Page 37 of Acedia

“Very well, thank you. How are you? What are you doing? Why are you playing with needles? Is that safe?”

Iris smiled up at me and everything bad about my morning immediately dissipated as though it had never been. “I’m knitting. I used to do it with my Nana all the time. Tallulah had all the stuff already and was happy to share it with me, isn’t that so lovely?”

“I guess so.” Really seemed like the least she could do, but sure.

“I’m making you a scarf,” Iris declared. I didn’t know what that was or what I would use it for, but I would cherish it all the same. Her first gift to me—hopefully the first of many throughout the course of our union.

“That’s very sweet of you. I can’t wait to… wear it,” I hedged. Was it a garment? That seemed like the most likely option. Of course, it would be looked down upon at court for me to wear a covering made of physical fabric rather than shadow—they would see it as a sign of weakness as generally, only those with a low capacity for channeling power wore garments. However, I would happily tell the courtiers to go fuck themselves if they dared to say anything about a gift from Iris.

She hummed, pleased. “What are you doing today?”

“Visiting you.”

Iris laughed softly. “And then?”

“I was intending for this to take up the bulk of my day,” I replied, sitting down on the chair opposite her and watching as her fingers seemed to fly, the needles clicking together in themost satisfying way. Though apparently, my words had given her pause, as she stopped for a long moment.

“What did you do with your days before I came to the shadow realm?” Iris asked curiously. For some reason, the question felt like a trap.

“I’m very social. I enjoy visiting with all kinds of Shades and people—I always have. However, I enjoy your company the most,” I added in my smoothest, most charming voice. Usually, it was enough to cajole even the surliest of conversation partners, but Iris still looked politely concerned.

“Well, that’s very kind,” she said eventually. “Of everyone who visits me, I enjoy your company the most too. I find you very easy to be around.”

I grinned from ear to ear. This was my moment. This was the opening I’d been hoping for.

“I’m reassured to hear it. Iris, will you put down your needles for a moment?”

She slowly lowered them, setting everything down on her lap and clasping her hands together as I stood up, straightening my shoulders and holding my horns up high and proud. “Sure. What is it, Damen?”

“Iris, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She frowned, her pretty lips pursed together in the most unsettling way. “Your what?”

I cleared my throat, enunciating the words more clearly this time. “Mywife.”

Maybe I should have made a speech first. Listed all the things I liked about her. In hindsight, the question may have been a little abrupt.

“Are you proposing to me?”

“Yes,” I replied hesitantly. This wasn’t going quite the way I expected it to go. I’d hoped that Iris would be more excited and less… well, confused. I definitely wasn’t going to includethis part in my retelling of events at breakfast tomorrow. Astrid would never let me live it down.

“Oh. That’s very unexpected.”

“Is it?”

Iris nodded slowly. “Though perhaps I have been misinterpreting obvious signs—I don’t have much experience with these things, you see. Before I came here, I’d only interacted with one man who wasn’t a family member.”

I managed to make some vague sound of agreement, annoyed and slightly jealous at the mention of him despite my gratitude that he’d found a way to get Iris out of harm’s way. Did she like him more than me?

“I’m noman, Iris.”

“No,” she agreed. “Perhaps that’s why I didn’t pick up the signs. I do find your voice very attractive,” she added, though she seemed to be talking to herself rather than me.

“Well, that’s positive.”

“Yes. And I enjoy your company—you’re very kind. Charming. Funny.”

I puffed out my chest slightly. Why had I been worried? We were back on track. There was nothing to worry about. It wasn’t the most enthusiastic acceptance of a marriage proposal there ever was, but the result was what mattered anyway.

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