173

173


I stood before Hadrian, just outside his chamber. Barefoot, clad only in a silk nightgown that clung to one shoulder, I met his gaze as he studied me from head to toe. His fingers closed around mine, a silent invitation to step inside, yet he hesitated just before crossing the threshold.

"I need to close the curtains," he murmured.

A slow smirk curled my lips. "No need," I countered, boldly pushing the door open myself.

His expression flickered with surprise—the same kind I'd seen on Caspian. He remained motionless, watching as I strode into his sunlit room, my steps confident, unhurried. The golden light poured over me as I reached the window, turning back to face him. A quiet chuckle left his lips before he shut the door behind him and moved toward me, his amusement deepening into a wide smile. I could feel the shift in him—the tension uncoiling from his muscles, the relief settling in his stance. He had given me a new life, and now he saw, with his own eyes, that I wouldn’t spend it hiding in the dark.

"You’ve given me an incredible gift," I said, reaching out to him.

"I would have given you anything." He took my hand, pressing a lingering kiss to my palm.

I met his gaze with a teasing grin. "Then can I have you?"

He pulled me closer, his smirk dark and knowing. "You already do, my Queen."

The endearment wiped the smile from my face. "But I’m not a queen. I’m not even your legal wife," I pointed out.

His smirk only widened. "Let’s just say my marriage to Selene was annulled."

I narrowed my eyes at him. He kissed my hand again before guiding me to sit beside him on the bed.

"Selene was never pregnant," he confessed, his voice edged with quiet amusement. "She faked it, promising to give birth to a perfect pure blood, knowing the board of nobles would grant her lifelong protection because of it. She counted on fooling them until I returned… but I wasn’t supposed to return, was I?" His thumb traced lazy circles against my skin. "She needed me dead on the battlefield, so she could continue the charade until she secured full control of the kingdom. But we defeated the army of degenerates, and with that, her plan unraveled. The day we won, she fled the palace—exactly the proof I needed to accuse her of treason. And with that, our marriage ceased to exist."

A wry smile tugged at my lips. Selene was still out there somewhere, no doubt scheming her revenge. Hadrian had to know it too, yet he allowed himself this moment of victory before preparing for the next war. I inched closer, pressing against him.

"You need to explain how this works… I’ve never been a vampire before, you know?" I muttered, looping my arms around his waist.

His chest rumbled with laughter. "I could tell you how it’s supposed to be for a commoner, but I doubt it applies to you."

"Because the sun doesn’t bother me?" I tilted my head back, meeting his gaze.

His smirk sharpened. "Because you’re not running around in a bloodthirsty frenzy, trying to drain everyone dry."

A shiver ran down my spine. "Did you and Caspian expect me to?" I asked, my voice light but laced with unease.

Hadrian nodded. "Quite a bit."

"Well, it’s a good thing there aren’t any humans around to test that theory." I forced out an awkward laugh.

"Vampires don’t necessarily need human blood," he mused. "We prefer it because it’s richer, more nourishing. But we can survive on the blood of our own kind… it just rarely satisfies the hunger."

A strange discomfort settled in my chest. "So… if I were a commoner, I’d be a mindless, ravenous thing, sinking my fangs into anything that moved?" The words tasted foreign, wrong, even as I spoke them.

Hadrian’s gaze locked onto mine. "Every newborn commoner loses their mind the moment they awaken. They’re starving." His voice was calm, but there was something weighted in the way he studied me.

My muscles tensed. I wasn’t starving. I wasn’t desperate for blood. And that realization unsettled me far more than hunger ever could.

I shifted in my seat, adjusting as if it had suddenly become uncomfortable beneath me. “Then… there must be something wrong with me,” I murmured, lowering my head.

Hadrian reached out, tilting my chin upward until my gaze met his. His expression was firm yet tender. “There is nothing wrong with you,” he said with quiet conviction. “You are perfect… In every possible way, you are more noble than you realize.”

I knew he was trying to reassure me, to soothe the unease curling in my chest, but his words didn’t dissolve my restlessness. “I don’t even have fangs…”

He burst into laughter, the deep, rich sound filling the space between us.

“What?” I frowned, feeling more self-conscious than ever.

His fingers brushed over my cheek in a slow, deliberate stroke. “Let’s just say… your fangs react to your mood. They emerge when you’re ready to feed,” he explained with a smirk, his voice laced with amusement.

It was a cleverly veiled response, but it didn’t erase my discomfort. Still, I supposed I should be grateful that I hadn’t transformed into a ravenous, bloodthirsty monster overnight. I let out a slow, heavy sigh, trying to piece together everything Hadrian had just told me.

Then, without warning, he rose to his feet and strode toward a safe. I watched as he keyed in a code, the mechanism clicking open. A moment later, he returned, carrying a glass filled with a thick, deep red liquid.

“Drink,” he commanded, offering it to me.

I hesitated, taking the glass with uncertain fingers. Blood had always carried a metallic scent to me—sharp, iron-like, and nothing more. But now… now I could detect something sweet beneath it, something delicate and almost floral. A strange knowing settled in my mind: this was the blood of a young woman, likely in her early twenties.

How the hell did I know that? And, more importantly, why did Hadrian have a young woman’s blood stored in his safe?

I shot him a look filled with silent questions. He snorted, clearly amused.

“Don’t overthink it. It’s from the blood bank. A+. Just try it,” he said with a casual shrug, nudging me to take a sip.

I hesitated only a second longer before bringing the glass to my lips. The thick liquid flowed over my tongue and down my throat. Strangely, the taste didn’t repulse me. It felt… familiar, as if my body had known this sensation for years.

Almost instantly, a surge of energy flooded through me, igniting every cell in my body. The sensation was intoxicating.

“Wow…” I breathed, staring at the half-empty glass in my hands.

Hadrian smirked, clearly entertained by my reaction. Without hesitation, he took the glass from me and downed the rest in a single gulp.

Something about the way he did it—the slow tilt of his head, the flex of his throat—was undeniably captivating. It sent a vivid memory flashing through my mind: the moment he had first sunk his teeth into my flesh. A pulse of heat curled deep within me. Just the thought of it made my breath hitch.

But then another realization struck, icy and unsettling. My blood must taste different now. Would it still affect him the same way?

The anxiety returned, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. What would this change mean for us?

“Are you hungry?” Hadrian’s voice pulled me back to the present.

“What?” I blinked, my thoughts still tangled. But before I could say anything else, my stomach growled. Loudly.

Hadrian laughed. “My extraordinary Thalassa… you are nothing like a commoner. You were born to be a royal.” He lifted my hand, his lips brushing against the delicate skin of my wrist, right over the faint blue veins.

A sharp jolt of pleasure shot through me. I gasped, thighs pressing together at the sudden, unexpected wave of heat curling through me.

Startled by my own reaction, I yanked my hand back. His teasing made me want to throw myself at him, to lose myself in him for hours—but the lingering uncertainty kept me tethered.

I exhaled sharply, clearing my throat. “Don’t commoners get hungry?” I asked, grasping at anything to steady my spiraling thoughts.

“They only care for blood. Their stomachs certainly don’t make lovely sounds like yours,” Hadrian chuckled. “Nobles, however, are different. We need blood to sustain our strength, but we still eat. At least one proper meal a day.”

His gaze swept over me, calculating. Then he added, “Caspian will be thrilled when he hears you’re nothing like a commoner. He said you’d become an extraordinary vampire.”

I smiled shyly. There was a strange thrill in unraveling this new version of myself—excitement and fear woven tightly together. Perhaps things would be easier if I were a typical commoner, if my existence followed rules carved in stone centuries ago.

“Go to your room and get dressed,” Hadrian said, his grin disarming. “It’s a beautiful day. I’ll arrange dinner for us on the patio.”

His words settled some of my nerves. I nodded and made my way to the chamber’s closet. Unsurprisingly, the wardrobe was filled with choices I knew weren’t mine. Penrose, no doubt, had selected every piece. But this time, I didn’t mind. The sultry elegance of the outfits felt… empowering.

Minutes later, I descended the grand staircase, each step measured, each movement deliberate. My nude Louboutins clicked softly against the polished floors, perfectly complementing the white corset dress hugging my frame. The delicate lace details added an edge of seduction, balanced by the flared skirt that swayed as I walked.

I let my hair cascade down my bare shoulders, its soft waves brushing against my skin. A touch of gloss on my lips was all I needed. The confidence that settled over me was exhilarating.

As I reached the patio, I paused, my breath catching.

The space opened into a private rose garden, vibrant and breathtaking in the late afternoon light. I had never been allowed in this part of the palace before, and now, seeing it in full bloom, I couldn’t help but admire it.

“Do you like it, my Queen?” Hadrian’s voice came from behind me, deep and full of warmth. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his embrace.

“I love it,” I murmured, turning to meet his gaze with a smile.

His answering smile was slow, knowing. He led me to a table set within a small bower at the heart of the patio. I could feel his eyes tracing every inch of me with each step I took, the intensity of his gaze sending heat curling through my veins.

I swallowed hard. I wanted him—desperately. The hunger clawing at me was more than just for food.

I sat down, trying to focus on the meal in front of me, but it was impossible. Hadrian’s unwavering stare, the way his presence seemed to consume the space between us, made it unbearable. My grip on the utensils tightened, my knuckles turning white. I shifted in my seat, restless, every nerve in my body coiled with anticipation.

Hadrian stood, pouring wine into my glass. He leaned in as he did it, his scent enveloping me. I was going mad.

I downed the wine in one gulp.

He chuckled, but when his eyes met mine again, his pupils flared red, burning with something raw and unrestrained.

“Are you hungry for me, my love?” he murmured, his voice a velvet caress against my skin.

My breath hitched. “W-what?” I laughed, a little too high-pitched.

His smirk deepened as he slowly dragged his tongue over his lower lip. “I ask because… your eyes are burning.” He paused, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “And your fangs are out.”

My stomach plummeted.

“Oh, God.” My hand flew to my lips in a desperate attempt to hide them.