Page 14

“Imeant,” Daroc managed, clinging to his control, “that you should consider turning her as soon as possible.”

“As if I have not considered it,” I snapped.

As if I had not fantasized about it every time I took her blood. It would take only a deeper bite and a taste of my blood. She could feed from me once the ritual was complete. A dizzying wave of lust fired from the bottom of my stomach to my head.

My cock grew uncomfortably hard.

I wanted her bite. I wanted to feel her teeth sink into my skin. It would be just as intoxicating as being inside her.

I felt the groan gathering in the back of my throat.

“Fuck,” I grumbled.

This was not the time for fantasies.

“Whatever is holding you back is irrelevant,” Daroc said. “You should have turned her the moment you took her blood. You knew the consequences.”

While he condescended, I knew my worth to Dis.

I was her power on earth.

I was how she conquered.

If Isolde died, I died, and Dis lost everything.

“Remember your place, General.”

“Shall I remind you of yours? You are a king. A conqueror. Not a star-crossed lover.”

I drew my blade, and the point came within a hair of Daroc’s neck. He didn’t flinch, did not move to take up his own weapon. He only glared back at me.

There was a long stretch of silence.

“My decisions regarding my queen are of no concern to you.”

I expected him to reply, to inform me that my link to Isolde made her everyone’s concern, but he maintained a stern expression. Before he could speak, two shadows passed overhead—a falcon and a black bat.

Sorin and Dracul had returned.

Of my noblesse, only those two could shape-shift, and they commanded among the ranks of my army several others who had the same ability.

“Is everything all right?” Sorin asked.

Neither of us moved, and our eyes did not leave the other’s. I waited for Daroc to surrender to my command, knowing that he too raged inside. We were not so different, he and I, but where he would exercise control, I unleashed violence.

It was the reason I conquered and he followed.

Finally, he nodded, narrowly missing my blade.

I left the end pointed at his throat a second longer before sheathing the weapon and turning my attention to Sorin and Dracul.

“You have news?” I asked.

Sorin’s eyes were locked with Daroc’s but soon shifted to mine, and while there was tension there, I could not tell what the tracker was thinking.

“We have tracked Julian east, beyond the borders of Revekka,” Dracul said when Sorin did not speak.

I ground my teeth at the knowledge, despite expecting this. Vela lay east, and King Gheroghe had recently petitioned me, hoping to become immortal in exchange for his surrender. In doing so, the human king had offered the perfect refuge to the traitor noblesse. He was also stupid enough to accept if Julian suggested turning him—stupid not only because I would kill him when I found him, but also because he trusted Julian, a vampire who wanted power and would use Gheroghe’s kingdom to rise against me.