Page 23 of Acedia

Worse still, Iris seemed like she’d be content with whatever half-cooked idea I came up with, and that didn’t sit well with me. She had a soft optimism to her that should be preserved at all costs. Like she’d come to the shadow realm with an entirely pure and unshakeable belief that life here was going to be better for her.

I was going to make sure that was the case.

“The room is ready. If you’ll follow me,” I said, having gotten the go-ahead from the staff that they’d finished preparing it.

It was as close as Iris could be to the dining hall whilst also having a private courtyard for her delightful little beast companion. Unfortunately, all of the ground-floor rooms were small because most of the communal spaces were down here.

What if Iris didn’t like it? I got the distinct impression that she wouldn’t tell anyone, and I was oddly displeased by it. Usually, I liked easy-going personalities.

“I think this room will work best for you,” I told her, pushing open the door. “It has a small courtyard directly outside and its own washroom.”

“That sounds perfect, thank you,” Iris said with a smile that could have melted the coldest of hearts.

“That’s… okay.”

Huh. It was strange to be thanked for something. I supposed I didn’t usually do things that required gratitude.

I liked the way that Iris spoke to me the same way she spoke to Tallulah and Meera, even though she knew I was a prince. And she was very lovely, I had to admit. Her hair was an odd color compared to what I’d seen of the other ex-Hunters—a dismal sort of pale brown with odd patches of a lighter color—but it didn’t detract from the elegance of her face. Interestingly, she had the kind of beauty that was particularly prized in Shades. Sharp, angular features, high cheekbones, a pointed jaw, and a long, graceful neck.

But there was nothing Shade about that soft, welcoming smile and those blunt, harmless teeth.

Or her complex, interesting scent. Iris seemed to be processing a range of emotions, though seemingly none of them were negative. She must have a very joyful disposition to walk into this situation alone—blind—and feel anything close to contentment.

It made me want to stay close to her. To absorb some of that brightness for myself, as well as shelter her, so nothing could dim her light. It wasn’t a sensation I’d ever experienced before, so I surmised that I must be in love with her. What else could it possibly be?

Based on scent, she didn’t appear to love me back yet, but we hadn’t spent much time together. I’m sure we’d get there eventually.

“Weren’t you going to arrange food?” Tallulah reminded me. She was always confident, but she seemed more assertive than usual today. Or annoyed. I wasn’t entirely confident which.

I lingered in the doorway, but even the usually mild Meera turned to give me aget outlook. Perhaps they wanted time alone for “girl talk,” as Ophelia always referred to it? I supposed Icould come back later and get a feel for whether Iris was in love with me or not yet.

Leaving them to it, I headed down the corridor, sending an instruction down to the kitchen with a staff member to have a tray brought up.

Would it be possible to keep every other Shade away from Iris until she’d chosen me for her mate? That didn’t seem like too much to ask.

Conveniently, Soren was pacing in the corridor as I emerged like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.

“Is Iris okay?” he asked.

“Yes. She’s magnificent actually, she’s adapting very well. Soren, the doors in the palace only lock via shadows. I didn’t bring it up with Iris yet as I didn’t have a solution, but we can’t expect her to stay in an unlocked room.”

Elverston House could be secured with a drawbar from the inside, but there was no such thing on the individual rooms within the palace.

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Soren briefly glanced at me in surprise, like he was shocked that I had. “She’s in the end room. I’ll see to it that the others are left unoccupied—they’re for temporary visitors anyway—then station a guard rotation for the entire corridor. It’s not ideal, I admit. Iris is new here and she has no reason to entrust her safety to Shades in general, let alone the Guard.”

“I don’t think that will bother her,” I admitted. “She seems to have a very trusting disposition. Only put your very best on duty here,” I added in a warning voice. I didn’t like to think that any member of the Guard was dishonorable, but I didn’t want Soren taking any chances.

“Of course,” he agreed, narrowing his eyes slightly. “I’m glad to see you’re taking more of an interest in goings-on around the palace, Damen.”

“I always take an interest in things,” I replied, waving him off. “Shall I go update my brother on this new development while you arrange a guard rotation for this corridor? Did he know she was coming?”

Somehow, that seemed to make him more suspicious, though I had no idea why.

“That would be unusually helpful of you, thanks. He knew Astrid and I were collecting someone, but the details of the note were vague.”

“I’m always helpful,” I assured him, clapping him on the shoulder before making for the throne room where Allerick would probably be meeting with… I don’t know. Subjects, I supposed. He never used to use that room, but since he and Ophelia had thoroughly desecrated it, he was rather fond of the place.

It must be nice to have someone to desecrate important state rooms with.

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