Page 19 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

I glance at my reflection in the steady-flowing stream and gasp. For the last couple of days, I haven't really wanted to believe that my appearance had altered that drastically but seeing what I look like now is jarring. I finger the white hair that hangs past my breasts, and glare at the grey eyes staring back at me. Turning my head to the side, I see my ears are still round, not pointy like the Frost Elves. So, even though I have some elven features, I must only be part Elowen, meaning I could have Midorian blood in me.

But that possibility churns my stomach. That would mean that my mother, or maybe even my father, spawned me from an affair, making me –

I shake my head. There's no way I'm a bastard. My parents love one another so much it's sickening. Neither one would dare have an affair, especially with a Frost Elf. Frost Elves are known for bedding and wedding their own kind, believing humans, trolls, and dwarves are inferior to their ancient and immortal bloodline. But there's no doubt about it; I have white hair and grey eyes which are inarguably Frost Elf features.

My magic is another mystery I'm still unraveling. Since we began our trek to Bava, every single night before I'm allowed to lay my head down to rest, Atlas forces me to train with him. So far, it's been nothing but a complete failure. He tells me to tap into whatever magic is flowing through my veins and recreate the shield from the other night. I do my best to do as he instructs, and when I can't, he gets frustrated and insists I'm not trying hard enough, provoking me to snap back at him and before I know it, we're arguing then stomping in opposite directions for the rest of the evening.

I know as soon as he shows up, he is going to make me train again, but at this point, I think that golden bubble I manifested was a fluke.

"You missed a spot."

I whip around and see Atlas leaning lazily against a tree, watching me. Shaking my head, I turn my back to him, once again rinsing the mud from my legs. "Some women might find thatappearing-out-of-thin-air-trickamusing, but I find it creepy."

"Creepy?" He feigns distress, slapping a hand against his chest. "You wound me, Princess."

"I wish I could wound you, Tronovian."

"What a wicked tongue you have." He tsks before approaching me. He crouches next to me, wiggling his fingers in the water.

"I thought you didn't like the water," I huff.

"I don't like having to swim great distances, but a certain woman decided to sink my boat." Our eyes meet and I swear there's a playfulness in his green eyes that wasn't there before. But as quick as it flashes, it's gone, the hardened exterior firmly back in place. "I'm surprised you took that kind of risk."

"To escape you?"

"To swim through shark infested waters to escape me."

"I didn't know sharks were in the water when I jumped."

Eris' laugh steals my attention and I watch as she and the brothers splash water at one another. Their love and friendship is evident. I've never experienced anything remotely close to the playfulness they share with one another. Sometimes I wish I had more friends than I could count, but up until the other night, I only had one: Selene. Rather, Eris Talay in disguise. I remember all the times she made me laugh when I was irritated with my teachers or made me smile when I was overwhelmed with wedding preparations. She lightened my darkest moods and for a brief moment, I thought I had found someone who liked me, but I guess I was wrong.

"On your feet, Princess." Atlas's voice stirs me from my depressing thoughts. "It's time for our lesson."

I roll my eyes, ready to throw a proper child-like fit. "Can we take tonight off?"

"And why would we do that?" He stares down at me, confused.

Ticking off my fingers one by one as I stand to my full height, I say, "Because I'm tired? Because I haven't been able to conjure that golden shield again? Because I don't feel like it? Take your pick."

"I didn't take you for a quitter."

My nostrils flare at the insult. "I'm not quitting. I'm resting. Maybe if you relaxed once in a while, you wouldn't be so cranky."

"If I took as many breaks as you do, nothing would ever get done." He squares his shoulders to mine, and we engage in a good old-fashion stare off. Part of me wishes I knew exactly what he's thinking but the other part of me is eager to slap the smug look off his face.

"Fine!" I break first. There's no reasoning with him and he'll only make my life more difficult. "Anything to get you to stop talking."

Atlas smirks. "Hate to break it to you, Princess, but I never stop talking."

I take up the familiar stance he taught me and motion for him to proceed with the lesson.

"Now what? We glare at each other until you yell at me and I storm off and throw a blanket over my head until morning?"

"How about," he takes a few steps toward me, hands buried in his pockets, "you actually try this time."

"I have –"

He lifts a hand up, silencing me. "Excuses will get you nowhere."

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