King of Battle and Blood (Adrian X Isolde #1)(62)

I blinked at him. “Does ruling together mean you will listen to me when I beg you not to continue invading the Nine Houses?”

Adrian said nothing.

“I thought not.”

“Isolde,” he said my name again, quiet and almost desperate. I didn’t like it. My sweet or Sparrow were far less personal than my actual name.

“Do not pretend to give me an equal say in the ruling of your land if it only extends to court politics.”

I whirled on my heels, intending to leave, but as soon as I touched the handle, Adrian’s hand covered mine. I turned my head slightly, only to find his lips hovered near. He stood close, but his body did not touch mine, and in that space, something like a current began to run between us. It took everything in my power not to lean into it.

“You are infuriating,” he said.

“You are the one who married me on a whim.”

“It wasn’t a whim. It was very much intentional.”

“You forgot to inform me,” I said.

Part of me knew how he would answer. There was something undeniable between us, something completely electric that even hate could not dissolve. It kept me rooted to the spot now, when I would usually fight to be free.

I turned toward him, though he still caged me against the door.

“Give me time,” he said. “Soon you will beg me to conquer the land you wish to save.”

“Now who is making presumptions?”

“I am offering truth,” he said.

I glared at him, and there was a knock. It came from the opposite side of the room, where a door led into the great hall.

Adrian did not immediately answer, just stared at me a moment longer, somehow looking both fierce and mournful. He wanted to talk about last night, but I was more eager to talk about vampires like Lady Bella and Lady Mila. More importantly, who would he choose as his next vassal?

Another knock, and I pushed against his chest.

“We are being summoned,” I said.

He grabbed my wrist and pressed my fingers to his lips.

“I meant it, Isolde. I would have you make your own judgments today.”

I believed him.

He held on to my hand and fitted it into the crook of his elbow as we entered the great hall. There were people gathered, many with variations of Adrian’s gold collar. Noblesse, I guessed when I spotted Gesalac in the crowd fitted with silver and emerald. His gaze was dark and made me feel dread. Still, I thought it said something about his loyalty to Adrian—and this court—that he presented despite his son’s death.

Though perhaps it said more about how feared Adrian truly was.

“Who is Noblesse Anatoly?” I asked.

Adrian looked down at me and then nodded toward the far wall.

“He is the dour-looking one,” he said.

He did not need to give me any more of a description than that. Noblesse Anatoly stood aside, dressed in black and silver, an almost sleepy expression on his face due to large, round, half-lidded eyes.

“You will have to tell me later of your relationship with his daughter, Lady Bella,” I said.

Adrian raised a brow. “I will tell you now. There is no relationship.”

“Really? She seems to know a lot about your sexual exploits,” I said. “And your bloodlust.”

Adrian held my hand aloft as I made the short walk up the precipice where two identical thrones now sat. He paused before them and touched my chin, a gentle movement that made my face flush.

“You will find within these walls many profess to know me,” he said. “You must trust what you have come to know.”

“You are asking me to trust you,” I said.

Adrian guided me back, a subtle invitation to sit, our private conversation finished. He released my hand and turned.

“Open the doors,” he said and settled himself on his throne.

Adrian’s court was already crowded against the walls of the great hall, leaving the center of the floor free for petitioners. I was not certain what to expect, but the line seemed to go on forever, from the opening of the hall out the front doors of the castle.

The first villager shuffled forward.

“Your Majesties,” she said, bowing. “My name is Andrada. I am from the village of Sosara. Our crops were destroyed by a creature we have yet to catch. Our animals have followed. We are in the middle of winter and do not have enough food to sustain our village until summer. We humbly ask for more protection and food. We are dying.”

I looked to Adrian, whose posture reminded me of someone who was bored, and yet his expression was serious. There were any number of creatures that could kill cattle and destroy crops, the rusalka, koldum, and leyah just to name a few.

“You have traveled far, Andrada,” Adrian said. “Tell me, have you brought this matter to your noblesse?”

So the noblesse of Revekka were like the lords of Lara—they represented various territories and were supposed to provide a buffer between the people and their king.

She swallowed. “I have, Your Majesty. Our pleas have gone…unanswered. Though I am sure Noblesse Ciro is very busy.”

“Is that what you would claim, Noblesse Ciro? That you are too busy to attend to your people?” Adrian asked, his attention shifting to a man with short blond hair and brows who stood just at the edge of the crowd. He wore rich robes, far more extravagant even than Adrian’s. His collar was silver with purple gems.