Page 64 of Acedia

“Because you can only make promises for your region,” Damen surmised.

Harlow hummed. “Correct. Whatever agreement we come to is a pilot run of sorts. We’re going to use it to demonstrate to other regions what is possible when we work together instead of against one another.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “We thought of it as the beginning of an alliance of sorts. One between us that, hopefully, more and more regional councils will join over time. We’d want you, Damen, and Tallulah to be involved, of course. And perhaps some other representatives of your choosing, as well as more from the Hunters side.”

Damen leaned in close, his horn catching in my hair. “Do you think this is middle management? Verity says I have a very middle-management vibe.”

I considered everything I knew about middle management from films and TV shows, trying to decide whether that was a flattering assessment or not. “I think that means you’re good at talking.”

Damen made a solemn noise of agreement. “I am excellent at that.”

“Okay,” Tallulah mused. “So, we’re going to do this? Just us for now? A small but mighty test run.”

Harlow laughed. It was a pleasant, raspy sound. “Why not? There’s been endless talking. Endless agreements.Brokenagreements. Let’s actuallydosomething. It feels small in the grand scheme of all the history between our kinds, but hopefully it’s a gentle river that leads to a mighty ocean, you know?”

“Sure,” Tallulah agreed, amused. “That’s a nice way to think about it. Will you join us for dinner in the dining hall later, Harlow? Meet a few more of us?”

“I would love that. Lead by example and whatnot. I’ve totally cracked this management thing, right?”

Damen leaned in again to whisper in my ear. “Sebastian is trying so hard not to comment on that, his face is actually going a little purple.”

I pressed my lips together to avoid laughing, while giving Damen’s arm a gentle squeeze of gratitude because I appreciated him sharing that with me.

“Great,” Tallulah was saying to Harlow. “We can show you around a little as well in the meantime. Visit Meera’s vegetable garden, show you some of the self-sufficiency things we’re doing. Iris, do you want to come with us?”

“Not this time—but thank you for the offer.” It was very sweet of her to ask, but I was still in yesterday’s itchy clothes, and I desperately wanted to get changed.

“I’ll walk you back,” Damen said cheerfully, sliding his hand into mine as we stood, careful not to catch my fingers with his claws. It was odd, but the gesture made me blush. Why did holding hands feel so intimate? We almost always linked arms when we were walking around the palace.

Somehow, this felt like a level beyond that, though.

“I hope that wasn’t too boring for you?” Damen asked as we headed away from the group, Tilly in tow.

“No, not at all.” I paused, trying to decide whether to be honest or to make an attempt at seeming normal. In the end, I settled on honesty. “Things that probably seem boring to you are all novelties to me. I’ve spent my life doing nothing, onlyexperiencinganythingvicariously through TV shows. It felt very exciting and important to be part of an official meeting.”

“I can definitely take you to more of those. I’m going to make a list of places I want to take you,” Damen declared. “Ranging from boring and mundane, to fancy balls. How does that sound?”

“Dreamy,” I admitted.

“Want to go down to the kitchens and learn all about how they wash dishes for the whole court? It’s a romantic proposition, I know. I’m really pulling out all the stops for you, Iris.”

I laughed, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “I know you’re teasing, but I actually would find that very interesting.”

He shrugged, the movement dragging my arm up and down with it. “Then, we’ll go. Do you want to stop and change first though? You keep fidgeting with your skirt.”

I wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor at how attentive he was.

“Yes, please.”

“Okay. Quick conversation stop, though. There are a couple of people who look like they’re waiting to meet you.”

“Oh. Who?”

“Cora, who came to the shadow realm with Sebastian and her brother who we do not speak of, and Jade, the youngest and most intimidating of the most recent crop of ex-Hunters. As far as I know, this is her first trip inside the palace walls. Good morning, ladies. How are we today?” he said, turning his attention toward them as we approached.

“Good, thank you,” one of them replied nervously. “I’m Cora. This is Jade. We wanted to say hi.”

There was an awkward pause before Damen gave my hand a soft squeeze. “They’re talking to you.”

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