King of Battle and Blood (Adrian X Isolde #1)(17)

Adrian touched my chin, and this time, I managed not to flinch. “My sweet, I look forward to that.”

Someone cleared their throat, and I looked at the three vampires, who had all averted their eyes, lingering awkwardly.

“We’re just going to…go,” Sorin said, and I watched the three fall back into the shadows of the wood.

I returned my attention to Adrian, who was still watching me.

“You were heading to my tent?” he asked.

“I need to speak with you,” I said.

He stared and, after a moment, indicated for me to follow. “Come.”

We walked side by side, and as we came around to the front of his tent, I got a better look at their camp. The first thing that took me by surprise was the sight of several fires, over which a mortal man cooked. The smell of sizzling meats and seasonings wafted toward me, and my stomach turned.

“What is he cooking?” I asked, my stomach turning. I didn’t think it was human meat, but I wanted to be sure nevertheless. Vampires did not eat as far as I knew.

Adrian raised a brow. “Lamb. For the mortals who travel with us.”

“You let mortals travel with you?”

“How do you think we eat?” he asked.

His question was so casual, and yet it made my blood run cold. I was not aware that mortals traveled with his army, though there were stories of people who fled to Revekka to gain immortality by offering their blood in the hope that they would eventually be turned into a vampire. The practice was called bloodletting and seen as treasonous to all kingdoms of the Nine Houses. It was also an automatic death sentence.

Adrian directed me into his tent, letting me enter ahead of him. Inside, it was warm, the heat wafting from a brazier at its center. The sight of it caused me to hesitate at the entrance, and Adrian bumped into me. Instead of staggering away, his hand touched my waist.

“You are safe here,” he said, mistaking my fear of the fire for a fear of him.

I moved forward quickly. At my feet plush rugs covered most of the ground, and a round table and several wooden folding chairs were arranged to one side. There was also a desk, upon which a map of Cordova was spread, and I fought every urge to approach and read his plans for my world. A bed took up the other side of the tent and it was that I focused on, because it was occupied by a very naked woman. She was stretched out, completely exposed, creamy skin burnished by firelight. She jerked into a sitting position when she saw us enter, not bothering to drag the blankets up to cover herself. She only stared, wide-eyed, as if she had not expected Adrian to bring a visitor.

“Out,” Adrian snapped, and she fled. I watched her go, feeling irritated that he hadn’t been alone.

“Will your mistress join us on our wedding night?” I asked, glaring at him.

“Already dreaming of our time together?” he countered and then offered a smile. “She is not my mistress.”

“So you wouldn’t have slept with her?”

He stared. “I suppose it depends on how I’m feeling.”

I narrowed my eyes upon him. “You’re supposed to say no, at least to my face. Unless you wish to conduct our marriage openly. In which case, shall I start scouting for potential lovers?”

Adrian’s mouth hardened. “Are you demanding fidelity?”

“I will follow as you lead,” I said. It was a taunt.

“It is early to make demands. We have not even wed yet.”

“If my request is such a burden, then call off the engagement,” I challenged. I walked farther into the tent, keeping my distance from the fire at the center. The flames seemed too high and too angry.

“Oh, my sweet, things have become far too interesting for that,” he said and then tilted his head to the side. “Why are you here?”

I hesitated for a moment. Maybe this was a mistake. As the words came out of my mouth, they seemed ridiculous. “I need a promise from you.”

Adrian’s pale brows rose over his strange eyes.

“Go on.”

“It won’t surprise you to know that Commander Killian hates you, even more after today. I think he believes he could kill you and free me from our engagement. I need you to promise that if he tries to attack, you will not seek retribution against my people.”

Adrian stared at me for a long moment.

“What will you give me in exchange for this promise?”

“I warned you of Killian. Is that not enough?”

“You have told me nothing I did not already know. Your commander has been planning ways to kill me since I landed on your doorstep.”

I stared at him. “What do you want from me?”

“Everything,” he said. “But for now, I will settle for the answer to why you do not walk near the fire.”

I stared at him, surprised he had noticed, and then looked toward the flames. Acknowledging my fear of fire seemed so minimal compared to anything else he could have asked, so I answered truthfully.

“I am afraid of fire,” I said. “I have been since I was a child.”

“Were you burned as a child?” Adrian moved closer.

“No,” I said and then inhaled an involuntary, shaky breath. There was more to this than I wanted to admit, an unexplainable panic that came at night when I closed my eyes. It was a horror Adrian had no right to access, so I said nothing more.