Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian X Isolde, #2)(80)

“I realized what had happened, and Sorin came with me to my chamber. He fought beside me, even after I shifted into my aufhocker form.”

At the mention of my change, Adrian’s arms tightened around me.

“He saved me from one of the vârcolaci…and then…he stabbed me, and even after, he did not leave.”

I was so confused, so tired of crying over everything that had happened to my people and to me. I hated that my mouth quivered now.

“He held me and tried to tell me it was for the greater good.”

I hated those words.

You would be renowned, not just in Lara but all of Cordova, my father had said as he tried to convince me to die for something he’d called the greater good, which only meant a world where Adrian and I did not exist.

And apparently, Sorin believed the same.

Which hurt because I’d spent time with him as he’d recounted his trauma. I’d held him on the floor of the training room and mourned that his life had changed just as suddenly as mine. Maybe the most horrifying part of it all was that no one seemed to want me to die as much as they wanted Adrian to die—but I was the easiest target.

Well, no longer.

“What is the greater good?” Adrian asked.

“A world without you,” I said, quiet and sad.

I gripped the side of the metal tub and turned around to face Adrian. He drew me close, my knees on either side of his waist.

“What is it that you want?”

“You,” he said, trailing his wet fingers over my lips.

“Adrian,” I whispered. “You know what I am asking.”

“And I am answering,” he said. “My goal has never changed. I will rule Cordova with you at my side.”

“That is the destination. How are you getting there?”

He stared at me for a long moment and then answered, “You.”

I jerked my head back, surprised by his answer.

“Me?”

“I cannot be…free…without you,” he said. “Without your magic.”

I stared, swallowing hard. I was conflicted. I wanted Adrian to be free of Dis, but I had never realized that he saw me as the key to that freedom.

“What do you mean?”

“Vampires cannot fight magic. You have said so yourself,” Adrian explained. Then he whispered, as if he did not wish for anyone to hear, “But more importantly, witches are Dis’s creations; you draw from her magic. Does it not seem plausible, then, that you could harness it against her?”

With my skills, it was not plausible, but his admission hurt me. It made me feel like there was truth to what Ravena had said—that I did not truly know Adrian, that he had brought me along because I had use—and I hated that she would be right at all.

“What if I had not had magic?”

He said nothing, but I knew.

“Ana,” I whispered, and there was something about this that felt like deception. “Is this how I become useful?”

Adrian clenched his jaw, and his hands tightened around me, as if he feared I would run. I was still considering it. “I never said that.”

“Is it not implied?”

“Do you think I would cast you aside if you could not do it?” he asked, angry.

I didn’t, but it still hurt that he had not spoken of this before.

“Do you truly believe I want you for no other reason?”

“Why did you not tell me you needed my magic before now?” I asked. We had been so honest with each other about everything, why was this any different?

“Because you showed no signs of having magic, and why would I place the burden of my curse upon you?”

I bit my lip hard and looked away from him, frustrated with myself and with this situation.

“Ravena said I wrote The Book of Dis to destroy you,” I said. The words were like blades scraping my throat, and yet Adrian did not seem at all surprised.

I felt his fingers against my jaw, forcing my gaze to his.

“I have no doubt that you did,” he said.

“Adrian—”

I did not know what to say.

“If you do destroy me, it will be because of Dis,” he said. “You’ll remember that, won’t you?”

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying I am no longer the favorite of the goddess’s creations.”

I started to speak, to ask for more, but there was a knock at the door, and Adrian permitted them entrance. I had expected Vesna and Safira, so I was mortified when Tanaka entered our room. I drew close to Adrian to maintain an ounce of modesty—an action Adrian apparently found humorous because he chuckled.

I could not tell if Tanaka was nervous or embarrassed or if he had merely overexerted himself in an attempt to reach our quarters. Either way, he was red in the face, and he paused to clear his throat.

“Your Majesties,” Tanaka said, bowing. “Gavriel has arrived from Lara. He brings urgent news.”

Despite my efforts to hide my nakedness, I pulled away from Adrian, straightening.

“What news?”

“I am afraid your country is under attack,” he said.

“By whom?” I demanded.

“Alaric of Hela,” said Gavriel, who entered behind Tanaka. He was clad in armor and dirty; even his hair, usually blond, looked almost brown. I was surprised by his sudden appearance in our room and crossed my arms over my chest. “They invaded in the night. I suppose they took your father’s long absence as an invitation. Though that is not the worst of it.”