5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“ C ome,” Allerick grunted. “Sit with me awhile.”

I silently joined him on the sofa in front of the fire in the drawing room, dragging over the small cart with goblets and a decanter of wine as I went. We both needed it.

“Ophelia went with Verity?”

Allerick nodded in confirmation, staring at the empty grate. “Soren will accompany her back later.”

I poured us each a goblet of wine, and for a long moment we sipped our drinks in silence.

“Do you think Theon will forgive me?” Allerick asked, taking me by surprise. It was unlike him to even want forgiveness from anyone who wasn’t his wife.

“Probably. Will it bother you if it doesn’t?”

“I think so.” He cut me an odd look. “You’ve grown closer to him. You have a real knack for building relationships.”

That sounded like a vast exaggeration. “And yet here I am—single and unwanted,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“It is strange that you’re single,” Allerick agreed. “When everyone agrees you have the vastly superior personality. Are you very off-putting to your romantic partners?”

“No,” I replied, offended. I didn’t have many romantic partners to begin with, and I certainly hadn’t been off-putting to any of them.

“Are you courting anyone right now?” Allerick persisted.

“Since when is this a topic that we discuss?”

“I’m concerned that you’re sad and alone now that so many of your closest confidants are coupled up.”

“You’re the off-putting one,” I muttered. “No, I’m not courting anyone. I don’t know why this is so hard for everyone to grasp, but just because I’m friendly doesn’t mean I always like everyone I meet. When I meet someone who I like enough to want to court, I’ll know. There won’t be any doubt in my mind. You don’t have to worry about me being sad and alone,” I added, just in case he was actually feeling bad and not just antagonizing me.

He nodded absently, swirling the wine in his goblet. For a brief moment, I felt oddly hopeless. I suspected that Allerick needed assistance, but I wouldn’t have the first clue about how to provide that. It wasn’t really my role. I was the fun one, not the problem-solving one.

“Since Theon’s not going to prison anymore, you could always resign and let him deal with ruling the realm,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Allerick sighed heavily. Maybe I’d missed the mark on that one. “You’re next in line, Damen. Not Theon.”

“He’s better qualified than me.”

“Doesn’t matter. You challenged him, and you won.” He was quiet for a long moment. “I know you’ve been coasting by even more than usual recently, banking on the fact that Ophelia and I will have a child who will inherit the throne. But a baby hasn’t… well, it hasn’t happened yet. Don’t get complacent.”

“I didn’t realize you were trying,” I said awkwardly. “I thought the plan was to wait a little while.”

Allerick grimaced. “I do my best to ignore the pressure of the court and the Elders for the most part, but the issue of an heir… Well, in this regard, they seem to be unwilling to leave it alone. I was content to ignore it but it has particularly gotten to Ophelia.”

I nodded silently, wishing I knew what to say to offer him some comfort. Then again, that wasn’t really the kind of relationship we had.

“I’m sure it will happen for you eventually,” I volunteered. “If Ophelia were a Shade, you would be assuming that it would take years for conception to happen.”

“Yes. But she isn’t, and she’s worried.” His shoulders slumped slightly, and I wondered if I’d ever seen him so defeated. “Ophelia is the light of my life, Damen. Her unhappiness is excruciating to me.”

She was my sister, and I adored her, but selfishly, the pang in my chest in that moment wasn’t for her sadness but mine. My envy. What I wouldn’t give to have the kind of love that those two had.

But if it meant experiencing the kind of vulnerability that Allerick was experiencing, I wasn’t entirely sure that I was capable of it.

“Anyway, enough of my moroseness. I should probably go and smooth things over with the Council of Shades—they’ve been very unhappy with me recently.”

“Would you like me to come with you?”

Allerick shook his head, setting his goblet down and pushing to his feet. “I know I’m always encouraging you to get more involved, but I would still shield you from this unpleasantness, Damen. Slighted Elders are a nightmare to deal with. Enjoy your evening.”

“What’s the plan today?” I asked Soren around a yawn as we made our way to the breakfast room. “To visit with Theon and Verity again?”

“I hope you will do that,” Soren replied crisply. “Astrid has been asked to collect a Hunter from the human realm.”

“How? By who?”

“Someone knew where Astrid was stationed while we were watching for Verity. They left a note.”

“That sounds… like a trap?” I hedged. Granted, I wasn’t the authority on these things, but it certainly sounded like it had the potential to be a trap to secure Astrid’s capture.

That would be a massive accomplishment for the Hunters if they got her back. From what I gathered, Astrid had been their greatest loss, and she was now their biggest threat.

“Believe me, I have concerns,” Soren said wryly. “So does Ophelia—she’s relaying them to Astrid right now. My mate has many talents, but listening to other’s very valid reservations is not one of them.”

I laughed, able to imagine perfectly the look of haughty disdain on Astrid’s face whenever someone so much as hinted that she might not be able to do something.

“Do you want me to come with you?” I offered.

“No. I’d only worry about you as well if you did.” He paused for a moment, thoughtful. “It might be useful if you could be there to greet the new arrival when she shows up, though. Allerick is dealing with the fallout with the Elders, you’re the next highest ranking royal.”

“Right. You need me to do some kind of formal greeting?”

Soren grimaced, looking as thrilled with the idea as I felt. “It’s probably the right thing to do, isn’t it? Respectful and such.”

“I’ve yet to meet a single ex-Hunter who cares about that, but sure. I’ll perform as required.” It was deeply refreshing to me that the ex-Hunters didn’t seem interested in the pomp and ceremony of court. They seemed amused by it if anything.

Everyone scattered after breakfast, and I opted to go to Orabelle’s room until I was required for greeting duty. I knew in my bones that she was happy to see me—I was practically her second son—but she always made a great show of scowling in annoyance whenever she had to interact with anyone. I suspected it was just habit at this point.

“At least one of you comes to visit me,” she sighed dramatically, ringing a bell for tea. “Where is Allerick? Has he forgotten that his mother still lives?”

“He’s busy running the realm, Ora. You shouldn’t have birthed such a strong child if you didn’t want him to inherit the throne.”

“You know very well I had no control over that, you little rascal. Come here, let me look at you.”

I winced as she grabbed my horn the moment I leaned down, turning my head this way then that.

“You’ve not been feeding enough, Damen. You look peaky.”

“You’re one to talk.” Even before the human realm ban and the reliance on the energy stores for all Shades to feed, Orabelle had been loathe to use them. Like many older Shades, she found it an indignity to feed that way when she’d once been young and strong and able to fend for herself.

Allerick was frustrated by her stubbornness, but I understood. Without meaning to, sometimes the way help was offered was insulting rather than empowering.

“I’m not long for this world. I can do what I like,” Orabelle sighed dramatically, even though she’d probably outlive all of us. “When are you going to settle down and give me grandchildren?”

“Settle down? I was thinking I’d leave a string of assorted infants in my wake the way my father did. Surprise myself whenever a new one pops up—like a gift to my future self. Oh look, a new progeny! That sort of thing.”

Orabelle cackled quietly to herself. “You’re too sweet for that, Damen. You don’t have your father’s philandering streak.”

“More’s the pity,” I sighed, though we both knew I wasn’t serious. My father had left a trail of chaos wherever he walked. I had no desire to emulate any of his behaviors.

I took a seat opposite her, pouring us both tea in silence. I felt a little out of sorts, though I couldn’t think why. Perhaps it was just because everyone else was off doing important things today while I sat and had a cup of tea with my mother figure, ignoring all of the very real problems that seemed to be unfolding around me.

But what could I do? I wasn’t qualified to be of use anyway.

“Are you happy, Damen?” Orabelle asked shrewdly.

If I could be honest with anyone, it was Orabelle. Or rather, if there was anyone I couldn’t lie to, it was Orabelle.

“Allerick said I shouldn’t get complacent as he has no heir yet and I may still inherit the throne someday,” I said, opting to share just one of the things that was bothering me.

“And you don’t want it?” Orabelle guessed.

“No one wants that,” I laughed. “The realm would fall to pieces if I was in charge.”

She sighed heavily, leaning back in her seat. “We both know that’s not true. You just diminish your skills and talents before anyone else has the chance to. Everyone knows how capable you are, Damen. Even you.”

I valued my life so I didn’t argue with Orabelle, but I didn’t agree. If I was in charge of the realm, every day would be a celebration and no one would have to work. Maybe I should be in charge, everyone would be far less stressed.

“Spend the day with me,” Orabelle demanded gently. “I wish to walk in the gardens—you may accompany me.”

“Gladly. Though I’ll have to leave at some point—Soren has gone to collect a new Hunter. I’m to greet her on arrival.”

“Another one?” she grumbled.

I laughed. “Don’t try that with me. I’ve seen for myself how fond you are of all of the ex-Hunters who’ve come here. Ophelia may have even replaced me in your affections—I’ll try my best not to hold it against her.”

“I would be very cross if you held it against her,” Orabelle sniffed, not contradicting my claim. Lucky that I couldn’t begrudge my sister anything. “Perhaps this Hunter will be the one to win your affections,” she added, perking up considerably.

“Perhaps,” I agreed without much enthusiasm. If history was anything to go by, she’d be intimidated by the title, then not take me seriously as a romantic prospect when I tried my best to move past it. However, it was nothing to get upset about.

Maybe I could even introduce her to Ruvyn if I thought the two of them would be compatible? That was a very good notion. I wasn’t entirely useless—I had good ideas.

Mind made up, I helped Orabelle to her feet and we made our way slowly downstairs to take a turn around the gardens.

At least if today’s meeting was horribly awkward, it would be over quickly. I would divest myself of my duties immediately, nudge the new ex-Hunter in Ruvyn’s direction if she was suitable, and resume my life of leisure.