Page 11 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

"Camp is this way." He motions with his head, probably expecting me to willingly follow.

"I've got other plans, Tronovian."

He turns slowly to look at me. A flash of moonlight brightens his face just enough for me to see the fire raging in his eyes.

"It wasn't a suggestion, Princess. You've caused enough chaos for one night. I'm ready to get some sleep before I have to walk the entire jungle to get back to civilization."

I nod my head in agreement, but the second he turns his back, I take off in the opposite direction. I'm not going with him. I'm not going to Tronovia as some token prisoner to be paraded through the streets for my enemies to sneer and mock. I swat branches out of my way, but I'm tackled from behind and slammed onto the ground. I attempt to crawl away as mud cakes my arms and legs, but I'm flipped onto my back, my arms pinned to my sides. Atlas hovers above me, his dangling hair doesn't hide the steely glint in his eyes or his furrowed brow.

"Get off me!" I scream, but he is unfazed.

"You've become quite the pain in my ass."

"I haven't even begun to terrorize you," I hiss.

"You have two options," he continues, not loosening his hold on me. "You can walk back to camp, or I'll toss you over my shoulder and carry you back."

One last attempt to wiggle free proves futile with him sitting on top of me. He has me pinned and powerless. I have no choice but to go with him, but I'll escape him one way or another. I always get my way in the end.

He slowly stands to his feet and offers to help me, but I slap his hand away and struggle to my feet. "I don't need your help."

"Says the woman who had a constrictor wrapped all the way up to her knees," he scoffs and shakes his head.

"I would have figured -"

"No, you wouldn't have." He cuts me off and it infuriates me. Who cares if what he said was completely accurate.

"Are you walking?" He stares at me and flashes a predatorial smile. "Or riding?"

I resist the urge to claw his face with my chipped, dirty nails like a rabid beast. "Don't touch me." I ball up my fists, but he laughs.

"Oh no," he says in mock fear, "please don't hurt me." He puts his hands up in surrender.

"I hate you."

"The feeling is mutual, Princess. Enough dawdling. We need to get back to the others."

From his chipper tone, I piece together his three companions are alive and well. Part of me is relieved none of them perished because of my actions, but I am once again their prisoner and I'm not sure how friendly my reception will be.

Reluctantly, I follow Atlas through the dark jungle, amazed that he actually knows where he is going. We meander through brush and vines for several minutes in silence before I hear the crashing waves of the sea to my left. The plan was to follow the coastline back to the bay across from Midori, but Atlas is leading me further inland. If I manage to ditch the Tronovians during our journey to the capitol, I'll be too far from the sea to find my way back home. Maybe, if I'm quiet, I can slip away from Atlas. He's so focused on finding his way back to the camp his companions have set up, that he hasn't glanced back at me since we started our trek.

But if he catches me, I know I'll be in some major shit.

I stop to ensure he continues walking without looking back then I duck off. I do my best to quietly slip through the overgrown greenery and step over fallen tree trunks. Adrenaline propels me forward, making me run faster. The sea grows louder with each step. I'm going in the right direction.

I think I see the clearing. Holy Stars! I'm going to make it. I'm going to find my way ho-

Fingers wrap around my bicep, and I'm thrown against a tree. Atlas presses his forearm against my chest. There is no amusement in his gaze. My gamble didn't pay off.

"I grow tired of you," he growls.

"Then do us both a favor and let me go."

"You wouldn't last two days on your own."

"Don't act like you're doing me a favor," I narrow my eyes, determined not to show him an ounce of fear.

He smirks. "Believe me. I have no intention of doing a Midorian any favors." He pulls away, releasing me, but before I can take a step to run or follow, he grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder like a rug he bought at the market. I can feel his anger pulsing through his body. Good. That makes two of us.

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