After their meal in one of the grandest dining rooms that Lina had ever seen, Atlantis excused himself after George called him. Lina overheard that there was trouble with Medeor Conglomerate. When she turned on the news, she saw it was slandering his company with allegations of close ties to the mafia.

  Lina believed it. She still couldn't get the images of the bloodied men on the floor, some were dead, others on the brink of it. She wondered what led Atlantis down such a dark path. The images of the hospital hallway flooded her senses. Unable to sit in the room and relax, Lina found herself wandering down the stairs. Soon, she stopped by a garden.

  Lina admired the beautiful flowers. She loved the peonies and orchids the most, for they were lovely and colorful. The flowers smiled up at the bright sun, with dew still glistening off their leaves from the sprinkler earlier. Lina felt the warm light on her skin and let out a sigh of relief.

  "What is a stranger doing in my wife's garden?"

  At the voice, Lina spun around. Her heart came to a stop. Red eyes. They were brighter than anything she had ever witnessed. This man was a Pure-Blood through and through. He wasn't turned. He was born that way. When he revealed an eerie smile, chills traveled down her spine.

  "Admiring it," Lina finally said. "Your Majesty."

  The King tilted his head. He blinked and observed her carefully. She felt unnerved.

  Despite how terrifying the King appeared, with bloody eyes and pale skin, Lina found him attractive. Scratch that, he was beyond handsome. His features were regal, but his eyes revealed roughness. His presence was mischievous, his eyes twinkling with amusement like he knew a joke she didn't.

  "I know you," Lina said.

  "I wouldn't be surprised. I'm quite famous." His voice was filled with arrogance. Rightfully so, he was a modern King in a flourishing country.

  Lina had seen him on TV before. His wedding was something she watched with wide-eyyes of awe. Holding back a small complaint, she dipped in a small curtsy.

  "Your Majesty," Lina mumbled.

  Lina was smart enough to know where she was residing. The royal portraits above the grand staircase gave it away. Above all, so did the lavish and expensive paintings, vases, small decorations, and windows rimmed with gold.

  "Walk with me," the King coldly said.

  Lina had no choice, but to oblige. With his hands tucked behind his back, he was two steps ahead of her. She trailed behind him helplessly, admiring the muscles of his curve. She thought a King would be dressed fancier than this. He sported a white button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing the muscles on his forearm. When he moved, it was with grace.

  "Lina, was it?" he remarked.

  "Yes."

  "I hear you're the Immortal's weakness," the King stated.

  Lina paused.

  "Continue walking."

  Lina reluctantly did so. She heard Pure-Blood's five senses were heightened. They could hear heartbeats without a scope and see beyond the abilities of a human eye. The tension between them felt stifling. She wished she had remained in the guest room instead.

  "And I also heard you have amnesia."

  "How did you—"

  "Are you married to my henchman?" the King mused.

  "Your Majesty, I—"

  "Elias."

  The two spun around at the tender voice. Lina's breath was caught in her throat. If the King was handsome, then his wife must've been Miss Wraith. The Queen was easily one of the most beautiful women Lina had ever laid eyes on.

  "Adeline, what are you doing here? Where's the children?" Elias immediately asked, dropping the arrogance from his voice.

  Adeline. What a pretty name.

  "I'm finally giving the children some time with you," Elias mused, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close. "They've been complaining of my greediness in hogging your time. Now, I can blame it on you enjoying my presence more than theirs."

  "The children are with Hazel, Layla, and Wesley," Adeline responded, her lips twitching. "For the record, I like spending time with our child more than you."

  "Hm, I was certain last night, you—"

  "Shut it."

  Lina felt like she was intruding. She awkwardly tried to slip away, but the King's cold voice stopped her.

  "Your amnesia, who gave it to you?"

  Lina slowly turned around. She saw his frigid gaze and became nervous around him. Fiddling her thumbs, she shook her head.

  "I don't think I have amnesia."

  Elias narrowed his eyes. His stare was menacing. He hated liars. Taking a threatening step her way, his wife quickly grabbed him.

  "What year do you think it is?" Elias spat out.

  "Well, I'm sixteen, so—"

  Elias' harsh laughter filled the air. Lina flinched at the sound. Adeline deeply frowned.

  "Don't toy with the human girl, she's a guest," Adeline chided her husband, offering Lina an apologetic smile.

  "I've seen your report. Every record in existence says you're twenty-one. So, yes, you do have amnesia. In fact, weren't you on the news for participating in some Heir Race?"

  Heir Race?

  Lina slowly blinked. Her grandfather always wanted her to join it, but she was reluctant. She had never given consent to join it. Why would the information be broadcast on live television?

  "Your little friend mentioned you have suffered worse than abuse and claims it has caused your amnesia, but I'm beginning to think it wasn't anything major," Elias murmured.

  "Why would it matter to you, Your Majesty?" Lina questioned, casting him a frown. She suddenly wanted to go home. Once she got her hands on a phone, she would call her grandfather. He'd send fighter jets just to escort her back to Ritan. She knew he would. Afterall, he still loved her. Right?

  "If someone gave you amnesia without blunt force or psychological trauma, wouldn't you like to know who possesses such an ability?" Elias countered.

  Lina's brows shot up. Kaden.

  Lina was once told she was an open book.

  "Ah, so you do know," Elias murmured. "Interesting."

  Elias realized the path to immortality would be much more difficult than he initially thought. He hypothesized the idea of blood compatibility to acquire immortality. Elias was initially going to drain the immortal's blood and consume it, or inject it into Adeline, so that she may live forever. Even though his wife was strictly against the idea, he was willing to talk her into it.

  "Tell me, is the man who gave you amnesia your previous lover?" Elias pressed.

  "I don't—"

  "Is that why Atlantis appears so anxious by the window?"

  At the mention of Atlantis, Lina spun around. She raised her head and saw Atlantis' face briefly flashing near the window. Then, he was gone. He had been caught watching them.

  "Your previous lover is an Immortal. Do you know that, little human girl?" Elias teased, enjoying the confusion on her face. He supposed it was a nice punishment for Atlantis, to torment his lover under the broad daylight.

  Elias had grown impatient when Atlantis stopped answering his phone calls. Then, he received a rude awakening from a news reporter who talked about the possibility that Kaden DeHaven was an Immortal.

  The topic of Immortals always fascinated people, but none thought too deeply into it. Elias then concluded Atlantis was the one who leaked the news to the public. Whether it was from vengeance or a personal vendetta, Elias still had to punish Atlantis.

  "You're infamous for being a who—"

  "Elias," Adeline sharply said. "You're upsetting our guest."

  Elias smirked in amusement. Lina Yang was nothing like he expected. He heard the Yang Clan was a lethal family. This girl was meek and demure. There was nothing impressive about her. Then, he saw it. Her eyes flared with hatred, like the glow of a beast.

  "Greed is an ugly color on you," Lina bit out.

  Elias narrowed his eyes.

  "You're already a Pure-Blood, yet you're attempting to reach Immortality. I'd hate to have a husband as overbearing as you," Lina snarled, casting a glance at the Queen.

  "You should be ashamed of yourself," Lina softly said.

  Without another word, Lina stalked off, feeling sympathetic towards the Queen, who was once a human. Lina remembered hearing the news of a human Queen being turned into a Pure-Blood. She never probed into the issue, but figured there must be complications if the King was so interested in immortality.

  A Pure-Blood was able to live long enough as it was. Why seek the impossible? Why desire such a lonely death? Being an Immortal was not a blessing— it was a curse. Watching everyone you love die around you, outliving even your children, who would want such a thing?

  "I never wanted immortality."

  Lina stopped. She turned at the voice of the Queen, who offered her a small smile.

  Immortal. Kaden was immortal. The thought made her heart drop with fear.

  "But it is you who should be worried, for love between a human and an immortal is more devastating than it is beautiful."