King of Battle and Blood (Adrian X Isolde #1)(39)

“They’re all dead,” I said again.

“He knows,” Killian said. “He’s responsible.”

If Killian’s words angered Adrian, he did not show it. He remained calm as he asked, “You are so certain, Commander?”

I shook my head and swallowed, feeling the bile rise in the back of my throat again. “No. This wasn’t vampires. This was…”

I did not know, but I knew vampire attacks, and vampires did not leave humans looking like what I’d seen…did they?

Adrian’s eyes met mine, and in an instant, Daroc, Sorin, Isac, and Miha appeared. I blinked, shocked by how quickly they moved.

“Open the gate,” Adrian commanded.

I watched as Daroc effortlessly scaled the wall.

“Do not look,” Adrian said as the gate groaned open.

All the while, Adrian held my gaze, even as Daroc returned to summon him.

“Your Majesty, you will want to see this.”

Adrian’s eyes did not waver, and it was if he were asking me if I’d be okay.

I swallowed and nodded before I was left alone with Killian. I had words for him anyway. I didn’t watch Adrian disappear into the village, because I had seen enough to know that the bodies lay right before the gate. It wasn’t until Killian himself stopped watching and shifted to look at me that I spoke.

“Your men should have been patrolling. How long has it been since they ventured this far north?”

“You berate me for not protecting them yet turn to the man who slaughtered our people. We found the graves, Isolde.” Killian stepped in front of me. “Leave with me. You aren’t safe with them.”

“I am not safe here,” I argued. “Our people, the ones you found. They tried to kill me.”

“You were just caught in the crossfire—”

“No, Alec, I wasn’t.”

There was a pause, and then he said, “You cannot be angry with them. You did not even resist when he took you away.”

My lips flattened as I glared. My anger was acute, a flush that made my whole body hot. Killian had been present during the discussion.

“You know why I didn’t resist.”

“Why? Because you feared for your people? Or because he fucked you the way you wanted?”

I narrowed my eyes. I’d guessed that he’d lingered outside my door on the night of our wedding, and this confirmed it.

“Do not shame me, Killian.”

“I am only pointing out that despite professing to hate him, you appear to enjoy his company.”

“So you are justifying the attack,” I said.

“Isolde—”

“I am your queen,” I cut him off. “You will address me as such.”

Killian’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flared. “So this is how it will be.”

“If what you have said is truly how you feel, then yes.”

He blinked, and for a moment, I could see his doubt and confusion warring.

“If you are finished trying to convince my bride to leave me, then I think it would be wise for you to inform your king of what has occurred here.”

I flinched at Adrian’s words and turned to face him. As I did, I caught a glimpse of the corpses beyond the fence and felt the blood drain from my face once more. Adrian shifted to block my view.

“And what exactly will I tell him?” Killian asked.

“That a whole village was slaughtered,” he said.

“By whom?” I asked.

Adrian’s eyes settled on mine, and despite the fierceness of his expression, his gaze seemed to soften.

“My guess would be magic.”

“There is no magic, save yours,” Killian accused.

“That is a myth of our existence,” Adrian said. “I have abilities, not magic.”

“I thought magic had been eradicated with the Burning,” I said.

“So long as spells exist, magic will prevail,” he said. “This is the kind of chaos humans make when they summon magic they cannot control.”

Magic was considered a gift, not a skill. Even before King Dragos ordered the Burning, those who were not born with magic were forbidden to speak spells.

“You are saying one of our own spoke this”—Killian gestured toward the village—“into existence?”

“Not necessarily,” Adrian said. “The spell could have been cast from anywhere.”

I felt even more dread at that thought.

“And do you really think my king will believe that? Knowing you were here?”

“My father will believe you, Commander,” I argued. “Adrian has told you what he thinks occurred. You should communicate that.”

Killian stared and kept his jaw tight, but after a moment, he bowed. Part of me wanted to go with him so I could tell my father what I’d seen myself. I knew Killian would not want to admit that his guards had neglected to travel this far. I also wondered if this village was destroyed, were the others?

The commander departed, and after a moment, I felt Adrian draw a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“How are you?” he asked.

I stared at him, my mouth slightly ajar. I didn’t know why it always surprised me that he asked if I was all right, and yet this was the third time.