As he stood in front of Kian's office, Roni took a deep breath, trying to summon his courage to knock on the glass panel.

The guy was terrifying even though Roni was well aware that his fear was irrational. After all, what was the worst that could happen? Kian kicking him out for showing up without an appointment?

He lifted his hand to knock when Kian's gruff voice stopped him a moment before his knuckles made contact with the glass.

"Don't just stand there. Come in."

Fuck. He'd forgotten about the immortal's super hearing. Even after all this time in the keep, he was still thinking in human terms. Kian had probably heard him the moment he stepped out of the elevator. He might have even heard Roni breathing through the closed doors.

Or smelled him.

Sylvia had told him that fear emitted a particularly strong scent, spurring on aggression in immortals. As advanced as their species was, at their core they were predators.

The top of the top of the food chain.

The only reason they didn't rule the earth, other than from behind the scenes, was their only biological weakness—extremely low fertility.

Evidently God, or the Fates, or some other higher power had decided to even the odds by limiting the immortals' proliferation.

Roni had no doubt that humanity would have been long gone or enslaved if that wasn't the case.

"How can I help you?" Kian said as Roni pushed the door open.

Knowing how precious the guy's time was, Roni didn't bother with a polite preamble. "I want to go for another round."

"Are you up to twenty-five pushups?"

Roni shook his head. "Eight." He'd been tempted to say ten, but then reconsidered. What if Kian could smell lies? Besides, two more would not have made a difference.

Kian leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "That would do if Bridget approves."

"She would rather I waited a little longer and got a bit stronger, but she says it's safe for me to try again."

"What's the hurry?"

Roni sighed and sat down in the chair facing Kian's desk. "Other than my anxiety over whether I am a Dormant or not?"

In response, Kian lifted a brow.

"I'm meeting Sylvia's mother today. It took me a while to convince her to arrange the meeting. She kept saying that her mother is clingy and wouldn't approve of any boyfriend because she didn't want to lose Sylvia, but I know it's because I'm still human. I want Sylvia to move in with me, but I can't press the issue until I transition."

Kian uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. "I feel for you. When you love a woman, you don't want to be without her for a single moment. Unfortunately, we all have obligations and can't survive on love alone."

Roni chuckled. "Thanks, Adam and Eve. If they didn't get kicked out of the Garden of Eden, we could've still been frolicking like the Bonobo chimps."

"The real story of the Garden of Eden is a little different."

"Duh, I know it's a metaphor."

"Yes, but the meaning got distorted. The story of Adam and Eve is about the gods, or rather a single sympathetic god, giving humans the ability to procreate."

Kian seemed in a good mood today and was more talkative than usual. But that didn't mean he would appreciate questions that would prolong Roni's visit. On the other hand, not asking for more of the story could be interpreted as lack of interest and viewed as an insult.

"I would love to hear the entire story some day when you have the time of course."

Kian frowned and Roni braced for his wrath. Fuck, how he wished he was a better diplomat.

"There are many stories like that. I wish my mother told them to someone who would then write them down. It would make a great read."

"That's a great idea."

Thankfully, the frown hadn't been directed at him. Whatever strength Roni had regained after his illness had left him as soon as the adrenaline rush receded.

As Kian regarded him in silence for far longer than was comfortable, Roni squirmed in his chair.

"As I promised you. I'm going to induce your transition myself."

Thank God. Roni hadn't been sure Kian could be swayed to proceed with the induction before he was able to do the damn twenty-five push-ups. "Thank you. I'm honored."

On the one hand, Roni was relieved that Kian was still offering, but on the other hand, he was scared shitless. Perhaps it was good, though. In his current physical state, Roni couldn't even pretend to fight the guy, but maybe the scent of his fear would do the trick. Maybe it would be enough to spur the immortal's aggression.

Kian waved a dismissive hand. "I hate the uncertainty almost as much as you do. You either turn after my bite or you don't, but at least we will have a definite answer."

"Thank you. When should I expect it?" With how busy Kian was, he might need to wait a long time for the guy to become available.

Maybe he should double his efforts with the fucking pushups. Because if the scent of his fear did nothing for Kian, Roni would have to put up a fight. At least for a few seconds.

Fuck. Even if he managed the pushups, there was no way he could provide Kian with any form of resistance, and if he didn't, Kian's venom glands would not produce venom.

"I'll let you know. I'll try to clear some time later this week. If we skip the ceremony, which there is no reason to repeat, it will only take a few minutes."

Roni groaned. Getting in shape was not going to happen. "I hope I can get you riled up with my big mouth." He lifted his skinny arm and flexed, showing his nonexistent muscles. "These are not going to spur your aggression. And pity is not going to activate your venom glands."

Kian tilted his head. "Did you ever hear of slam poetry?"

"I heard of it. I never listened to it."

"Which makes me like you even more."

Roni still found it hard to believe that the guy liked him at all.

"But I digress. I detest it."

"You want me to recite slam poetry to get you angry?"

Kian nodded. "Find the vilest and most offensive. Something like gangster rap but without the beat. It just might do the trick." By the way his eyes shone from just talking about it, Kian hadn't been kidding about his reaction to the stuff.

"I can do that." Maybe he could even come up with something on his own. After all, Roni was an expert on offensive, all he would have to add was the vile.