Page 34 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

He tips his head to the side, feigning confusion, but I know he knows what I'm referring to.

I tap the hand she passed the note to. "It was quick. So quick, I almost missed it. But I saw her pass you a piece of paper. What did it say?"

"You're quite observant, Princess." He pulls a small piece of paper from his pants pocket and holds it up between his index and middle fingers. "It's information."

I reach for it, but he flips the paper around his hand, making it disappear.

"Ah, ah, ah," he tsks and starts walking again, forcing me to chase after him.

"What kind of information?" I ask.

"You aren't very patient, are you?"

I frown. "What does my patience have anything to do with wanting to know what you're up to?"

"I'll be more than happy to let you read the note when we aren't in the middle of a busy street. A street where we do not know who may be watching and listening."

I jump in front of him, cutting him off, and pull him into a dark, narrow, side alley. He looks down at me in amusement.

"Is this where you glare at me with those piercing grey eyes and try to intimidate me into bending the knee to your will?" He steps towards me, closing the gap between us, and smirks. "I must warn you,Strenlys, I'm not easily swayed, nor do I bend the knee to anyone other than my king."

If intimidation won't work, then I need a new strategy. "Perhaps," I slowly drag my hands up his arms, tilting my head upward, "I can persuade you to reconsider?"

His green eyes are molten. I can feel the shift in his mood and realize my distraction is working. Mother always said you could attract more flies with honey than vinegar. I run my fingers up his neck, tracing his tattoo.

"What does it mean?" I ask, rubbing the ancient Tronovian runes on the left side of his neck.

"No timet dau, dau timo," he says in his native tongue.

"Which means?" I press my chest against his and notice his breathing hitches. I tilt my head up, my lips inches from his. With my free hand, I slowly, gently, slip my fingers into his pant pocket to retrieve the note.

"I do not fear death, death fears me." Atlas leans close. He's about to kiss me, but at the last moment, he dodges my mouth, presses his lips to my ear, and slaps his hand against the back of my head, ensuring I am firmly in his grasp. "Nice try, Princess." He snatches my wrist and drags my hand out of his pocket. He chuckles and the vibrato makes me shiver. "Does that trick work on your fiancé when you want something?"

I yank myself free from him. "You answered my question, did you not?" I hiss, emphasizing the point that he too, fell prey to my female charm.

Atlas smiles, but it's not friendly or playful. He looks more like a tiger toying with his food before he devours it. "If we are to be allies, you will have to learn to trust me."

"And how am I supposed to trust you, when you don't seem to trust me?"

Pulling the note out of his pocket, he extends it to me. I snatch it before he can change his mind and open it as he reclines against the wall. The handwriting is neat, and there's only one sentence:The eyes of the Jubanti are ever watchful.I flip it over and see it's blank. I don't repeat the words aloud, but when I look at him, he doesn't offer an explanation.

"What does it mean?" I hand it back and he glances at the words.

"It means if Soul Eaters are spotted in the city, Zuri's team will let us know."

"Is she some kind of spy?" I furrow my brow as he stuffs the piece of paper back in his pocket. "How often do you come here anyway?"

"Often enough to have very well-informed friends, but not often enough to rent an apartment." His answer is vague and grinds my bones. This seems to be his go-to move. Give me just enough information to satisfy me for now without actually giving me any specifics about his inner workings.

"Come on," his voice slices through my thoughts. "We need to meet the others."

We slip out of the alley and continue our walk to Hotel Zulmara, where the Harlands are frequent guests. I sense Atlas' gaze on me but refuse to look at him.

"Why are you staring at me?" I ask, keeping my eyes fixed on the road before me.

"When you are lost in your thoughts, your nose twitches."

My hand flies to cover my nose and my cheeks heat. "It does not."

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