Page 80 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

"It's notenoks, but it's still pretty damn good," Nyx winks at me, and just the thought of the Bavan snake delicacy makes my mouth water.

Over the next hour, we talk, laugh, and I listen to the brothers swap stories about growing up in Tronovia. Watching them relax in the comfort of their own home brings a smile to my face. The men I got to know in the jungle always seemed to be on guard, but here, in their rowhouse, sitting at their table, eating a home cooked meal, all their walls are lowered. Their smiles are brighter, their laughs are louder, and their brotherly affection is tangible. The sudden thought that I wish I had siblings floods me and saddens me. It was no secret that my parents had difficulty conceiving and when I was born, I was dubbed a miracle. Part of me wonders if they were disappointed they had a daughter instead of a son, but they were more than pleased with betrothing me to Bastian. My father always says he knows Midori will be in capable and loving hands when Bastian and I ascend the throne after he passes to the next life. Now, I'm not so sure.

A loud knock on the door startles me and I nearly drop my glass of wine. The brothers look at each other, silently willing the other to deal with whomever is at the door. Finally, Atlas rolls his eyes, and pushes his chair back. It's a short trip to the foyer, but I miss his knee bouncing next to mine. I'll blame the two glasses of wine I've had over the course of an hour for causing me to feel that way. I don't get a good look at who Atlas greets because he's blocking my view, but I catch a glimpse of a man in what appears to be a forest green uniform with gold stitching. The visitor doesn't come inside but walks away after handing Atlas a sealed envelope. When he turns closes the door, his eyes meet mine and I immediately avert my gaze, focusing on the others.

"So," I wipe the corners of my mouth with my linen napkin, trying, and failing, not to glance at Atlas walking back to the table while he reads the letter. "When will I meet your king?"

Atlas takes a sip of his drink as he settles back into his chair at the head of the table. "Tomorrow morning."

All eyes dart to the eldest Harland.

"Tomorrow?" I ring my hands together in my lap.

"It seems our uncle is just as eager to meet you as you are to meet him," he smirks, reclining lazily.

"How does he already know I'm here? We haven't been in Tronovia for more than a couple of hours."

Atlas sets his long stem glass down and finally meets my glare. "I sent word to him the moment we docked."

My eyes slide to the handwritten note clutched in his hand. "And from his letter, would you say this will be a cordial visit?"

"For you, yes. For me," he clicks his teeth, "not so cordial."

"What do you mean?" Eris chimes in.

"Uncle isn't pleased about us kidnapping the heir to the Midorian throne."

"So, assassinating a Midorian is acceptable, but kidnapping one is where he draws the line?" I roll my eyes and scoff. "That's just ridiculous."

Atlas chuckles, amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's not the first time one of us has pissed him off and it certainly won't be the last." He shrugs, nursing his wine. "What's done is done. It's not like I can put you back where I found you, can I?"

"I suppose not," I say softly, painfully aware that the others are watching our interaction carefully.

"Well," Nyx slaps his hands against his thighs and pushes back from the table, slicing through the momentary silence. "I think I'll turn in for the night. Great dinner as always, Finn." He tips an invisible hat to me and Eris, "Ladies." Scooting around the edge of the table, he heads to the staircase behind Atlas, but stops dead in his tracks when his brother says, "Uncle expects to see you in the morning as well, Nyx."

Nyx grimaces and drums his fingers against the wooden railing. "I should have known he would want to see all of us."

"Oh, no," Atlas purrs with a wicked grin, "you misunderstand. Uncle only wants to see you, me, and the princess."

"Wait!" Nyx croaks, eyes flashing wide open. "You mean to tell me he didn't summon Finn and Eris?"

"No."

"Well, that's bullshit." Nyx's nostrils flare. "They're just as guilty of kidnapping as we are."

Atlas shrugs, unbothered. "I suppose the king sees it differently."

"Or Finn has always been his favorite nephew and can do no wrong."

"Maybe if you two weren't such bad little shits when we were younger -"

"Oh, here we go!" Nyx interrupts Finn, throwing his hands up in the air.

"He has a point, you know." Atlas adds, forking a piece of chocolate cake into his mouth.

Rubbing the heels of his palms against his eyes, Nyx groans in defeat. "What time?"

"Right after breakfast," Atlas wipes his mouth and lays his fork on his empty plate. Without another word, Nyx ascends the steps, muttering curses under his breath as he rounds the corner and disappears.

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