Page 36 of Ira

“They are,” I said hastily, not wanting her to get any ideas and march down there. That would not be good for our tentative truce. “Though, they did request that perhaps I could take over visits for the time being.”

I shot Ophelia an apologetic look as her jaw went slack.

“Do they not like me? Everyone likes me!”

Astrid smirked at her sister’s outrage, and it might have been the most cheerful I’d ever seen her.

“I’m sure they like you,” Tallulah soothed. “Maybe it’s the whole royalty thing throwing them off. It might be a little intimidating, that’s all.”

“Or maybe it’s your personality,” Astrid suggested. Ophelia threw a balled-up napkin at her, and I suddenly missed my own sister fiercely. Not that our relationship had ever been like that—we’d never been peers the way Astrid and Ophelia were. But it was nice to imagine a life where we were.

“How’s all your important negotiating-shit going?” Austin asked Tallulah, taking a break from demolishing all the pastries. “Are you like a foreign dignitary now? Do you get diplomatic immunity?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s going good, I think. Though, I do think it would be helpful for you guys to come along—not all the time, but perhaps taking turns accompanying me if you’reopen to it. I know I’m not thinking of everything, and Sebastian is… well, very Hunter Council-focused in his approach.”

I grimaced. Sebastian was the Hunter Council’s errand boy, his job was to negotiate on their behalf to formulate a new peace treaty. Verity gagged dramatically at the mention of her ex-boyfriend before taking a sip of her wine. She’d been awfully quiet so far—either she was bored of the somewhat administrative conversations, or she was plotting something. It was difficult to tell where she was concerned.

“I’ll come to the next one,” I volunteered.

“I’ll come to the one after that,” Iris added. “I want to be more involved. You guys don’t have to hide me away anymore. The Hunters know I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. No matter what they say.”

Chapter 12

Iwasn’t taking any chances today. I’d gathered a whole selection of meat-free meal options from the kitchen, and a fresh batch of ojurac that I’d gone home yesterday to get. I’d even filled a clay pot with a lid with boiling water, so I could make us fresh tea.

Everything had to be perfect. I’d missed Meera’s company dearly, and I wanted it back. Whatever I had to do to for things to go back to the way they were, I would do it.

Since Meera had cleared the overgrowth, the river was visible from the upper windows of Elverston House. While I’d laid down a blanket next to one of the large trees so we weren’t entirely on display, I was very much aware that there were eyes on me from the house.

It was a little unsettling, in all honesty, but I did my best to ignore it. It was important that the new Hunters grew comfortable around Shades, and I felt the weight of responsibility with each set of eyes on me, wanting to model impeccable behavior for them.

“Hi!” Meera said, slightly out of breath as she flopped onto the blanket next to me. “Did you plan a picnic? Verner, this is so nice.”

“It’s a special occasion.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. We’re having lunch together again. That’s special to me.”

I could have sworn Meera’s scent turned to liquid so syrupy sweet that I could taste it. It wasn’t desire, of course. I knew what that smelled like—I worked for the queen.

It was something nearly as potent though. Rich and bright and addictive. As I uncapped the jar of hot water, tea seemed like a poor substitute for whatever that emotion was.

“Ooh, ojurac!” Meera said, peeking inside the basket. “Verner, you went all out. Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” I murmured, watching her. “Help yourself to anything you’d like—Calix has been trialing lots of meat-free options.”

Something about Meera seemed different.Feltdifferent. It was a little disconcerting to realize that she seemedhappier. Had her life been more pleasant without me in it? Or was this joy related to seeing me again? It seemed delusional to hope for the latter.

“How did your conversation at Elverston House go yesterday?” I asked as Meera helped remove the lids from all the bowls, setting them out in front of us and handing me the one filled with roasted meat.

“Good, I think? I went back this morning and everyone had agreed that they were fine with me working in the garden.” Shepaused, her face going a little pink. “They asked that I be the one to go and visit them going forward, rather than Ophelia. I don’t know why.”

I tilted my head to the side. “I do. You have a very soothing presence, Meera. They may feel that they have to live up to the queen’s enthusiasm and that might be difficult for them.”

She nibbled on the edge of one of the hard flat breads Calix was so fond of making these days. “Maybe you’re right. I used to find it a little overwhelming.”

“But you don’t anymore?”

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