Page 59 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

Eris and Finn exchange a look. The Hydran is practically chomping at the bit to spill some secret and Finn shrugs, not one to tell her no. Without a word, Eris bolts into the brothers' suite and comes back with a long, black, rectangular box. It has a gold ribbon tied around it and a small piece of paper attached with my name scrawled on it.

"Open it, open it, open it!" Eris places the package in my lap and chews on her finger in anticipation.

"Where did this come from?" I examine the note, but it doesn't say who it's from.

"Please," Eris begs, "He said you could open it as soon as you woke up and I've been dying to see what he got you."

"Who?"

"Atlas," Finn leans against the doorframe connecting our rooms, burying his hands in his pockets.

My heart skips a beat. "Atlas?" I say his name like it's something sacred. He got me a present? But where could he have gone to purchase this for me?

As if Eris can read my thoughts, she says, "Yesterday, when he had you go explore with Nyx, he went back to Zuri's shop to order it."

So, the business he had to tend to was buying me a present? I thought he was going to get information about the Soul Eaters or maybe visit one of his Bavan friends before shipping off, but instead, he went to Zuri's to get me something.

"Shaye, if you don't open it, I might die!" Eris fusses and Finn shakes his head with a chuckled huff.

"Let her open it when she's ready," Finn says.

"I need to see what he got you," Eris ignores him. "He's never given a female a gift before."

"Never?" I quirk an eyebrow, not believing that for one second.

"Never." Finn confirms, and my stomach lurches. "Well, with the exception of our mother, of course."

I drag my fingers over the beautifully wrapped box, before tugging the ribbon off, and opening the lid. Eris and I gasp at the same time. I gently pull the black dress out of the container and slowly stand up so I can drape it against my chest for them to see.

"It's gorgeous, Shaye!" Eris exclaims.

"He remembered," I say softly, not meaning for everyone to hear. It's the sparkly, black dress I had admired in Zuri's shop.

"I, for one, think you would look exceptional in black."

Atlas' voice swims freely in my head and I'm rendered speechless. Not only did he go back for this dress knowing I would need it for the festivities aboard the river cruise, but he purchased it as a surprise, knowing how much I would love it.

"Where is he?" I ask.

"He's with Nyx," Finn says. "Preparing for our arrival tomorrow."

I nod, trying to hide my disappointment that he's not nearby so I can thank him.

"Are you alright?" Eris dips her head to catch my wandering gaze. "He thought you'd love it, but if you'd rather wear something else -"

"No," I shake my head, cutting off the rest of that sentence. "This is perfect." I flash a smile, ignoring the stinging in the back of my throat. "So, what now?"

"Now," Eris cracks her knuckles and grins, "we see what we can do with your hair."

Eighteen

Afteracoupleofhours of Eris and I doing each other's hair and make-up, we are finally dressed and ready for a much-needed night of revelry.

Eris is truly breathtaking in her blue-sequin, halter dress that hugs her curves in all the right places and makes the color of her eyes pop. She let me play with her curls and I fashioned them in a stunning half-up, half-down style. I desperately want to ask her about her relationship status with Finn but second-guess myself and swallow those personal questions. We might be in a better position now, but I don't want to jeopardize our newly repaired friendship by asking something that might make her uncomfortable. She twirls, admiring herself in the mirror, before turning her full attention to me.

"I've got to hand it to Atlas," Eris looks me up and down, motioning for me to turn in a circle, so I oblige. "He picked the perfect dress for you."

"It really is beautiful," I say, running my fingers over the sequin bodice for the hundredth time. I still can't believe the dress I was admiring in Zuri's shop is now mine. And ironically, I have Atlas Harland to thank.

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