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“Good.”
He led us out of the crowd to a small table with green ribbons hanging to the ground and two little girls keeping watch over a pitcher of water.
“May I?” Atty asked, gesturing to the small cups.
“Momma says it’s good practice for us to pour and serve our neighbors,” one of them answered.
“Well then, I would be most honored to have such a well-mannered young lady serve me and my friend.”
The smaller one giggled as the first tried to curtsy before lifting the heavy pitcher. As soon as the water splashed into the cup, it tilted to the side and spilled. When the little girl’s big, brown eyes filled with tears, Atlas moved to a knee, committing to get his pants muddy to steady the girl.
“I’ve always found this part tricky,” he said calmly, righting the cup. “This is a two-man job, if ever I’ve seen one. Shall we try again?”
She smiled through her tears and grabbed the pitcher. With two successful cups poured, the other girl holding the second as Atty instructed her, we turned to leave. But he stopped mid-stride, reaching into his pocket and pulling out two coins.
“Have you ever had a coin before?” he asked the girls.
They both shook their heads, eyes locked on the copper between his fingers.
“These are special coins from a special friend of mine.” He dropped one into each of their waiting hands. “The new queen is lovely. If you take these to the castle when you visit for Solstice, and tell the gatekeeper Atlas sent you, they will know you’re there to meet her.”
One girl blushed, and the other giggled. “Will the Dark King be there too?”
“Would that scare you?”
The girl that had spilled the water straightened her spine before shaking her head. “I’m not afeared of him anymore.”
“Because you’re brave,” I said, smiling down at her. “And smart.”
She nodded before turning to her next customer.
“You’re kind of incredible,” I said when we slipped away.
Atlas lifted his eyebrows. “Shh. People will hear you.”
I giggled. “I’m serious.”
As we chatted, I noticed the crowd around us parting. At first, I thought maybe to avoid the man that had once been a shifter, but it wasn’t that. They were women. All of them were staring at him as he stared at me. I knew it would only be a matter of time, but my heart was not ready when one of them stepped forward and plucked up the courage to ask for a dance.
17
The beautiful witch with sweeping black hair and piercing green eyes stared up at Atlas until he readily agreed, handing me his empty water cup as he swept her into the crowd of dancers. Something within me burned when he leaned down to whisper, making her laugh and toss her head back, swatting his chest. I turned, unable to watch.
Instead, I dropped the cups on the table beside the little girls and pushed back through the gathering, thinking I’d wait for him in the sleigh. But when Eden stopped me, I couldn’t be rude and refuse her company. Not to a woman that had healed me moments ago.
“You can’t take it personally,” she said, looking through the people until her eyes fell on Atlas. “He’s got a history, and it’s something that’s haunted him for a long time. But he’s worth the wait if you have the patience he’ll need.”
“I know, and I don’t take it personally,” I answered, my tone far more bitter than I’d intended. “We’re just friends. Like he said.”
“I believe that to be true for him, but I think you feel differently.”
“I should go,” I said, walking away, her opinion of me be damned.
Because he was worth it, and fuck me if I couldn’t keep my heart from seeing the potential. He would always be the nice guy everyone pined over and no one nailed down. He hadn’t batted an eye when that witch asked him to dance. Hadn’t considered me for a second. I couldn’t see the change in him because there was none.
“You’re beautiful when you’re jealous.”
Atlas’ voice cut across the temper-filled silence like a knife. It didn’t matter how far behind us the Moss Coven celebration had been, not when he consumed the world with simple words.
