Page 6 of Ira

Her cheeks flushed slightly. It was a most intriguing sight, though I quickly looked away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable by staring.

“Sorry. I’ve met so many Shades since I’ve been here. I’m struggling to keep them all straight in my head.”

“I assure you, you have nothing to apologize for. I saw how crowded your table was at dinner tonight. It must be overwhelming to meet so many new faces at once.”

“It is,” she replied instantly before looking contrite. “Though I’m not complaining, of course. I’m very grateful to be here.”

“You can be grateful to be here and find the attention overwhelming.”

“That’s probably the most accurate description of how I’m feeling,” Meera said, nodding to herself. “Have you met the other Hunters—ex-Hunters—yet?”

“Only the queen. My usual post is outside the royal wing of the palace.”

“Oh.”

There was a wealth of complexity in that single word, but I wasn’t sure where to begin with it. Perhaps she thought I should be making more of an effort to get to know the others?

“Are you close with the queen?” I asked, wondering if that was where the wariness in her voice had come from.

Meera blinked up at me in surprise. “I’m not really close with anyone. No, wait. Pretend I didn’t say that—that sounded bad. I’m one of the quieter ones in the group,” she corrected hastily.

I suspected both things were true, but the first sounded more honest than she’d intended.

“I, too, am generally considered one of the quieter ones in any given situation,” I replied, hoping that finding some common ground would put her at ease. “I suspect this has given others the impression that I’m wiser than I am.”

Meeraalmostlaughed. I couldn’t see it, but I felt as though I could sense it in the air. Or perhaps it was the sudden sweet tinge in her scent.

“I’m not sure I havethatreputation. But they’ve definitely made some assumptions about me that aren’t entirely true,” she added, seeming more baffled than annoyed by that fact.

“Did you all know each other in the human realm?”

The scale of their world was difficult to grasp, though I knew it was far larger than the shadow realm.

Meera shook her head. “I knewofAstrid and Tallulah. Astrid’s reputation preceded her, and Tallulah’s family is well-known. It’s possible we met at events as kids, but I don’t remember that.”

The invisible border between Elverston House and the greater palace complex approached, and I wracked my mind for something to say that would make this interaction an even somewhat lingering memory in Meera’s mind.

The discomfort in her scent had lessened, but it hadn’t been replaced by the sweetness of a joyful ex-Hunter.

It was important to me that Meera leave here feeling more comfortable than she started.

“How are you finding the shadow realm so far?” I asked lamely. “Overwhelming attention aside.”

“It’s nice.” She sounded as apologetic about her answer as I had about the question. “I guess I’m still finding my footing, you know? It’s a lot of change.”

“It is,” I agreed. “I found it a somewhat difficult transition to come from my home to the palace when I joined the Guard. I can’t imagine how much more you’ve had to adapt to moving to an entirely different realm.”

“This was really nice, thank you,” Meera said, surprising me as we came to a halt. She looked up at me through thick, dark lashes and it made something in my chest feel odd.

“What was?”

“This walk. The conversation. It’s nice to talk to someone that, you know, doesn’twantanything from me.” My shadows curled in closer to my body, ashamed that she’d thought so highly of me when I’d absolutely found myself inappropriately admiring her beauty. Of course, I hadn’texpectedanything from her, butwantingwas a different matter. If she’d asked me… Well, I’d definitelywanted.

“I don’t suppose…” Meera trailed off, her face flushing again.

“You don’t suppose what?” I prompted. Perhaps she would give me an opportunity to redeem myself—if only in my own mind.

“It’s probably silly. I just thought… I don’t know. Maybe we could do this again sometime? I really do want to get to know more Shades. To build a proper life here. It’s just… I guess there are so many expectations, you know? Even meeting female Shades is difficult. I think they avoid us because they’re trying not to intrude, but I really would like to make friends. I’m not very good at it.”

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