3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“ R uvyn!” I called, striding up the corridor to clap him on the shoulder. “Where have you been? It’s been years!”

“Months, at most. You exaggerate, Your Highness,” he replied with a slightly sarcastic tilt of his head.

“Surely, it’s been longer than that.” I searched my brain, trying to think of the last time we’d laid around, drinking wine and debating the meaning of life.

“I haven’t visited since the new arrivals moved in. Things have been busy recently in the field of academia. I don’t have the luxury of frequent visits to court these days.”

“Nonsense, you could always just come for the night. Is there a special reason for this trip?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of theoretical research on the history between Shades and Hunters. I suppose it occurred to me recently that I should spend some time at the palace and see them for myself rather than keeping my nose buried in my books.”

“A fine idea—I’ll introduce you to my sister-in-law. Come sit in my drawing room with me after dinner and I’ll call for some wine.”

“Here was me thinking I might be able to leave without a sore head this time.”

“And I can always send for tea if you’re so worried about your head?”

He laughed. “No, no, I want the good wine you keep here at the palace.”

“Then that’s what you shall have,” I assured him. For a noble, Ruvyn was a little rough around the edges and didn’t take himself too seriously. It was a refreshing change from the courtiers. We’d both been sent to finish our education at The Itrodaris as many nobles were, but while I’d gotten out of there as soon as I was allowed, Ruvyn had stayed on and pursued a life as a scholar.

I watched him closely, noting that he didn’t look quite as at ease as he usually did. “Are you well?”

“Fine, fine,” he said dismissively, always loathe to talk about himself. “I’ll see you after dinner. We can talk properly then.”

“Abandon me to the high table with my brother, will you? Though, you can always join us—you’d be my esteemed guest.”

“Oh, how you suffer,” Ruvyn replied wryly, already walking away. I’d already known that he’d want no part of that offer. Sitting at the high table would be far too much attention for Ruvyn’s liking.

I did actually suffer a little , I grumbled internally, traipsing up to the high table—late, as Allerick and Ophelia had already made their grand entrance and taken their seats. It was a miserable experience having to sit next to such a sickeningly happy couple every evening while I was all on my lonesome. I’d prefer to go and sit at one of the long tables and chat to a friend, but Allerick said it wasn’t a good look.

The chances of me ever sitting on the throne were negligible now that Allerick was mated, married, and intending to procreate, but they weren’t zero yet. I still had to maintain the illusion of the kind of bland, inoffensive dignity that royals were expected to have.

“Look who’s finally joining us,” my brother grumbled.

Ophelia smiled at me, always open and friendly and seemingly immune to her cantankerous husband’s moods. “Hi, Damen. How was your day?”

“The same it usually is,” I replied, pouring myself a glass of wine. I was nothing if not consistent with my daily habits. “How was yours?”

Ophelia exhaled slightly, her smile tight. “Fine.”

I met Allerick’s gaze over the top of her head, understanding that meant her day was not, in fact, fine. Verity was still stuck in the human realm, despite Soren and Astrid’s best efforts to get her back. The court had to run as normal, but the strain of Verity’s absence was definitely being felt, even though she’d already moved away.

Allerick would never admit to it, but sometimes I wondered if he was in a little over his head between helping the ex-Hunters get settled here as well as maintaining the delicate pause in hostilities between the Shades and Hunters in the human realm. There were also Shades here who disapproved of the way he was running things, and would happily see him overthrown. The power stores were slowly but steadily draining from the realm’s exclusive reliance on them rather than feeding from fear in the human realm as we’d done for centuries.

It was all a “shit show,” as Verity would describe it, if she were here.

And she’d be back. I knew she’d be back. If any ex-Hunter would find a way back from the human realm to give her mate hell for his idiotic choices, it would be Verity.

Allerick was a good ruler, but he was in unchartered territory. And he was proud—it took a lot for him to admit that perhaps he didn’t know as much as he thought he did. I’d offer to help out more but nobody wanted my opinions anyway. I didn’t know anything.

As always, Ophelia kept up a steady stream of conversation throughout dinner—mostly gossip, which I appreciated. No court could run without gossip to fuel it, it was the way of the world. She was distracting herself too, from her worry for Verity, and I was more than happy to be of assistance in that regard.

“May I introduce you to my friend, Ruvyn?” I asked Ophelia as we finished our meals. “He’s visiting from The Itrodaris—I believe he’s studying the historical relations between Shades and Hunters.”

“Ooh, yes, please. I would love to meet him.” Ophelia beamed—though not quite as brightly as usual—while Allerick scowled, inconvenienced by any sort of social interaction. I imagined it was a real liability to enjoy conversing with others so little as ruler of the realm.

I waved Ruvyn over once we’d descended the few steps of the dais, and he immediately inclined his head at my sister-in-law.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”

“We don’t have to bother with all that. You can just call me Ophelia.”

“Though I’d recommend you didn’t,” Allerick muttered under his breath. He was so dramatic. When I eventually found a wife to put up with me, I wouldn’t be half as overbearing as he was.

Ophelia rolled her eyes affectionately at her jealous beast of a husband before returning her attention to Ruvyn. “Damen mentioned your studies—it sounds very interesting. Do you have a lot of evidence to go on? I thought there wasn’t much available.”

“More than we thought. We weren’t looking in the right places before, but we’ve narrowed down the area and found some new and promising records. Unfortunately, much of what we’ve collected is in languages that haven’t been in use for centuries, so translation is proving difficult. Not impossible, though,” he added hastily, as though worried he was going to get fired from his post. “I’m confident we’ll figure it out soon.”

“How exciting!” Ophelia replied, looking so genuinely interested that it was impossible for Ruvyn not to look gratified. She was exceptionally good at being encouraging.

“Anyway, we’re going to go have a drink now,” I interrupted because Allerick looked on the verge of complaining. “You’re welcome to join us, of course.”

“Next time,” my brother said dismissively, already reaching for his wife. “Enjoy your evening.”

“I’d love to talk to you again sometime!” Ophelia called over her shoulder, laughing as Allerick banded one arm around her waist and lifted her clear off the ground, carrying her away.

“She’s not what I expected,” Ruvyn admitted, falling into step beside me as we headed for my set of rooms.

“No? What were you expecting?” I tried to remember what I expected the Hunter queen to be when she showed up here for the first time to marry my brother. Scared, I thought. She’d never been that.

“Quieter, I suppose. More subdued. The impression I have of them from my research is that they’re quite shy and retiring.”

Meera, perhaps. I wouldn’t describe any of the others that way. Austin might actually perish without attention.

“I wouldn’t say that’s a fair assessment. The ex-Hunters are as varying in temperament as any group of Shades would be.”

“Yes,” Ruvyn replied absently, briefly looking troubled before shaking it off.

A tray of wine and cakes had already been set up in my drawing room, the fire burning low and steady in the grate.

“Come, come. Sit,” I insisted, heading over to the fire to throw some more wood on. It was cool enough tonight to warrant the use of it.

“So,” Ruvyn began, pouring the wine. “Tell me, Crown Prince of the realm, where is your ex-Hunter, hm?”

I laughed. “It appears I’ve failed to find one.”

It stung a little, I could admit. With both Shade females and Hunter women, no one ever seemed to know what to do with me, which was absurd because my expectations of a partner were very few. I would like someone who took me seriously at least some of the time despite my cheerful personality, who wasn’t either intimidated by my title or disappointed that I’d never challenge Allerick for the top spot, and who would let me lick their pussy for several hours of the day. Was that really too much to ask?

“How can that be? If rumors are to be believed, the Duke of Lindow secured a Hunter bride. Mate. Whatever you’re calling them. How dire are your conversational abilities if he was able to successfully court one and you weren’t?”

“You wound me—Theon is far more brooding and mysterious than I am. I never stood a chance.” Brooding and mysterious, yet also somehow being the most dramatic Shade I’d ever encountered. Perhaps I’d be the same if the lifestyle and fame I’d been accorded due to my role were suddenly snatched away from me. “Besides, Theon and Verity seem almost made for each other—if you saw them together, you’d know that there couldn’t be one for them but each other.”

He probably didn’t know that Verity was missing yet, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be the one to divulge it. Undoubtedly, news of Theon’s arrest would spread soon enough.

“And all the other ex-Hunters who have moved here?”

I shrugged, accepting the goblet he handed me. “I spoke to all of them when they arrived here to see whether any sort of romantic connection would come of it, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

It was a little frustrating, of course. Unfortunately, something about me seemed to make it hard for anyone to take me seriously, and I suspected some of the ex-Hunters had been intimidated by my title on top of that. Perhaps I should be more solemn and difficult like Soren and my brothers, that seemed to work well in attracting a mate.

Though, the kind of dynamic they shared with their mates would never work for me. They were all content to stand back and let their mate shine, and I’d never excelled at that. I liked attention too. I might like attention most.

Plus, there wasn’t much I could do about the title part. Not until Allerick and Ophelia produced an heir of their own.

The jealousy I would feel when that happened would be unbearable. Not because of the loss of my spot in the line of succession, but because I wanted children of my own more than anything. I’d be a far more fun and involved father than mine had ever been to me.

“Does it bother you?” Ruvyn asked, his voice deceptively light. “That you haven’t found someone?”

“Why do you ask?” I sat down and leaned back on the chaise. “Are you feeling the weight of singleness too?”

He grunted, taking a sip of his wine. “Perhaps a little. If I want someone in my bed… Well, that’s never been a problem. But it’s companionship I’m seeking now. At the same time, The Itrodaris is a demanding mistress—more a lifestyle than a job. I’m constantly busy, and I’m unsure that I’d be able to offer a wife the time that she might need.”

“Maybe you just need to find a wife who’s also busy and content to do her own thing. Though, when you would have the opportunity to meet, I have no idea.”

Ruvyn laughed roughly, draping his arm over the back of the sofa, the goblet dangling loosely between his fingers. “You have the opposite problem, no? You have an abundance of time. Perhaps something to occupy your days with would do you some good, especially if you’re surrounded by happy couples at all times.”

I snorted. “Why would I add stress to my life when I could simply not ?”

Life should be easy and enjoyable at all times. It shouldn’t be challenging. It shouldn’t be complicated. It should be leisurely . I was a Shade of conviction, and that was the one I held dearest.

“Don’t you ever get bored?” Ruvyn asked curiously. “I’ve always wondered this about you—even in our youthful days at The Itrodaris. Your ability to do absolutely nothing is truly unmatched.”

“I get bored sometimes,” I replied, only a little defensively. “But I find ways to entertain myself when I do.”

Admittedly, that was now harder than it used to be since everyone else was constantly preoccupied these days, falling in love and whatnot.

It was very rude of them.

“I’m sure you do,” he laughed. “I can’t fathom what your life is like, Damen. Few Shades in the realm could imagine having so much leisure time.”

“That’s probably true, but not at court,” I pointed out. “There are lazy Shades in abundance here—I am but one of many. Tell me, how have the new developments in the realm been received at The Itrodaris? Do they have any opinions on having an ex-Hunter queen? Or an influx of ex-Hunter residents?”

Allerick and Ophelia had toured the realm a little, and I’d accompanied them when I felt like it, but they were hosted by noble houses wherever they went, as was the tradition. Ophelia had gotten a few wary looks in that crowd, so I imagined that opinions among the wider populace were just as mixed.

Ruvyn gave me a look that made me feel very out of touch for a brief moment. It was an odd feeling. “They just want to be able to feed once more, Damen. I’m sure there are some very interesting conversations happening here at the palace in order to facilitate that. I’m sure there are philosophical questions being asked about what it means to be a Shade and to be a Hunter and what the future of both will look like. But in the everyday world of the shadow realm, Shades just want to feed safely and stop drawing from the precious reserves of the energy stores—for many, it’s a blow to their pride to use the stores at all. Most Shades don’t much care who the queen is.”

I nodded, taking a long sip of my wine, appreciating the much-needed reminder that what mattered at court often didn’t matter at all in the rest of the realm.

“Why don’t you visit?” Ruvyn suggested, taking a swig from his own goblet. “See it for yourself. You can’t convince me that you’re too busy—you’ve already admitted that you have an abundance of time.”

I laughed. “True, I’ve given myself away. You know The Itrodaris holds nothing but unhappy memories for me.”

“Liar,” Ruvyn scoffed. “You were always a very capable student, Damen. You impressed all of the scholars with your extensive knowledge and memory. You’re just lazy.”

“Don’t you start,” I groaned, slumping down in my seat. “All I ever hear about is how lazy I am. It’s exceedingly bad for my ego.”

“Your ego seems to be holding up just fine.”

“No thanks to you or my brothers,” I laughed. “I am a simple, unimpressive Shade, who longs for attention despite doing nothing to earn it. Is that such a difficult concept for everyone to grasp?”

Ruvyn shook his head, exasperated. “You’re an intelligent, lazy princeling. It will probably come back to haunt you one day.”

I yawned loudly, stretching out in my bed and wondering if anyone would truly care if I opted to sleep through breakfast. Then again, Allerick might barge in and drag me out of here by my horns just to prove a point. He was always so relentlessly annoying about me attending these sorts of gatherings even though I didn’t have to be there and had nothing of value to add to the conversation.

Ugh . Better to just get it over and done with. At least the tea would be hot and the meat freshly roasted.

“There he is,” Soren said dryly as I emerged from my room, finding him walking along the corridor with Astrid toward the breakfast room. “Did you have a late night?”

“I may have enjoyed a few goblets of wine with Ruvyn last night. He so rarely visits the palace, it would be rude not to.”

How had we parted ways? My memory was a little hazy, but if I recalled correctly, I had promised to pay him a visit at The Itrodaris. Perhaps I would someday, though it sounded like a lot of effort. As a member of the royal family, I’d be expected to meet with the administration and so forth. It would all be very tedious.

Soren looked unimpressed, though the effect was somewhat dulled due to the fact that he always looked unimpressed. “Yes, well, The Itrodaris demands a lot from its scholars. I’m sure it’s difficult for Ruvyn to take a break.”

That felt like a pointed comment, but I might have been reading into things.

“What’s new with you two?” I asked. “Gone on any rescue missions recently?”

“Did you forget that Verity is still in the human realm?” Soren asked impatiently.

“No, of course not,” I replied guiltily. I hadn’t forgotten that at all—I was worried for her, but also confident that she would be back. Theon wasn’t going to let her get away, he loved her too much.

Failing that, Astrid would murder her way through any captors that stood between her and Verity, and drag Verity back herself. I was confident that all would be well.

“It’s not an easy time for us, Damen,” Soren huffed.

“I could be the hero. Point me in the direction of the damsels who need saving, and I’ll take the job off your plate.” I gave Soren my most charming smile and he gave me a flat stare in return.

“Finding them is most of the job,” Astrid shot back. Sometimes, I got the impression that she didn’t like me very much, which was patently absurd because I was delightful company and everyone in the realm knew it.

“I’ll help,” I said, more seriously this time. “I’ve been helping. With Theon. Remember?”

Soren grimaced, but declined to respond. He wasn’t particularly fond of Theon at this moment, or ever. I dragged my feet slightly as I followed them into the breakfast room and took my seat, wishing I could return to the cheerful oblivion of last night instead of the cold reality of today.