Page 5 of Ira

“Much has changed from our last visit,” Father said disapprovingly.

“How are the ex-Hunters doing tonight?” I asked, hoping both to alleviate my concern and detract from my father’s embarrassing response.

Captain Soren blinked at me. “Fine, I suppose.”

“It’s very crowded over there,” I pointed out.

He glanced behind him dismissively. “I just walked past their table, and there were no indications of distress. The one sitting in the middle—I forget their names—is extremely content.”

“Verity,” I replied, nodding once and ignoring my parents’ disapproving stares. That did seem to line up with what I’d learned about the newest residents of the realm so far.

After dinner, Mother and Father immediately made for the apartment while I made my excuses and headed outside instead. Usually, I had the family apartment at court to myself, and their presence there was faintly suffocating. It would have been better if I could stay out until I was ready to sleep, especially if they were going to start suggesting I move home with a heavier hand than they usually did.

The night air was crisp and cool, and I took a moment standing at the top of the steps to appreciate it. Sunlis was sticky and hot year-round, and I’d always found it somewhat unbearable. It was one of the many reasons why I was delaying my return to my family seat. In nearly every way, my life here was an improvement on what it had been in the past.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of staying.

The breeze picked up, and a faint hint of something unpleasant in the air had me moving down the stairs and along the wide path that separated the circular palace from the extensive front garden.

My shadows flared in irritation as I found a clearly uncomfortable Meera on the path, giving a tight-lipped smile toWymond. He had kept a respectful distance between them, but he’d still positioned himself between her and the direction of Elverston House in a way that I found unacceptable.

“Wymond,” I said loudly, closing the gap between us and clapping him hard enough on the shoulder that he stumbled slightly. “I imagine our newest residents of the realm are tired after so much conversation at dinner each night, and eager to return to Elverston House for some rest.”

Wymond straightened, clearly annoyed. “She did not say.”

I gave Meera what I hoped was an apologetic smile that we were speaking about her as though she wasn’t there. “Were you intending to head back to Elverston House now, Meera?”

She blinked at me in surprise. Had she not expected me to know her name? I was sure most of the realm knew it by now. I almost said as much, but held the words back at the last moment. Meera seemed skittish enough as it was—I doubted reminding her of how famous she was would help at this moment.

“I was, yes.” Wymond opened his mouth to speak, but Meera was faster. “Perhaps you’d walk me back?” she asked, looking up at me.

My shadows flickered slightly, pleased that she’d singled me out as a safe choice, and I hoped she didn’t recognize what the slight movement meant. It was even more flattering coming from Meera, of all the ex-Hunters. She seemed as though she’d be reticent to consideranyonea safe choice.

“Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Wymond,” I added dismissively. I knew him well enough, and whileIassumed he was a harmless nuisance at most, I reminded myself that it wasn’t my assessment to make. I’d ended friendships with males in the past who had been perfectly adequate friends to me but had strange attitudes to their romantic relationships that I couldn’t abide.

Another thing to be on heightened awareness of around the ex-Hunters, I thought, noting how small and delicate Meera was. No claws, no fangs, no horns… How were they meant to protect themselves? Was the human realm really so safe for them that they had no need for natural weapons?

“Thank you,” Meera said quietly as we made our way down the path, leaving Wymond behind us.

“There’s no need to thank me—I can’t imagine how tiresome it must be to constantly have Shades vying for your attention. Would you like me to walk you the whole way or just until we’re out of sight of Wymond?”

Her lips twitched slightly, and I noticed for the first time how soft and full her mouth was. Of course, it hadn’t escaped my notice that Meera was beautiful—her skin glowed somehow, her long hair looked impossibly soft, and her dark eyes drew everyone in, though she rarely gave anyone a chance to truly look into them.

To live at the palace was to be well acquainted with the scent of a flirtatious ex-Hunter at this point, and Meera had never carried that scent.

Not for anyone.

For my own sanity, I would do my bestnotto notice how beautiful she was. But I could wonder what her laugh sounded like and how her joy smelled, couldn’t I?

Those were friendly thoughts.

“Would you mind walking me the whole way? You don’t have to,” Meera added hurriedly, as though I was even remotely capable of saying no to her—she looked so lost out here on her own. “I usually make the trip with someone else, but they were busy talking to people—I mean,Shades—and I didn’t want to bother them.”

“I would be most happy to accompany you. My parents are visiting. I was just going for a walk anyway to give us both some space,” I said wryly.

“Understandable.” Another one of those faint lip twitches. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name…?”

“Ah, that was poorly done of me, wasn’t it? We haven’t met before. My name is Verner. I’m a member of the Guard here at the palace.”

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