Page 37 of Invidia

I hummed. “Or perhaps you struggle to walk away from a problem if you think you can fix it.”

Whether that problem was old curtains or broken Shades.

“Maybe,” Tallulah agreed softly, finishing her wine before setting the goblet down. “I should go. Ophelia is probably losing her mind over there, wanting to know what’s going on.”

I nodded. “Until your next unsuitable date, I suppose.”

Tallulah’s laugh was a little shaky as she stood. “Until then.”

As dangerous as it had been for my peace of mind, the “date” with Tallulah last night had settled something inside me. Perhaps it was just that the way things had ended between us still felt so unfinished that I’d needed that one last time to sit down with her, and see her face, and hear her voice.

It had to be the last time, though. If I had to interrupt a date again, I’d do it from afar.

There was a faint vibration in the air, a reminder of the loud buzz that had once filled the in-between back when all of the portals had been active. I followed the pull toward it immediately, pushing past Shades who had been passing through the in-between, and paused at the sudden change in the air.

It was only one portal. It was probably the same situation as when Austin had arrived in the in-between, before I’d started my shift and the other guards had been slacking. But it could be something else, too. Perhaps Iris was one of the ex-Hunters that their council would take up arms to steal back.

Three Hunters walked through the now-active portal—two men and a woman. The woman appeared to be significantly younger than the other ex-Hunters who’d moved here, and she was the only one I didn’t distrust on sight. Her scent was tinged with a slightly sour nervousness, but there was a layer of bright excitement beneath it, and her smile was open and friendly.

The men were more… shifty.

“I’m Sebastian,” one said, pushing his blond hair out of his face as he stepped forward with his chest puffed out. It was a look of self-importance I recognized well from my brothers. “Sebastian Taylor. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

I stared at him in silence for a long moment. His eyes wouldn’t be able to make out much, but they’d certainly see the glow of my eyes. “No.”

“Never mind,” the woman said hastily, stepping forward with a nervous giggle. “I’m Cora. This is my brother, Lochan. We’re so happy to be here.”

“Are you?” I murmured. I could see the resemblance between them—they had the same dark hair, brown eyes, and similar features. But Cora’s expression was open and honest, and Lochan’s was anything but.

My stalling had paid off. The hum of the now-functioning portal had attracted the attention of everyone passing through the in-between, including some members of the Guard. “I will take you to the king. Remove your bags and jackets, and empty your pockets,” I ordered, watching them closely. It wasn’t a foolproof defense strategy, but the darkness worked to my advantage and likely gave them a sense of security they hadn’t earned. If there was even a flicker of hesitation on their faces, I would see it.

They were either honest or skilled, all three of them instantly following my instructions and handing over their possessions to the waiting members of the Guard who’d moved in to assist.

“Tell them to hide Iris,” I murmured, only barely getting close enough to say the words quietly, since the guard was busy trying to get away from me.

He nodded, sprinting ahead, and the other members of the Guard formed a loose formation around us—with a wide berth for me—as I led the trio to the portal in front of the palace, taking my time to allow the news to circulate.

All of the key decision makers in the realm had already gathered on the palace steps by the time we emerged, looking down at the newcomers.

“Absolutely not,” Astrid said as I stood off to one side, alert and ready to intervene in case of an attack. “Send them back.”

“Do you know them?” Captain Soren asked his mate.

“That one is Verity’s ex-boyfriend,” she said flatly, staring down a pink-cheeked Sebastian. “That one is a Council bootlicker, and the biggest narc I’ve ever met,” she added, more derisive this time as she glared at Lochan, who narrowed his eyes right back. “And I don’t know her.”

“I’m Cora, the narc’s little sister,” Cora supplied cheerfully.

“And what, precisely, are you doing here?” King Allerick asked, angling himself in front of his wife so she was obscured from view.

“We’re a peace offering,” Sebastian said, spreading out his arms wide as though it was obvious.

“I think we should kill them, to be safe,” Astrid suggested, turning to speak to the royal couple, though not troubling to lower her voice.

Queen Ophelia laughed a little too loudly. “She’s joking. We don’t kill peace offerings.”

“The Astrid I remember didn’t joke,” Lochan replied with a frankly astounding amount of smugness, considering who he was talking to. Then again, he and Astrid had always been on the same team. He’d never had a reason to be afraid of her before.

He probably should be now. Astrid was a fierce warrior, and thus far, didn’t appear to be afraid of anything.

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