Page 46 of Invidia

I walked over stiffly, acutely aware of the scrape of seats as everyone except for Tallulah moved back.

“How is it that you two came to meet?” Aither asked uncomfortably. “You’re not usually a fixture around court, Evrin.”

I’d only interacted with Aither because of his friendship with Hamlin, the Shade whose room was directly opposite mine in the barracks, and even then, “interact” was probably a generous term for it. He mostly glanced at me in revulsion and went about his day.

“He is if you know where to look,” Tallulah replied airily.

My intentions had been to be of genuine support to Tallulah, but there was a small part of me that was petty enough to take joy in Aither’s obvious irritation at her answer.

“Yes, well, I suppose Evrin knows better than anyone that not all Shades are created equal. Did you advise Tallulah to seek out assistance from the royal family in weeding out… less desirable options? That was wisely done of you.” Aither inclined his head at me begrudgingly, and his family made murmuring sounds of agreement.

“I can’t take any credit for that,” I said while Tallulah looked outraged. I lounged back in my seat to show her that Aither’s words hadn’t bothered me. “What were you discussing before I interrupted you?”

“This, actually. The advantages of Tallulah meeting Shades this way,” Aither replied. “Of having a curated selection for her to talk to. I was suggesting a similar method be set up for that new Hunter who arrived. Cora, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps we should let Cora settle in a little before thinking about that, hm?” Tallulah suggested, the coolness in her voice unmistakable.

Given how undesirable I was, I’d never done this formal dating thing—with the exception of the one I’d stolen with Tallulah—but I assumed they usually went better than this. Otherwise, what was the point? Surely no one would bother with this slow torture.

A trolley of refreshments arrived from the kitchens, which I politely declined to partake in, knowing Aither’s family wouldn’t touch the food if I’d gotten near it. For the most part, I was content to sit back and say nothing. While I didn’t think Aither was worthy of being in Tallulah’s presence after showing up with his entire family, it wasn’t my decision.

If she decided that he was the one she wanted, I would support her. Probably.

“Did you know that your brother and I are competing for the same junior position on the Council of Shades?” Aither asked, forcing me back into the conversation.

Tallulah narrowed her eyes at me, redirecting a little of that irritation she was feeling my way. “Brother, hm?”

In hindsight, I wish I’d shared a little more of my life with her. I didn’t like that she was hearing about it from someone else.

“I didn’t know he was competing against you.”

“Quite the honor for your family to be in the running, considering.” Considering your lack of horns, and therefore polluted bloodline. Considering the challenge between your brothers.

“Indeed.”

“You should have said,” Tallulah said, voice tight. “I would have congratulated you.”

Shit. She was hurt. That hadn’t been my intention at all.

“Probably best he didn’t,” Aither told her, his voice filled with false compassion. “It’s not a nice story. Sometimes those are better left untold, wouldn’t you agree? Now, next time we do this, you simply must visit my home, Tallulah. Of course, the palace is very nice, but my estate is in a far more desirable location…”

This was going to be the longest evening of my life.

Chapter 16

God, that had been a shit show.

It had been pretty bad from the moment Aither had shown up with half of his family tree in tow, but it had definitely gotten more complicated once Evrin had entered the picture. I could only blame myself for that—I’d been begging him with my eyes to come in and rescue me from the dire date situation I’d found myself in.

It was only once he’d entered the room, that I’d seen how Shades reacted to him in confined quarters with no other distractions around, that I realized they weren’t afraid of him.

They were repulsed by him.

It hadn’t escaped my notice that they had been looking at the empty spot just above his head almost the entire time.

Things that hadn’t made sense, that had been sending my insecurities into a tailspin, were falling into place now. Like the fact that Evrin seemed so into me, and yet totally unwilling to do anything about it.

Almost as though he was trying to protect me.

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