Page 14 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

“Do not speak his name, you Tronovian devil.”

“Perhaps you’d prefer me to use his title then.” Atlas' voice sends shivers down my spine. “The Beast of Midori.”

I'm horrified and without thinking it through, I lean forward and smack him. He grabs my wrist firmly and I know if he really wanted to, he could snap my bones.

“How dare you!” I attempt to wriggle free, but he holds onto me tightly, his green eyes fixed on mine. “Bastian is an honorable man and a hero to our people. He is an ambassador of goodwill and works tirelessly to keep the peace in the Six Kingdoms.”

“Peace?” Nyx chimes in, nearly choking on his dinner.

“You cannot possibly be that stupid -”

“Excuse me!?” I interrupt Atlas.

“He means ill-informed,” Finn rephrases, but Atlas shakes his head.

“No, I mean stupid.”

I stomp on Atlas’ foot, forcing him to release me. I put a pocket of distance between us.

“What do you know about the attacks?” Finn asks to diffuse the growing tension as Atlas takes a seat to caress his foot and finish his dinner.

“Attacks?”

The brothers exchange a look.

“Bastian's attacks,” Nyx glances at me. “It’s been going on for seven years.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You really don’t know that your precious Bastian leads Midorian forces to attack and pillage villages along the Bavarian, Tronovian, and Durnan coastlines?” Atlas practically growls each word like a rabid animal.

“Bastian is an ambassador of peace.”

“Peace my ass.” Atlas huffs. “Where do you think all the gold, jewels, gems, silks, and food comes from, Princess?”

“We are blessed by the Father,” I whisper, trying to ignore the thunderous beating of my own heart.

“Oh, my stars,” he slaps a hand to his cheek. “You actually believe that.”

“Because it is the truth,” I insist.

“Your fiancé is deadly.” Atlas says matter of fact. “You do not see or hear of magic wielders in Midori because Bastian’s personal guards track them down, capture them, and he bathes in their magical blood to strengthen and rejuvenate after an attack. He is a beast shifter.”

“That’s not true.”

“We went to the Golden Palace to assassinate him so we could end the assaults before war broke out, but thenyougot in the way.”

I shake my head, feeling a growing panic rising in my chest. “Bastian and I have known one another since childhood. He isn’t a beast shifter.”

"We have an eyewitness account -"

"That's a lie!" I shout, interrupting Atlas. "A filthy, unfounded lie!"

"Just because you don't like the truth, doesn't mean it's a lie," he says calmly, but his eyes are filled with palpable rage. “He’s killed hundreds, if not thousands of men, women, and children –”

“Stop it!” I yelp like a wounded animal. “You Tronovians will do anything to get rid of us!”

“Atlas, stop!” Eris grabs his arm, but he shakes her off.

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