26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“ N ext week?” Allerick confirmed, his shadows shifting restlessly. “So soon?”

“The thinking is that it would be best to start with a small group and begin promptly, rather than let the pressure build,” I explained, having hashed all of this out with Tallulah, Harlow, and Sebastian earlier this afternoon. “You can’t go, of course. It’s too risky. Us singletons are more dispensable,” I joked.

“That’s not true,” Allerick replied sharply. “And you’re hardly single—not really. No one has sat by your side at the high table before.”

“Regardless. If I die, Iris won’t be in the kind of pain she would suffer if a mate bond were to break, presumably.” Allerick made a sound of disagreement. We didn’t actually know what happened when one half of a mated pair died, and hopefully it would be many decades before we did. “We have it baked into the agreement that our own ex-Hunters will also come along to provide security, so at least one mated pair will be there. I doubt Astrid is going to let anyone go in her place.”

“Likely not,” Allerick agreed. “And Soren won’t stay behind if she goes. Selene is pregnant, she’ll need to stay behind and I suspect Austin wouldn’t provide much in the way of security anyway.”

I snorted. Austin hadn’t even come up in conversation when Tallulah and I were discussing the most appropriate ex-Hunters to go along on the trip. Aside from the fact that he was too recognizable in the human realm, he was a lover, not a fighter.

“Andrus has already volunteered to come along—probably because he’s desperate for a proper feed, but also undoubtedly hoping that being part of this small party will bring him glory. I think perhaps two or three more Shades—trained members of the Guard—would be the optimum amount to make up our numbers.”

“Next week will mean that it is right before the Feast of the Modra.”

I frowned. “So what? It’s not like we celebrate it.” I wasn’t sure anyone did anymore—it was an ancient practice. From memory, it was a feast to celebrate all new life in the realm since the last Modra—to celebrate children and mothers, mostly. It certainly hadn’t been acknowledged during our father’s reign. He barely acknowledged his children, nor their mothers.

“Ophelia thought it would be nice to bring it back. She’s liaising with Vespera and Cosima right now on the arrangements.”

“Then the feast will be the perfect way to celebrate our success and the start of a new, healthy relationship between us and the Hunters. Or, at least, one small segment of their population. It’s a celebration of newness, is it not?”

“ If it goes well,” Allerick pointed out, incapable of being positive about anything.

“Sure, sure. If. Anyway, do we have your approval? The others are taking a tea break but I’d like to go back and let them know if we can proceed on those terms or not.”

Allerick leaned back in his seat, watching me from across the table where he’d been having his lunch before I’d interrupted. “Yes. You have my approval. You’d like to go back and talk to them? Voluntarily? I hardly recognize you these days, little brother.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No. Not because you’re finally being helpful and reliable, though I am glad for that fact. But because you’re happier. Interested and engaged in the world around you. You move with purpose rather than aimlessly drifting from room to room, making jokes to hide your discomfort.”

“I don’t do that,” I protested immediately. “I’m just very funny. You wouldn’t understand because you are not.”

Allerick snorted. “Of course. Go on then, go pass on my approval. A couple of the Elders want to meet with me shortly, they are still feeling slighted. I spend my days soothing bruised egos.”

I shuddered at the thought. “I’m glad such a task falls to you rather than me. I’ll see you at dinner.”

In many ways, a weight had been lifted and my steps were lighter as I headed back to the meeting room to meet the others. There had been moments where any kind of truce between us had seemed like an impossible goal, so coming to an arrangement at all was an accomplishment.

On the other hand, it was impossible not to notice how subdued the mood was at court since Ruvyn’s talk. His theories had forced all of us to reckon with some ideas that were long out-of-date. Ideas that needed to be reckoned with. It was an uncomfortable but necessary process.

What would the future of the shadow realm look like with potentially more Hunters in it? With the children of those Hunter-Shade unions running around? Were we capable of assessing value in any way other than the raw ability to channel shadows?

I slowed my steps at the sound of whispers up around the corner, wondering if I was about to encounter a satisfying piece of court gossip. Everyone had been dully well-behaved recently—a good scandal would be the perfect distraction from Ruvyn’s talk.

“Don’t do it,” Meera whispered urgently, immediately making me lean in closer to eavesdrop. It was unlike Meera to give orders at all, let alone panicky-sounding ones. “Don’t interfere. It’s between them.”

“Yeah, but they need our help,” Jade complained. “Just need a little nudge in the right direction, that’s all.”

“It’s romantic,” Cora added. “We’re just two little cupids, gently reminding the lovebirds that they belong together.”

Who were they talking about? Was there another secret romance brewing at court? There was always something going on. I felt sorry for whoever they were, having these two meddle in their affairs.

“I’m pretty sure Cupid sent arrows, not gentle reminders,” Meera countered.

“Love arrows,” Cora replied smugly. “Now, shh. Tallulah said he would be coming back this way any minute.”

Realization dawned slowly. Had they been talking about me ? And Iris? There did seem to be a friendship brewing between them three of them, perhaps Iris had mentioned me in their conversations. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or nervous about that.

Then again, Cora had said something about lovebirds, hadn’t she? That seemed positive.

And I was Iris’s boy friend now, so I’d like to think she felt at least a little good about our relationship.

I made a show of noisily walking around the corner, too intrigued to wait a moment longer.

Meera gave me a slightly rueful look, and I wondered if she knew I’d been listening in. She was more observant than any of us had ever given her credit for.

“Sorry, I just remembered I have somewhere to be,” she said, clearly wanting no part of this conversation.

“Where?” Jade challenged, planting her hands on her hips and giving Meera a defiant stare. I doubted she would have with anyone else, but Meera had something of a maternal role in Elverston House.

Meera’s lips twitched as she backed away. “Somewhere.”

Jade frowned before turning to face me. “Hello. Your Highness,” she added after a moment’s pause.

“Just Damen is fine,” I assured her, crossing my arms and leaning my shoulder against the wall. Don’t laugh, you might offend them .

The corridor was empty at present, and interestingly, there was nothing in their scent or body language that indicated they were uncomfortable being alone with me, which was nice. I’d sort of expected that from Cora, who’d been curious and enthusiastic about the shadow realm from the moment she arrived, but Jade had been extremely wary and hadn’t even ventured inside the palace until recently. It was a great sign that she was more settled here already.

“Were you looking for me?” I asked innocently.

Jade gave Cora a look that clearly said you tell him , though I couldn’t interpret the rest of the silent conversation they had with their eyes. I watched it with interest until they came to their resolution, though. Humans had such expressive faces.

“Okay,” Cora began, blowing out a long breath and clasping her hands in front of her. “When are you going to propose to Iris again?”

I coughed. “She told you about that?”

I’d gotten the impression that she didn’t want anyone to know, since neither Tallulah nor Meera had mentioned it, and they were growing increasingly comfortable reminding me to my face of all my flaws.

“Yes,” Jade replied, finding her voice. “And she seems to think that it would be better to settle for this middle ground you’re currently hovering in where you’re sleeping together—”

“She told you that ?”

“—but not talking about the future, just in case the answer is something she doesn’t want to hear. And she obviously lo—I mean, likes you and hopes that it will turn into something more but she feels bad about rejecting you even though it’s totally your own fault for proposing the minute you met her which almost anyone would find terrifying.”

“I still think it’s romantic,” Cora mumbled.

“Anyway, things have changed now and you should propose again,” Jade finished, crossing her arms and glaring at me as though she was daring me to disagree.

“This really feels like a conversation I should be having with Iris.”

“But you’re not,” Jade pointed out. “And while we did remind her that she can propose to you and she seemed open to the idea, I kind of got the impression that she’d prefer if you did it. Maybe she was one of those little girls who always dreamed about weddings or whatever, I don’t know.” Her words had gotten quieter and more mumbled as she’d finished the sentence, and the flush on her face was getting increasingly more pronounced.

Perhaps Jade had been one of those little girls who dreamed about weddings. Perhaps she was more whimsical than she appeared, and a difficult life in the Hunters had made her feel the need to hide that.

“So?” Jade demanded, tipping her chin up and finding her confidence again.

While Theon’s younger sister, Rainy, had been exiled at court, I’d spent some time with her to make sure she didn’t make any more idiotic decisions. These two reminded me a little of her. Young. Headstrong. Absolutely convinced that they were right. Cora and Jade were probably more well-intentioned than Rainy, who would stage a coup and run a cult of worship in her own honor at the first opportunity.

“I appreciate you caring enough to say something,” I said diplomatically. “Thank you.”

They both stared at me for a moment before Jade threw her hands up in frustration. “What does that even mean? Are you going to propose or not?”

I grinned. “Iris will be the first to know if I do.”

“That’s the way it should be,” Cora said quickly, cutting Jade off. “Thank you for hearing us out. We look forward to seeing you do the right thing. Come on, Jade.”

I managed not to laugh until they’d disappeared around the corner. That was certainly a first. Usually, only Soren and my brothers told me off like that.

I doubled back as I passed one of the sitting rooms, recognizing the Shade sitting morosely within it.

“Ruvyn! What are you doing here?”

Why did I ask? I already knew.

He started guiltily, glancing around like the answer to my question might materialize in the walls. “I, um, wanted to stop by. And see you,” he added unconvincingly.

“And see me? Really? You wanted to see me?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Obviously not, but you could have been polite and pretended.”

“I could have,” I agreed. “Come with me—I’m on my way to the meeting room now. Harlow is already there.”

His shadows flickered. “She may have mentioned she was attending something today.” Ruvyn hesitated. “I can’t come with you. Those are for high-level diplomas and such, aren’t they?”

“Technically, yes. Also the Crown Prince and whatever friends he invites along.”

“This feels like I am inappropriately exploiting my connection to you.”

I laughed. “What’s the point in being friends with the prince otherwise? Really, you should make more demands. It’s insulting how little everyone asks of me—you must all think I hold no sway at court.”

“Unlikely. After your rousing speech at dinner the other night, I’m sure there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that you are vastly influential at court. In the realm as a whole.”

“That is very flattering to my ego. Thank you, Ruvyn,” I told him sincerely.

He snorted, falling quiet as we approached the meeting room.

“There you are,” Tallulah exhaled, twisting her fingers nervously in front of her baby bump while Evrin stood silently at her side when I finally made it to the meeting room. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“Because you sicced Cora and Jade on me?” I laughed, remembering that Tallulah had been the one to tell them where to find me.

Evrin smirked while Tallulah’s cheeks went pink. “I don’t know why they wanted to talk to you, but they were adamant that it was important. I’m sorry—I hope I didn’t make the wrong call.”

“No, no. Not at all. Shall we head in?”

She clearly wanted to ask what they’d spoken to me about, but seemed to think better of it, biting her lip and nodding.

Harlow was in conversation with Sebastian and looked to be almost falling asleep. What had he said to woo Cosima? I’d yet to see any indication of wit or charm from him.

“I didn’t realize you’d be joining us,” Harlow said, her eyes brightening immediately when she spotted Ruvyn walking in behind me.

“Damen invited me,” he grunted, almost apologetic as he took the seat next to me. Harlow’s expression shuttered instantly, and I sent a small tendril of shadows to flick Ruvyn’s leg under the table. Idiot. How hard would it have been to say something about wanting to see her?

I knew for a fact that Evrin didn’t possess an ounce of charm either. I might be the only male in this room whose social skills weren’t a total embarrassment. Fortunately, I was used to it, having spent most of my time with Allerick and Soren.

“So?” Harlow asked, looking at me and studiously pretending Ruvyn didn’t exist. “What did the king say?”

“We have a deal.” The room immediately smelled better as nervousness was replaced by relief. “Astrid will be acting as one of our guards for the first trip at least—I don’t need to run that by her. She’d never agree to anything less.” I paused, considering it. “She’s also probably here right now, hiding in the rafters or something.”

Sebastian startled, his gaze flicking upward. I hadn’t meant it literally. She probably was hiding here somewhere, but the rafters were a little extreme.

“I don’t know anyone who’d be willing to take on Astrid in combat. She’s probably only gotten more formidable since she started training with your Guard,” Sebastian observed.

“Probably,” I agreed. And she’d been training the new ex-Hunters in Elverston House to be just as dangerous. It stood us in good stead. “Are you in a rush to leave? If not, I’ll pour some wine. This is a success worth toasting to.”

“I’m not in a rush,” Sebastian said, offering me a tentative smile. It might have been a grimace, I wasn’t good at reading expressions unless they were Iris’s.

“I guess I could stay,” Harlow added, cutting Ruvyn an unimpressed look out of the corner of her eye. I was giving him a golden opportunity to redeem himself, and I was going to be annoyed if he messed it up.

Fortunately, he was wise enough to immediately move around the table and engage her in conversation while I crossed the room to where the goblets and wine were set up. Evrin was already there, content to hover in the background rather than take any attention for himself.

“How have you been?” I asked him quietly. “You look well. Happy.”

“Of course I’m happy. Have you seen my mate?” he asked, looking at me like I’d lost my senses. “She’s a dream.”

“I’m glad to hear it and not at all jealous of your happiness.”

Evrin snorted. “You’ve got nothing to complain about. You’re going to be mated soon enough.”

“You sound more confident of that than I am.”

“I hope you wouldn’t be so stupid as to let Iris go. Part of my reasoning is selfish, of course.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Some little courtly child came up to me in the corridor and told me that he wasn’t afraid of my lack of horns anymore, even though his mother was, because Iris told him not to worry about it,” Evrin replied, amused. “I’m not overly enamored with the idea of being approached and spoken to on a regular basis, but I suppose it’s a nice change from everyone running away from me.”

I almost swooned, like the lovesick swain I was. Where was Iris right now? It felt like we’d been apart for too long already, and I wanted to share the news about the human realm trip with her. I wanted to share everything with her.

I was barely allowing myself to think about it, but if what Cora and Jade said was true, if proposing to Iris was back on the table, if that was something she wanted…

Then I had some planning to do.

Ideally, I’d be married by the end of the month.