Page 101 of Acedia

“If you recall, it’s my job to make the introductions,” Allerick pointed out wryly, though he didn’t sound mad.

“Four stairs here,” Damen told me, gripping my arm a little more securely before responding to his brother. “Why should you get to do all the fun jobs?”

“Historically, you’ve not had much interest in any jobs.”

“I’m a new Shade now, clearly,” Damen teased. “I have a mate to impress. I can’t just lounge around all day.”

“Very true,” Ophelia agreed. “You don’t want to give her the ick.”

“The what?” Damen asked, though I had no idea either. That wasn’t a term that had come up in the films Nana had put on.

“I’ll explain later,” Ophelia said as Damen helped me into my seat. “Everyone is staring, we should probably talk about something more cultured.”

“Does anyone seem mad?” I whispered to Damen. “Aren’t they worried about having more weak Hunter genetics in the royal family?”

“They better not be,” he grumbled darkly, sounding surprisingly like Allerick for a moment. “But no, I don’t think so. Everyone is riding the high of the successful feeding trips to thehuman realm, and the next trip is tomorrow. Their focus is there for now.”

It wasn’t a forever solution then, but at least a problem we didn’t have to address right away. Besides, I had every intention of proving that I had value to add to the realm and to my new family, even if it wasn’t in the form of physical strength. We all had something to offer.

“Harlow is here,” Damen said cheerfully, narrating the surroundings for me. “Sitting with Ruvyn, looking very loved up—no mating mark. Or not that I can see, at least. All of the ex-Hunters in the realm are here with their partners—they’ve commandeered most of one long table. Sebastian is sitting with Cosima, that’s a new development.”

“I’m going to cry,” Ophelia sniffed. “It really wasn’t that long ago that I came here all by myself—wedding dress on, suitcase in hand, and now look at how many people are here! And they all look so happy. Isn’t this amazing?”

“Sure,” Damen agreed cautiously. “Are you feeling okay? You’re weepier than normal.”

She leaned in close, her hair brushing my shoulder to whisper to both of us. “I’m pregnant.”

The relief and joy in her voice had tears pooling in my eyes as I discreetly squeezed her hand, congratulating her in hushed tones so we didn’t draw any attention to ourselves. Based on her whispered announcement, I guessed she didn’t want to announce it publicly yet.

“Are you crying now?” Damen asked, bemused, though he was rubbing soothing circles between my shoulder blades. “Is it catching?”

“Be nice,” Allerick chided.

“This is me being nice!” Damen laughed. “We can talk more later when we don’t have an audience, but I’m so happy for you both.”

“And we’re happy for you,” Ophelia replied gently, nudging my engagement ring as she gave my hand another squeeze. “For us. And what the future will hold.”

Epilogue

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Roll over, princess,” I told my wife, patting her affectionately on the ass.

“You’re not supposed to call me that anymore,” she replied ruefully, rolling onto her front and bracing herself on her knees and forearms, knowing exactly where I wanted her.

“I’d like to see anyone try and stop me,” I replied easily, moving behind her on the bed and sitting up on my knees so I could admire the view Iris was giving me. “Your cunt is already dripping for me,princess.”

“It usually is,” Iris said mildly, undoing me with just three words. It was always like this with her. Whenever I got too cocky, she reminded me who really had all the power in this relationship.

Of the two of us, I may wield the shadows, but I’d lay down my life for Iris.

I sent tendrils of shadows up the back of her thighs, following the path with the tips of my claws before creating a crisscrossing pattern around her torso, snaking down her arms to connect her wrists together. Iris was practically panting as I repeated the process down her legs, a solid length of shadow connecting her ankles, keeping her perfectly in position.

It was only right that I take a moment to admire my work, so I climbed off the bed to walk around either side, taking her in from all angles. She was the prettiest canvas to paint my shadows onto.

“No gag today?” she asked, immediately opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue as I brushed a tendril over her lip.

“Not today. I want to hear you. Don’t be shy now.”

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