Page 40 of Invidia

“I’m going to wash up,” I announced, smoothing over the quilt on the freshly made bed. “Dinner is a couple of hours away in the palace dining hall, but the bathing room downstairs is a communal space, so we’re going to have to be… courteous of each other.”

Maybe I should have taken Ophelia up on the whole move-to-the-palace idea, if only for the private bathroom. But living in the palace would be like living under a microscope. I need the seclusion of Elverston House to have my freakouts in peace.

I bathed quickly before heading back up to my room and picking out a dress for tonight, selecting a dark red one that I perhaps wouldn’t have chosen if I hadn’t seen Evrin earlier, standing around looking unfairly attractive.

That asshole.

I’d made the dress myself, tailored perfectly to my size, but it wasn’t fitting well at all as I tugged it into place, fussing with the side zipper to try to get it up. Had I been stress eating? Probably. Still, it hadn’t gotten stuck over the middle where I’d expect it to. It was the top I was having trouble with.

I knew my measurements. I’d known them for years, and I knew which parts of me were prone to gaining and losing inches. My bust, historically, was not one of those places. And yet, this dress was constrictingly tight around my breasts, there was no doubt about it.

Ugh, was I having another growth spurt at thirty? That would be incredibly unreasonable, since I finally had a collection of bras that actually fit me, and there were no lingerie stores in the shadow realm.

By the time I made it downstairs—in a far less form-fitting blue dress—everyone else was gathered and ready. Sebastian and Lochan looked vaguely uncomfortable in their business casual outfits, while Cora was dolled up to the nines in a slinky black dress and strappy gold heels, though it was definitely the blood-red lipstick that would catch everyone’s attention.

I wondered if Lochan realized the same thing, since he was scowling so heavily. “Can we make some kind of announcement at dinner that Cora is only eighteen since she insists on dressing like a twenty-five-year-old?”

“Misogyny isn’t a good look on you,” Cora said with a sugary-sweet smile. “I can dress however I want.”

“You look lovely,” I told her, though she was young, and I was absolutely going to be making sure that no Shades got pushy with her. “You’re in control here, okay? Always. And we’re here to help if you want support or a hand to hold or an exit strategy,” I added, gesturing between Meera and myself. “Deal?”

Cora squealed, throwing her arms around my shoulders to give me a quick hug. “Deal. You’re the best.”

Meera had discreetly taken a step back, and I was glad to see Cora read her body language in real time and only offered her a smile.

Unsurprisingly, the dining hall was even more packed than usual. The news of fresh Hunters must have spread, and while our usual spot at the front of the room was free, it looked a lot more cramped than usual—especially considering there were three more of us now.

It felt a bit like my very first meal in the dining hall all over again, with Shades craning their necks to try to catch a glimpse. I knew no one was looking at me, but the general attention in my direction made my face heat anyway.

“Wow,” Sebastian breathed. “This is incredible.”

He was looking around constantly, scanning the room, and I wondered if he was trying to spot Verity in the crowd. He wouldn’t find her, though. She’d be tucked up in her mansion right now, in a nest of fluffy pink blankets, living her best life.

“Yes,” Lochan agreed, his response far more muted. “It’s much bigger and more organized than I expected.”

I eyed him warily, hoping the captain had set a member of the Guard on Lochan’s ass. We were from similarly high-ranking families and had run in the same circles, though I’d never interacted with him directly since he was a good decade older than I was. At least with Sebastian, there was the Verity factor working in his favor. Maybe he had good, albeit misguided, intentions.

But Lochan had everything to gain by participating in the Hunters Council’s corrupt system, and nothing to gain by leaving it.

I was glad that the call had been made to keep Iris hidden away. Her mother was powerful, and I wouldn’t have been surprised at all to discover that Lochan’s angle in coming here was just recon on behalf of Moriah Nash.

I’d been so distracted by my musings that, for once, I hadn’t automatically scanned the dining hall for Evrin the moment I walked in, but suddenly he was there, right in front of me.

Meera was ushering the others onward, eager to get to the table, and my good manners wouldn’t allow me to just march off and ignore him.

Okay, maybe it was a little more than just manners keeping me in place.

“I didn’t realize you were so fond of eating in the dining hall.”

“Neither did I. I’ve been learning a lot of new things about myself recently.” He leaned against the wall, serene as could be. Everyone gave us a wide berth, and I wondered what it would be like to just walk around, not being jostled constantly. “How are you feeling about your new housemates?”

“Fine.”

I may as well have “not fine” tattooed on my forehead because that tone wasn’t convincing anyone.

Evrin grinned, like my petulance was amusing to him. “You don’t sound fine.”

“What would you know about how I sound?”

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