Page 5 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
She spun away from him, her unruly dark waves tumbling down her back, glimmering in the splashes of silver light. In the next moment, she was swinging, rocking back and forth,using the momentum from the chandelier to assist in launching herself to the one across from her.
Atlas held his breath when she let go.
Everinne’s fingers just grazed the gilded arm of the fixture, but it wasn’t enough. Her painted nails clawed at the metal, yet she couldn’t find purchase. The gasps and screams of everyone watching her little show echoed in his ears as she fell.
With his heart stuck in his throat, he shot forward, wings ripping through the air. He caught her in his arms, soaring over the dancers, and a collective cheer rose up around them when he landed by the bar.
If she didn’t already hate him, she certainly would now.
“Veros was right,” he muttered as she struggled against his hold. “You do have a death wish.”
She scowled up at him, her mesmerizing eyes flashing with fury and something else. Something darker. “I don’t have a death wish.”
Atlas set her down, and she tugged on the absurd length of her dress in a poor attempt to straighten it. She took one step away from him and stumbled. He grabbed her arm and hauled her backward, spinning her so she faced him fully.
“Oh really? You just fell from a fucking chandelier. What if I hadn’t been there to catch you?”
“I’m sure someone else would’ve saved the day instead.” She tried to wrench herself free of him, but he only tightened his hold, not caring when she winced at the strength of his grip.
“Look around you, Everinne.” He spat out her name like a curse. “Last I checked, I’m the only fae in Starysa with wings. No one would have saved your ass.”
The brilliant purple and blue lights from before returned, flashing across her, cutting through the darkened corner where they stood. She attempted to yank her arm free again, but his hand slid to her wrist, pulling her closer.
“Let me go,” she demanded, glaring up at him.
She was quite possibly the only female in the realm who could ever get away with demandinganythingfrom him. And it was strictly because he’d known her for a miserable eighty-seven years.
“Why?” he sneered, daring an inch closer. “So you can keep ruining your life?”
Everinne bristled. He could hear the racing of her heart, sense the pounding of her blood. Her cheeks flushed. Not with embarrassment, with anger. She was furious. She was never good at concealing her emotions.
“Well, considering you already did that for me once, I don’t see the harm in doing it again.”
The scent of her magic slammed into him—blooming midnight lilacs. He was careful not to inhale too deeply.
“Careful, Ever.” Atlas leaned forward, until his mouth was barely a breath from her ear. The purple studs lining their smooth points twinkled. “Your magic is showing.”
She went rigid in his grip, and he released her.
Zoryana appeared then, quietly taking Everinne’s hand in her own. Instantly, Everinne relaxed. Her shoulders slumped, her breathing evened.
“Apologies, Your Highness.” Zoryana dipped into a curtsy, shielding Everinne from him. “We were just leaving.”
“See that you do.” His words were clipped. Cold and unkind. He knew it wasn’t fair of him to direct his anger at Zoryana, who was merely trying to save her friend from imminent disaster. Either way, his tone had the desired effect.
Zoryana nodded quickly and draped one arm around Everinne’s shoulders, guiding her in the opposite direction.
He watched them walk away, and when Everinne tossed one final look back at him, those turquoise eyes with center rings of gold were filled with enough fire to turn him to ash and dust.
Too bad something so beautiful could be so dangerous.
Atlas sensed his Captain of the Guard before he appeared beside him.
Caedian Trivaris rocked back onto his heels and let out a low whistle. “Damn. No wonder Veros doesn’t bring her around the palace much.”
Atlas’s blood simmered. No. It boiled. He fisted his hands by his sides until his nails bit into his palms. Any deeper and he would draw blood. “She’s off limits.”
Caedian cocked a mocking brow. “For who?”
