Page 43 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

His words sting, but remind me of the reality of the situation. We might have helped each other in our times of need, but at the end of the day, he is my Tronovian kidnapper, and I am the heir to the Midorian throne – or, at least, that's who I used to be. I'm not quite sure who I am anymore.

"You seem disappointed by that."

Atlas' voice yanks me from my thoughts. I close my eyes and rest the back of my head against the lip of the pool. "Not at all, Tronovian. I was just trying to be polite in permitting you to forgo my title during our time together, but if formality is what you prefer, I won't stand in your way."

Oddly, he doesn't say anything snarky in response. I feel the water ripple toward me and open my eyes in time to see him plant his hands against the stone surface on either side of my head, hovering above me. I glare up at him, but despite the forced fury in my expression, he smirks.

"Admit it," he says. "You like us."

"If by us, you're referring to Eris, Nyx, and Finn, then yes." I whisper back, pleased by the surprise in his face.

"But not me?"

"Most definitely not."

"You're a terrible liar, Princess," he whispers.

He inches closer and I let him, partly curious to see what he does, but mostly not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.

"And you are far too bold, Tronovian."

"Do you love him?"

Atlas' question stuns and sobers me.

"What?"

"Your fiancé. Do you love him?"

"Of course, I do." And even though it's the truth, it sounds like a lie.

Atlas stares at me, maintaining unwavering eye contact, until he finds whatever he's searching for, before slipping back to his side of the hot spring. I sit up, knowing my face is flushed from his nearness, but thankfully my reddened face can be attributed to the steamy water and not him. My head is churning with a thousand questions like:

"What the hell was that about?"

"Call it curiosity," he replies nonchalantly.

"About what?" I cross my arms over my chest, even though he can't see the movement.

"Learning your tells."

"My tells?"

Atlas bobs his head, slipping his arms over the golden lip of the pool. "What you look like when you lie to me. Or, I should say, when youtryto lie to me."

I shrug. "I can lie to you all I want. We're not friends, remember?"

He barks out a laugh and I hate that I like the sound.

"Clever girl."

"I'll make a deal with you," I say and immediately capture his attention. "I'll answer one question you ask truthfully, if you do the same."

He doesn't respond. He's clearly mulling over my offer carefully. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous of what he might ask me, but I also want answers to satisfy my own curiosity.

"Fine," he says lowly, dragging his gaze across the water to meet mine. "You have a deal. Ask your question."

"Your scars," those two words alone make his jawline harden. "Who did that to you?"

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