Page 22 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

I tear my hand away from the wall and I know something is different. Something has awakened inside of me. Cautiously, I stretch my hand out once more, determined to place my palm on the Father of Light's image when I hear footsteps scuff across the floor.

Atlas just can't let me have a few minutes to myself, can he?

"You can come out," I roll my eyes, folding my arms over my chest. "I know you're there."

But it isn't Atlas who comes in from the adjoining room. It's a woman with a long black braid, pale skin, and almond shaped eyes. There's something incredibly unnerving about her and it has nothing to do with her appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the night. She's draped in weapons, but it's her eyes that immediately spook me. They're dark, nearly black except for the outer rim, which from this distance looks red. But that can't be possible. No race in the Six Kingdoms has red-rimmed eyes like hers.

"You look different, my lady." The stranger's voice has a bite to it and puts me further on edge.

"Do I know you?" I press my back against the wall, ensuring if she has a partner, they can't sneak up behind me.

"No," she smiles, "but I know you."

"Who are you?" I ask, scanning the ruins for others. If there ever was a time I wish Atlas was tailing me, it's now. But of course, he's sound asleep at the campsite he specifically instructed me not to stray from. If I manage to get back unscathed and in one piece, he'll be lecturing me for weeks.

The woman takes a commanding step forward, securing her hands behind her. "Let's just say, I was sent by Lord Commander Bastian to find you and bring you home."

"Bas sent you?" For a split second I believe she might be my ally, but as I examine her clothing and weaponry, nothing signifies that she hails from Midori. If she had been sent by Bas or my parents, she would bear my house sigil of the Rising Sun. All she has strapped to her black leather lapels are knives and throwing stars. "You are not of the Royal Guard."

She smiles in a clear attempt to reassure me, but all I sense is danger. "Princess Ilaria, I was sent to rescue you. Your fiancé misses you."

"Who are you?" I ask one more time, using what I call myprincess voice, to elicit a response from her.

She holds her hands up in mock surrender as she prowls closer. "I am Vesper, and you're quite shrewd, Your Majesty. I am not a member of the Royal Guard. I serve Lord Commander Bastion and I take care of delicate matters that he cannot muddy his hands with."

"What does that even mean?" I narrow my eyes at her, but my expression doesn't seem to intimidate her in the slightest. "Why wouldn't Bastion send my father's soldiers to find me?"

"Like I said," Vesper's voice hums with irritation, "I oversee tasks the Lord Commander cannot." She extends her hand to me, "Let's get you home."

Home. The word sounds inviting, but as much as I want to go home, an alarm is sounding in my head. I desperately want to see my parents and Bas again, but missing them doesn't dull the sting that when I return, things will be different between us. I might not believe everything the Tronovians have told me over the last couple of days, but there is no denying that my magic and true physical form have been disguised and stifled. Trust has been broken and I have no choice but to face the ugly truth that my parents might not be who I believe them to be – and that Bastian might have a darker side to him, especially now discovering this woman is under his employ. Do my parents know about this woman? Are there more like her?

Vesper slinks forward, the red around her dark irises clearer now that she's within a few paces. Her grin is unsettling at best and though I don't trust her, this might be my only chance to return to Midori. So, why don't I want to slip into the night and pretend the last few days didn't happen?

"What about the Tronovians?" I ask.

"Oh, don't you worry about them, Princess." The gleam in her eyes reminds me of a snake eyeing its prey before devouring it whole. "We'll deal with them."

We.

Suddenly, I realize I don't want to go anywhere with this woman, whether my fiancé dispatched her or not. And what's more surprising, I don't want the Tronovians to be dealt with in the way she's implying. Despite my best efforts to hate them, I've formed a bond with them. They might be my enemies, but I trust them more than I trust Vesper.

"Come, Princess," her spidery voice slices through my panicked thoughts. "We mustn't delay."

I take a step away, but she must sense I am about to run because she lunges for me. I jump back, eluding her grasp.

"Don't make this difficult, Your Highness," she hisses, baring her teeth like a wolf with fangs. "We have come to take you ho -"

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I shoot back, straightening to my full height to appear more regal. But instead of frightening her, I earn a menacing chuckle.

"Oh, yes, you are."

She once again reaches for me, but in a flash, Atlas appears out of thin air, grabs her arm, and tosses her back. She stumbles, falling to the ground and growls at him like a rabid beast. The red lacing her eyes is much brighter than before and makes her look more like a demon than a human.

For the first time since I was kidnapped, I'm relieved to see Atlas standing between me and Vesper. There's a hardness in his face that I haven't seen before. It's not anger. I know that face all too well by now. It's different. He carries himself like a warrior and his teeth are clenched, making his jaw look sharper. It's then I realize, he's not angry, he's being protective.

Vesper slowly rises to her feet, her eyes now fixed on Atlas. "Move,Trinkiti, or I'll give you a swift death."

The slur coming from her lips makes me sick. What a nasty word and I'm ashamed I've used it several times with my captors.

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