I have no room for concern, not as I’m watching over my shoulder in case Atlas chooses to appear and peeking into every dark shadow where thatthingcould be lingering.
With our coats on and our tray of tea, we head through the back courtyard.
“Holy shit! There’s no railing or anything; I could jump right off!” Susie hollers, her eyes big and round as her long ginger hair blows in the wind.
“Don’t stand too close to the edge,” I tell her, raising my own voice to be heard over the crashing of the waves.
Landon approaches and takes a mug from the tray.
“Thank you,” he says softly.
“Yeah, of course.”
Susie grabs one as well, and after setting the metal tray on one of the stone ledges in the dilapidated garden a few paces behind us, I take my own mug and join them near the edge of the cliff.
“You really do live in a fantasy world, Julie,” Lan says, his eyes tracing the edge of the Pacific where it blends into the grey, cloudy sky.
“I was bummed about you leaving us, but it seems like you’re living a good life. We’re happy for you,” Susie adds.
“Thanks, guys,” I reply, a shy smile playing at my lips.
They’re not wrong; Iamliving a good life. Or I was, until last night. Until thatthing. Now I’m terrified of nightfall—now I’m scared of what might happen to me if I stay in this castle.
And I’m equally terrified of what will happen to Atlas if I leave it.
“Are you going to tell us what happened to your face?” Landon asks after a moment of silence, and Susie eyes me, already knowing what I’ll say.
I sigh. “Listen, I—”
I can’t tell if I’m incredibly lucky or the most unfortunate man on the planet. On the one hand, I’m saved from having tobullshit my way through another line of questions; on the other hand, I’m now faced with Atlas Chastain.
He approaches from behind, clearing his throat just loud enough to be heard over the wind and the waves.
All three of us turn at the same time, finding him standing there in one of his many sheer, black blouses and his white cotton pants. A large, puffy black coat is hanging on his shoulders, though his slim arms haven’t been slid through the openings.
He looks just as beautiful as he always does. A darling boy, a sweet little bunny.
“Hi!” Susie greets cheerfully, sticking out a hand as she introduces herself. “I’m Susie, one of Julian’s friends.”
Atlas stares at her hand for a moment before those big blue eyes peer up at me from under thick black lashes, and a hot stroke of protectiveness courses through me.
“Young Master Atlas isn’t to be touched without permission,” I say sharply, and both Susie and Landon look at me with shocked, wide eyes.
“I’m sorry…who?” Susie asks, her hand retreating to her side.
“Hello,” Atlas says, bowing his head slightly. “I am Atlas Chastain. I apologize for the awkwardness; I have a condition that makes physical contact difficult for me.”
There is a long pause where my friends simply stare at him, and Atlas blushes a soft, pretty shade of pink as he looks between the two of them.
Right as I’m about to speak, to cut the tension and save Atlas from the uncomfortable position he’s in, Susie chuckles.
“Jesus. Iseveryonein this castle hot? You’re super pretty, Atlas.”
Atlas flushes further as he replies, “Thank you.” And then after a moment, with his eyes nervously darting between the ground and Susie, he adds, “You’re pretty as well, Susie.”
Something uncomfortable turns in my stomach. Although I’m almost completely sure Atlas likes men—though he’s never confirmed he wasn’t into both menandwomen—I find it irritating that she’s received a compliment before I have.
What would it sound like, his praising me? I resist the urge to shudder, though I’m sure I could blame it on the cold.
