Page 50 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

Atlas lifted a shy hand up. “H-Hello.”

The way the two blushed made me chuckle. “Why have you come to Olympia, Atlas? Certainly not for our sunshine. You can get a better tan in the hells you come from.”

He cleared his throat and brought a small piece of paper from inside his robes. “The king wishes for you to attend a court gathering. It will be your introduction to both courts…as our queen.”

I took the paper from him. Wear red. In case you decide to break our bargain or stab me again. Somehow, I’d prefer it to be the second reason. Yours, Kilian.

Lighting stuck outside, close to the house, and Atlas jerked up his seat.

Bolting right in the middle of his gardens, wearing the darkest coloured dress I could find and donning a ton of unnecessary jewellery that I wore only during rituals or festivities, I made my way inside his damned castle looking like lady death herself—at least that was what Penelope had called me before I left.

From the distance, I could see guards taking a step further back though they stood plenty away from me, none daring to look up when I passed them. Their attention concentrated on the very interesting green grass of the gardens.

When guards pushed the beige doors open, there was no meeting room. Only the two Castemont men and loads of food. My stomach growled, a reminder that I had not eaten since yesterday. Did I eat yesterday?

Mal let out a low whistle, raking an amused gaze from the root of my hair to my toes. “Sister-in-law, you look bewitching.”

A spoon lifted in the air and hit Mal right in the head. The prince rubbed the spot and said, “That was fair.”

“Quit ruining my gardens,” Kilian said, his attention to a letter.

I glowered at him. “Quit ruining my happiness.”

“That’s a big word for you, my love.”

“I’ve got a bigger one for you.” Motherfu—

A smirk twitched in his lips. “I’m sure you do.”

Straightening my snarl, I cocked my head to the side, studying him. “Why are you wasting my daytime?”

“Sit,” he said, pointing to the chair beside him.

All of my body prepared for fight, he triggered me like that. Had this been why he asked for us to be civil? So he could play lackey with me? “I’m not your dog.” Politeness melted off me like butter, and then sizzled so hot it was steaming and burning out of me.

He dropped whatever he was reading and turned to me, silver eyes roaming over my body all delight. He looked taken aback for a moment before saying, “Love of my life, light of my eyes, my all, would you please do me the kindness of taking a seat? I’d rather not tire your pretty legs. Not like this, anyway.”

Mal snorted, water spurting all over the table.

“Is this why you are wasting my time? Poetry?” I asked, taking a seat next to him and throwing the princeling a handkerchief in his face.

Kilian reached and uncapped a metallic dome from the plate in front of me, setting it aside. “The meeting is in an hour, plenty of time for you to have lunch. But I can read you poetry if that is what you like.”

Ice crawled beneath my feet and Kilian shot me a look of warning.

The smell of spice and earth wafted to my nostrils and my stomach elicited a loud groan. I cringed and wordlessly picked up a spoon to stir the dish before me—mushroom stew. Something else caught my attention. The rest of the table had fruit, vegetables, and pies. No meat, no greens. A strange warmth filled me and then I dispersed it as quick as it came by reminding myself just who sat in front of me.

Scooping up some soup, I extended the spoon before his mouth.

Surprised, his brows jerked up.

I lifted it a bit higher, probing for him to try. “Your servants might have a fool’s day and cook me poison. I’d hate to sputter blood from my mouth all day long, I’ve got places to be and people to entertain.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. Grabbing onto my wrist, he guided the spoon to his mouth, wrapping those plump lips around the decorated silver. I still remembered how they felt on mine. His taste, too. And from the way his eyes flashed, I could swear he had read my mind.

The air was so thick all of a sudden, choking almost.

“No poison,” he said, letting go of me. “It needs salt though.”