King of Battle and Blood (Adrian X Isolde #1)(63)

“Of course not, Your Majesty,” Noblesse Ciro said, casting a hardened glance at Andrada. “This is the first time I have heard of Sosara’s plight.”

“Then perhaps you should spend more time among your people,” Adrian said.

“I will take care of it,” Ciro replied, and my pulse thrummed heavily.

“Of course,” Adrian said. “Ciro will escort you back to your village. I will send members of the royal guard with food as well, and they will stay until the monster destroying your crops and slaughtering your cattle has been killed. Does that satisfy your request?”

“M-more than,” Andrada stuttered, her eyes darting to Ciro.

She feared him. I started to protest the noblesse’s return to Sosara when Adrian spoke.

“Do not fear Noblesse Ciro,” Adrian told her. “He has already failed in his duty to protect you and your people. Once more, and he will be executed.”

It was a clear promise and threat that made Ciro paler, but I was glad to see consequences for absent nobles. There was nothing more infuriating than a man or woman who did not care for their people, as I had been reminded during my father’s negotiations with Adrian.

“May good health and abundance bless your marriage, Your Majesties,” Andrada said, bowing low. As she moved to leave the great hall, she was joined by three of Adrian’s soldiers, who flanked her as if to create a barrier between her and Noblesse Ciro, who lingered farther back, following slowly.

There were a few other requests just like that, though they came from attentive noblesse. In one horrible instance, a lamia had managed its way into a home and stolen away a child. It was never found, but a trail of blood had led back to the water. Another story came from the west where men were being lured by an iara who would hypnotize them and drain them of both blood and semen.

I was surprised by the number of monsters that dared to ravish Revekka, given that vampires ruled, but hearing these complaints and concerns made me realize they were no different than the Nine Houses. Perhaps the only superior thing they had was an army of vampires to fight.

I watched the next villager approach. He was an older man who had a graying beard and short hair he kept hidden under a cap. His clothes were mostly rags, though the woman who lingered behind him, blond and beautiful, wore a far nicer gown, and I guessed they’d spent their last bit of coin on it to be here.

“Your Majesty,” the man said, addressing only Adrian as he made a sweeping exaggerated bow. “I am Cain, a farmer from Jovea. My wife and I have three daughters, but Vesna, she is the most beautiful. Do you not agree?”

I instantly felt disgust, both for this man’s ability to single out the beauty of one of three daughters and because of his probing question to my husband. I looked to Adrian, whose mouth hardened.

“My village relies upon me to sow crops and harvest every year, but I am growing older and in poorer health. As the years pass, it will become more difficult to provide. So I ask you—please, make me an immortal. In exchange, I offer my daughter as a concubine to serve you.”

The shock of his statement reverberated through me, stiffening my spine. I saw Adrian glance at me from my peripheral, and I wondered what my astonishment had looked like to the people crowded in the great hall. Cain did not seem to notice me at all, his gaze lingering upon Adrian. I suspected that was because he was the target of his request—I could not turn this man into a vampire.

My gaze shifted to the young girl, whose head was bowed. Her hair fell straight, and she let it curtain her youthful face. She had yet to raise her eyes to anyone, and I noted how her shoulders hunched as if she wanted to crawl into herself. She did not wish to be here.

“You say you are a farmer and a cornerstone of your village,” Adrian began. “Yet I have heard differently. I have heard that you hold crops hostage in exchange for coin or favors. It does not sound like you are all that necessary to me.”

The man’s eyes widened, and I had to admit, I was impressed by Adrian’s own knowledge of his kingdom.

“Your Majesty,” Cain said and laughed awkwardly. “Why would you listen to these lies?”

“Are you calling your noblesse a liar?” Adrian asked.

“I am merely saying that Noblesse Dracul has been misled.”

Even as they spoke, I could not keep my eyes off the woman lingering in this man’s shadow. Her fingers were turning white and all I could think was that I had to free her from this.

I rose to my feet, and whatever the man had been saying ended abruptly as his eyes found mine. I repressed the urge to scowl, maintaining my placid expression. There was a hunger in his gaze, and I did not know if it was for power or my flesh.

“Cain, is it?” I asked.

“Y-yes,” the man said, and then he bowed, as if seeing me for the first time. “Your Majesty.”

I shifted my gaze to Vesna. “Your daughter, how old is she?”

“She is sixteen, my queen.”

“Sixteen,” I repeated and descended the steps, stopping a few feet in front of them. “Come.”

The girl glanced at her father, and he waved her forward hurriedly. She made a wide arc around him, as if she feared he would reach for her. As she approached, she curtsied but would not meet my gaze. I guided her eyes to mine.

“Vesna, what are your skills?”

“I can cook, clean, sew,” she said, and her voice was soft, almost musical.