Page 23 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

But Atlas is unfazed when Vesper issues her threats. He smirks, but if feels dangerous and predatorial instead of playful.

"If you want her, Soul Eater, you'll have to go through me to claim her." Atlas' voice is steady, but the boldness behind his words sends a spark through me. I'm not sure if he's trying to save me from Vesper or keep his prize to deliver to his king. Maybe it's both. Either way, I feel better with him standing in front of me.

Vesper whistles a loud, sharp note and a dozen warriors dressed exactly like her step out of their hiding places among the trees and crumbling temple walls. Standing behind their leader, they draw their weapons, and my heart sinks.

"We intend to," Vesper says and her shrilly voice chills my blood.

Atlas bends his head slightly toward me and says, "Run, Princess."

"What?" I must have misheard him.

"Run." He meets my confused gaze.

I quickly glance up and down his person, but I don't see any blades. "You don't have any weapons."

Suddenly, shadows spew from his hands, transforming into two swords. I look into his eyes and watch them change from green to violet.

"Iama weapon, Princess." He motions with his head, "Run."

With his focus back on the combatants, I obey his instructions, and bolt. I hear Vesper shout something in a harsh language I've never heard before, but I don't stop until I find a bush large enough to hide behind. Metal clangs, drawing my attention. Atlas spins, dodges, kicks, and wields his shadows like he's the Prince of Darkness. I've seen him use his magic before, but never like this. This is an entirely different level of warfare. I should be terrified of him, but I'm not.

Then it hits me. This is my chance to use the distraction to escape both parties and find my own way back to Midori. But I find I can't leave Atlas to face this horde of rogue fighters alone.

What can I do? I don't have weapons and even if I did, I don't know how to use them. If we survive this ordeal, maybe Atlas will allow Nyx to teach me some basic fighting moves.

Surprisingly, Atlas is holding his ground, striking down those he identified as Soul Eaters. Three are dead at his feet with their heads cut off. But he is outnumbered and even I know he won't win this fight.

If I can get back to the camp and get the others –

But just then, I see one of the Soul Eaters sneak up behind Atlas with his sword aimed to stab him in the back.

Something deep within me hums at the thought of Atlas being killed, and the golden magic I've tried summoning for days erupts when I sprint back into the fray, and scream, "Atlas!"

He whips around as the Soul Eater thrusts his sword forward but his weapon shatters against the golden shield I dome Atlas in.

Vesper's wide-eyed gaze darts from the forcefield to me. "Get the girl!"

I glance at Atlas and the wonder in his eyes gives me the strength not to panic as the soldiers rush toward me as a unit. I take a deep breath, my magic itches beneath my skin, begging to be released. Several Soul Eaters leap toward me. I extend my hands and light explodes out of my palms, blasting the rogues away. As the Soul Eaters roll around the ground, trying to collect themselves, I release Atlas from his shield. He snatches my hand and drags me into the jungle, in the opposite direction of the camp.

"Isn't the camp the other way?" I ask as he pulls me further into the darkness. I can hear the Soul Eaters chasing us, and by sound alone, they're catching up and fast. "They're gaining on us!"

"It's not much farther, keep running."

What's not much farther? Where is Atlas leading me?

He squeezes my hand before tugging me, urging me to go faster, but I'm running as fast as I can. I'm short of breath, and using that much of my magic so quickly, has me ready to pass out. But I have no choice. We need to escape the Soul Eaters. What Soul Eaters are, I have no idea, I've never heard of them before. I would ask Atlas, but it's a question best saved for another time, seeing we're on the run for our lives.

I hate to admit that his calloused hand gripping mine gives me a sense of security and has my heart racing. Or maybe, that's just what happens when one goes from a pretty sedentary lifestyle to sprinting from rogues in the dead of night.

We stop running when we clear the trees and bushes and are standing on a rocky overhang. Several hundred feet below us is a lake. He pulls me to the edge, but I want nothing to do with heights of this magnitude. My fear of falling from a high place kicks in and I panic. Atlas cups my face, forcing me to look at him.

"Princess, any second now, those Soul Eaters are going to appear. Once all of them are on the overhang with us, I want you to slam your hands to the ground with whatever magic you have left."

I shake my head. "I can't do that."

"You can. I know you can."

"No, I can't!" Tears well in my eyes and I hate myself for falling apart in front of him. "What if I fall?" I whisper.

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