Page 10 of Acedia

“Anyway, we’re going to go have a drink now,” I interrupted because Allerick looked on the verge of complaining. “You’re welcome to join us, of course.”

“Next time,” my brother said dismissively, already reaching for his wife. “Enjoy your evening.”

“I’d love to talk to you again sometime!” Ophelia called over her shoulder, laughing as Allerick banded one arm around her waist and lifted her clear off the ground, carrying her away.

“She’s not what I expected,” Ruvyn admitted, falling into step beside me as we headed for my set of rooms.

“No? What were you expecting?” I tried to remember what I expected the Hunter queen to be when she showed up here for the first time to marry my brother. Scared, I thought. She’d never been that.

“Quieter, I suppose. More subdued. The impression I have of them from my research is that they’re quite shy and retiring.”

Meera, perhaps. I wouldn’t describe any of the others that way. Austin might actually perish without attention.

“I wouldn’t say that’s a fair assessment. The ex-Hunters are as varying in temperament as any group of Shades would be.”

“Yes,” Ruvyn replied absently, briefly looking troubled before shaking it off.

A tray of wine and cakes had already been set up in my drawing room, the fire burning low and steady in the grate.

“Come, come. Sit,” I insisted, heading over to the fire to throw some more wood on. It was cool enough tonight to warrant the use of it.

“So,” Ruvyn began, pouring the wine. “Tell me, Crown Prince of the realm, where isyourex-Hunter, hm?”

I laughed. “It appears I’ve failed to find one.”

It stung a little, I could admit. With both Shade females and Hunter women, no one ever seemed to know what to do with me, which was absurd because my expectations of a partner were very few. I would like someone who took me seriously at least some of the time despite my cheerful personality, who wasn’t either intimidated by my title or disappointed that I’d never challenge Allerick for the top spot, and who would let me lick their pussy for several hours of the day. Was that really too much to ask?

“How can that be? If rumors are to be believed, theDuke of Lindowsecured a Hunter bride. Mate. Whatever you’re calling them. How dire are your conversational abilities if he was able to successfully court one and you weren’t?”

“You wound me—Theon is far more brooding and mysterious than I am. I never stood a chance.” Brooding and mysterious, yet also somehow being the most dramatic Shade I’d ever encountered. Perhaps I’d be the same if the lifestyle and fame I’d been accorded due to my role were suddenly snatched away from me. “Besides, Theon and Verity seem almost made for each other—if you saw them together, you’d know that there couldn’t be one for them but each other.”

He probably didn’t know that Verity was missing yet, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be the one to divulge it. Undoubtedly, news of Theon’s arrest would spread soon enough.

“And all the other ex-Hunters who have moved here?”

I shrugged, accepting the goblet he handed me. “I spoke to all of them when they arrived here to see whether any sort of romantic connection would come of it, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

It was a little frustrating, of course. Unfortunately, something about me seemed to make it hard for anyone to take me seriously, and I suspected some of the ex-Hunters had been intimidated by my title on top of that. Perhaps I should be more solemn and difficult like Soren and my brothers, that seemed to work well in attracting a mate.

Though, the kind of dynamic they shared with their mates would never work for me. They were all content to stand back and let their mate shine, and I’d never excelled at that. I liked attention too. I might like attentionmost.

Plus, there wasn’t much I could do about the title part. Not until Allerick and Ophelia produced an heir of their own.

The jealousy I would feel when that happened would be unbearable. Not because of the loss of my spot in the line of succession, but because I wanted children of my own more than anything. I’d be a far more fun and involved father than mine had ever been to me.

“Does it bother you?” Ruvyn asked, his voice deceptively light. “That you haven’t found someone?”

“Why do you ask?” I sat down and leaned back on the chaise. “Are you feeling the weight of singleness too?”

He grunted, taking a sip of his wine. “Perhaps a little. If I want someone in my bed… Well, that’s never been a problem. But it’s companionship I’m seeking now. At the same time, The Itrodaris is a demanding mistress—more a lifestyle than a job.I’m constantly busy, and I’m unsure that I’d be able to offer a wife the time that she might need.”

“Maybe you just need to find a wife who’s also busy and content to do her own thing. Though, when you would have the opportunity to meet, I have no idea.”

Ruvyn laughed roughly, draping his arm over the back of the sofa, the goblet dangling loosely between his fingers. “You have the opposite problem, no? You have an abundance of time. Perhaps something to occupy your days with would do you some good, especially if you’re surrounded by happy couples at all times.”

I snorted. “Why would I add stress to my life when I could simplynot?”

Life should be easy and enjoyable at all times. It shouldn’t be challenging. It shouldn’t be complicated. It should beleisurely. I was a Shade of conviction, and that was the one I held dearest.

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