Page 44 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
Well, it was best to do it now and get it over with. Veros wouldn’t dare berate or admonish her in front of royal guests.
“Don’t worry, Veros. I’ve got it covered.” She rose up on her toes and gave her brother a quick peck on the cheek. “I work at the Mystic Obscura now.”
His jaw fell slack and his eyes widened. She may as well have told him she’d taken up a job removing her clothing for money at the Dancing Nymph.
Everinne slowly backed away. It was time to make her grand exit. “Well, this has been fun, but I promised Zoryana that I’d meet her for lunch before my next shift. It was so wonderful to meet all of you.”
“Everinne…” Veros warned, moving toward her.
“My lords.” She dropped into a quick curtsy. “Your Highnesses.” She would have to run if she wanted to make it out of the palace alive.
“Ev—”
“See you in three nights!” she called over her shoulder, rudely cutting off her brother and hastening her steps.
As soon as she left the dining hall and was out of their sight, Everinne broke into a sprint. She had no doubt in her mind that Veros was furious with her, but she didn’t particularly care tobe reprimanded in front of three fae nobles. And certainly not Atlas.
The humiliation would be insufferable.
Chest heaving, she rushed down one of the corridors, her high heels slipping on the obsidian surface of the floor. Flinging her arms out for balance, she kept her pace, refusing to slow just in case Veros came after her. Knowing him, he had duties to the court first, but that wouldn’t stop him from coming to find her the moment he got a chance. She shoved open the grand doors leading to the side entrance where she could safely hail avaladeand make her way back to her apartment.
Everinne took a deep breath as the cold air slammed into her, cooling her burning lungs. Squinting into the bright morning light, she forced herself to walk at a normal pace. Even if the guards knew her, it would look incredibly suspicious if she was seen fleeing from the palace like she was being chased by the Wild Hunt. She waved at the guards as she passed and they nodded in return, not the least bit suspecting.
The gates groaned open, creaking against the strain of bronze and metal.
Almost there.
Without warning, a gust of wind sent her tumbling forward, and the sound of beating wings echoed in her ears.
She whipped around.
“What the?—”
Everinne shrieked as Atlas collided into her. He snatched her into his arms then, shot into the cloudless blue sky.
Fourteen
“Atlas!” Everinne shouted, squirming in his hold. If she wasn’t careful, she’d slip from his grip completely. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Put me down right now!”
He ignored her and tightened his grasp on her waist, pressing her into the heat of his body.
“ATLAS!”
“That’s right, Ever,” he whispered into her ear, his lips moving lightly across the amethyst studs piercing the pretty little pointed tip. “Scream my name again.”
She fell silent and still, her lips parting slightly as she stared at him with those mesmerizing eyes.
He’d shocked her. Good.
At least that would shut her up for a minute.
His wings rippled and shifted through the stiff breeze as he flew with her over Starysa. Everinne had one arm around his neck while her other hand was fisted into the front of his shirt. Gray winter clouds sifted past them, the stiff breeze sending her dark hair fluttering in every direction. Her pale blue sweater slipped dangerously low down her shoulder, revealing the perfect swell of lightly tanned flesh hidden just beneath.
Atlas focused on catching the currents, instead of the way her body felt crushed against his own.
“Where are you taking me?” she finally asked.
“Home.”
