Page 8 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

"You have to take me back!" I don't mean to whimper, but the fear of the unknown grips my heart and squeezes.

"Afraid not, Princess," Atlas shakes his head. "You see, you fouled up our mission -"

"You mean to say, assassination," I interrupt, but he isn't fazed.

"And since you saw us in the halls, we couldn't stay in Midori any longer, but we also can't return to Tronovia after months of work empty handed. That's where you come in."

"You don't understand. I need to go back. I need my tea -"

"If you're thirsty," the cerebral-looking Tronovian wipes his glasses, "we have drinks -"

"It's a special tea!" I can't help but shout. "Every night I drink a tea, a tea that keeps me alive. If I don't take it, I don't know how much time I'll have." I glare at Atlas. "And I doubt I'm any good to you dead."

"I didn't realize how important your tea was, otherwise, I would have swiped some before we left." The woman finally chimes in and when I meet her gaze, I recognize where I've seen those blue eyes before.

"Selene?" I whisper. I'm not sure if I'm angry to see her, or relieved to have someone I know aboard the boat. But then again, I don't really know her, do I?

"Princess -"

"Don't!" I point my index finger at her, nostrils flaring. "You can stop pretending to care about me, Selene."

"Actually, my name is Eris. Eris Talay." Her last name confirms my suspicions. House Talay has ruled Hydra for centuries. My head is throbbing, and I just want to lay down in my bed and wake up from this nightmare.

The one I stabbed extends his hand toward me. “I’m Nyx Harland.”

The one with the glasses offers a slight nod of his head, “Finn Harland.”

I swat Nyx's hand away and ignore Finn's greeting. A cool sea breeze suddenly whips around and makes me shiver. I'm not dressed properly for a journey. My nightgown is clinging to my body, leaving very little to the crew's imagination.

Finn shimmies his jacket off and slowly makes his way toward me even though I'm glaring at him. He extends the garment to me. “It's better than nothing.”

I shouldn't accept the kind gesture, but I'm cold and not proud enough to deny the privacy it gives me. I grab it and wrap it over my shoulders. I'm swimming in it, but tug it tighter around my torso and offer a small, albeit reluctant, smile. “Thank you.”

"You might as well get comfortable, Princess," Atlas purrs. "It's at least a ten-day journey to Tronovia."

"And where exactly do you expect me to make myself comfortable?" I scoff. "In that broom closet you call a bedroom?"

He steps closer, a hardness settles in his face, though his eyes gleam with amusement. "We could always chain you in the cellar, if you'd prefer."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would," he smirks, crossing his arms over his chest. "Quite frankly, that was my first choice when we brought you aboard. Eris talked me out of it."

I spare a quick glance at my former lady-in-waiting. Royal etiquette demands I thank her, but I'm still angry with her, so I hold my tongue. I won't give her, or the brash Tronovian brute standing in front of me, the satisfaction of me thanking them for not treating me like some common crook.

My narrowed eyes slide back to Atlas. "I look forward to watching your execution when you are caught."

"You cruel, wicked creature," he coos as a sly grin snakes across his tan face. "Keep talking to me like that and I might learn to like you."

I whip around and stomp back below deck with Nyx nipping at my heels. I grab the doorknob to Atlas' room but before I slip inside, I turn to face my escort and growl, "Should I assume you'll be sitting outside my door all night?"

Nyx shakes his head, dragging a match across the paneled wall and lighting a reefer that had been tucked behind his ear. He exhales a puff of smoke and I swat it away, not liking the tobacco smell. "That would be a waste of my time, Princess."

I quirk an eyebrow. "And if I sneak out and slit your throat while you sleep?"

He barks out a laugh, the sound rumbles down the hallway. "You've got a good sense of humor, Midorian."

"I fail to see what part of what I said was so humorous," I frown, crossing my arms over my chest. But with Finn's large jacket hanging just above my knees, I feel infantile instead of intimidating.

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