Shaye
Kamari leads us through Starnborough and I'm oddly impressed by how quickly she's learned the layout of the castle.
"It's not much further," she says, not sparing us a second glance.
"Did Thrane say what he wanted?" My nerves are swelling. With the mood he's been in today, I am gearing up for an abrasive meeting.
She casually shrugs a shoulder. "Like I told you before, all he said was it was important."
Atlas squeezes my hand; a silent reassurance everything will be all right. I wish I could say it eased my anxiety, but it doesn't.
Thrane and my mother clock us the moment we appear down the corridor.
"Good of you to finally make an appearance." Thrane scans us holding hands and sighs. "I see you are now attached at the hip."
"You're lucky we showed up at all," I snarl. "Why'd you send for us?"
"I requestedyou. Not your – "
My mother grabs my left hand and gasps. "Fiancé!" She grins at Atlas. "I didn't know you were asking her tonight."
"It felt like the right moment," he says and my mouth flops open.
"Wait," I hold my hands up. "You knew he was going to propose?"
"She helped design your engagement ring."
Another warm wave of emotion crashes against me, tugging a smile across my face. I'm so happy Atlas and my mother are getting to know one another better. And to team up on a secret engagement ring – my heart is about to burst through my ribcage.
"Amma," I whimper and she wraps her arms around me.
"I am so happy for you, my darling girl," she whispers into my hair.
"Yes, yes," Thrane huffs, rolling his eyes. "Congratulations and salutations. Now, there are more important matters we need to tend to."
I flick a tear from my cheek and scoff. "You sure do know how to celebrate good news."
Thrane flashes me a disgruntled look. "In my eyes you were already engaged. This is nothing new or surprising. That doesn't mean I'm not happy for you both."
Atlas drapes his arm across my shoulders. "You looked overjoyed," he flatlines.
"This is my face, Atlas. Surely you have come to understand that by now." Thrane quickly moves on from our official engagement to peek through a crack in a door left slightly ajar.
"What's so important it couldn't wait until morning?" I slide up next to Thrane and being nosy, attempt to see what he's looking at.
"The Dwarven king and prince are lounging," he whispers, making room for me beside him. "It's imperative we speak to them privately about reforging the Portal to Orabelle."
"They haven't even made a decision if they are going to join the war efforts. Why would they – "
"They will," he says with such confidence, I believe him. "Dwarves cannot help but get involved when it involves weaponry. Their economy booms when there is war since all the kingdoms involved purchase resources from them."
"That's morbid," I crinkle my nose and stare up at him.
He shrugs. "That's politics. Now, we have to convince them to rebuild the portal if we stand a chance at winning this war."
My heart lodges inside my throat. "Do you think they'll listen?" I quirk a brow when he narrows his gaze on me. "No offense, but they don't seem too keen on listening to Frost Elves."
"Perhaps they'll listen to us." Ronan's voice echoes down the hallway. He escorts Professor Riggs to our rendezvous point.
