on his black apron. "A visit from a friend is never an intrusion."
"Where's Eris?"
"She went to pick up our lunch. Normally we go together but I was with a customer, so she's bringing something back for me." He quickly scans my clothing and notices my glowing hands, before a smirk snakes across his face. "How was your lesson today?"
My face heats thinking of Atlas on top of me and I dodge his question by motioning to the vials lined on the floor to ceiling shelf behind me. "Got anything here that will get Atlas off my ass?"
Finn laughs, the deep sound rumbles through the humble shop. "So, your lesson went as expected."
I scratch the back of my neck, a grimace on my face. "Let's just say, I'm not sure what kind of mood Atlas will be in tonight for dinner."
Finn's eyebrows pinch together, a brotherly concern written across his face. "He's not being too hard on you, is he?"
"No," I shake my head, knowing exactly how Finn will react if he suspects Atlas is in any way harming me. "But…" I groan, scraping my hands down my cheeks, feeling them flush.
"Would you like some tea?" His question throws me.
"What?"
"I'm brewing some tea and have plenty, if you'd like a cup. I've found that having a nice cup of warm tea makes it easier to talk about uncomfortable things." My hesitancy spurs him to include, "No magical suppressants here. Just black tea with lemon and honey."
I bob my head and offer him a small smile. "I would love some."
Finn motions to a brown leather couch at the back end of the store, nestled beneath a bay of windows that looks out over the canal. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."
I do as I'm told and saunter to the cozy section of the store. The couch is flanked by two extremely comfortable looking forest green armchairs and a black coffee table anchors the space atop a white area rug. I take a seat at one end of the couch, tucking my knees underneath me and turning so I can look out on the canal. Even though the weather is beginning to cool, it's still warm enough in the afternoon that Tronovians go sailing, swimming, and even fishing in the aqueduct.
