No one else left me out in their address after Cain, and he was not the last to ask for immortality, though no one bothered offering their daughter as a sex slave. What surprised me most was that Adrian declined every request from a mortal to be turned, and I began to wonder what would convince him.
The final person to ask was familiar to me, and seeing him in the great hall of the Red Palace shocked me.
“King Gheroghe.”
His kingdom was Vela and had yet to be conquered by King Adrian.
“Prin—Queen Isolde,” he said, bowing. “A pleasure. It has been a long while since last I looked upon your beauty.”
I felt Adrian’s eyes upon me as I spoke.
“It has been a while,” I said. “Since I put a knife against your son’s throat. How is Prince Horatiu?”
He had been one of several to suggest they could both please me and lead my people, insinuating that I could not do it on my own, and when he’d cornered me in the dark to kiss me, I’d reacted by drawing blood.
“Much recovered,” Gheroghe replied.
“What is the reason for your visit, King Gheroghe?” Adrian asked, a note of irritation in his voice.
“I have come to surrender,” he said. There was a surprise quiet that flooded the entire room, and then he added, “In exchange, I ask only to become immortal.”
“Surrender does not usually include negotiating where I am concerned, King Gheroghe,” Adrian said. “You surrender and keep your title and ensure the safety of your people. There are no other options.”
“Vela has much to offer, my king. Not only would you inherit a wealth of iron ore, but you would have access to launch an attack on the Atoll of Nalani, a kingdom rich in pearls and gems.”
I straightened and my hands fisted, hearing my mother’s homeland thrown into talks of conquering.
“You would inherit so much more than a wife with a penchant for knives.”
“I like my wife and her knives, and while I’d prefer your surrender over battle, I will gladly go to war nevertheless.”
King Gheroghe’s eyes widened, and as Adrian rose, I followed.
“I-Isolde,” he said, as if begging me to come to his defense.
“You lost my support when you suggested that Adrian invade my mother’s lands,” I said. “Return to your kingdom and await the war.”
The memory of Adrian’s words were not lost on me; I had just approved of the invasion of one of the Nine Houses.
Adrian took my hand, and we returned to the adjacent room. He pushed me against the door, dragging my hips against his, and kissed me.
I held his head between my hands and freed myself.
“How many women have you accepted as concubines?” I asked.
“None,” he said. “But I have never executed a man for the offer either.”
“He was a snake,” I spat.
“I am not disagreeing or disapproving,” he said, and he ground into me further. The hard length of his cock settled against my stomach. Then his voice lowered to a low rumble, and it was as if he were confessing a sin. “You are everything I have ever wanted.”
I stared at him and saw the same gentleness, the same raw emotion I’d seen last night. And I couldn’t indulge.
I pushed him back and slid out from between him and the door. He reached for my wrist, and I met his gaze.
“Isolde, tell me what I did wrong.”
“Can you not read minds?” I countered, frustrated, though I really hoped he couldn’t in this moment. I didn’t want him to know the truth—that I could not handle the care with which he had looked at me, that I felt more emotion than I could manage when I looked at him.
“I’m trying to give you privacy,” he said, and it was the first time I sensed his exasperation with me.
“I just…did not know you would make a habit of visiting my bed every night. It is not as if we need to produce an heir, so it is hardly necessary.”
He released me but turned fully toward me, towering, eyes narrowed. “Are you saying you tire of me, my queen?”
I hated the way those words hurt my chest, and I hated how uncertain I sounded as I answered, breathless. “Yes.”
Adrian stared a moment longer, as if he thought I would change my mind beneath his scrutiny, but I didn’t—I couldn’t—and I hoped that if he had chosen to read my mind in this moment, my thoughts reflected the same. Adrian and I were supposed to be enemies, and I could only stand our closeness so long as I still felt anger toward him.