Bloodbound to the Beastly King

"What?"

The guard falls to the ground, trembling. "F-forgive me, my king!" He wailed.

"What do you mean the guard committed suicide?" Thorne snarled angrily. He was seriously losing his patience now. Somehow every lead was leading to a dead end. How?

Caelum stepped forward, "They say it was during Elara's time as regent, my king."

Thorne's eyes narrowed at this. "You're telling me Elara covered this up?" He asked.

Caelum sighed, looking away. "My king…" he gestured at the guard still bowing and shaking in his boots.

Thorne waved a dismissive hand at him, and Caelum kicked the guard lightly, motioning for him to leave.

"T-thank you, my king," the guard stammered before rushing out of the office. Once the intruder was gone, Thorne exhaled, running his fingers through his hair.

"Elara was also the same person who asked that news of Radek from that night not be reported to you. She said she'd handle it."

Thorne clenched his jaw hard. That was true. Elara was the one factor in this. She covered up Radek that night, and now… news of the guard dying wasn't reported because of her.

"Look into Elara. All that she did until the moment she died. Who she spoke to, who she was close to outside of the palace. Where she frequently visited. The nobles or councilmen she was closer to. I want to know everything."

Caelum straightened up and nodded. "As you order, your majesty."

"And Lord Carter…" Thorne interrupted.

The gamma and beta both shared a look. "What about the Lord, my king?"

Thorne shook his head. Something was wrong; he just couldn't place a finger on it. "Don't you find it weird? I took his title away from him, humiliated him, and somehow… he has taken everything so calmly."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Mason asked, brows raised. "I'm sure the Lord knows now that his majesty isn't to be played with."

Caelum looked at Thorne for some seconds. "Are you thinking that Lord Carter and Elara might be…?"

"That's a reach. Up until Elara's death, she and Lord Carter fought like cat and dog. They hate each other, and even I was around to witness it," Mason replied.

"Yet… He proposed that she be regent. If he hated her so much, why would he have made her regent?" Caelum replied.

"Not just that… Who was Elara covering up at the dungeon that day? Radek! And who is Radek? Carter's son-in-law."

Thorne's brows quirked up at this… "So there is a connection between them." He paused, jaw tight. "It still doesn't explain the total silence from Carter or Radek right now. Nor does it explain this new development we have."

"No, it doesn't… but it's worth digging into. I think we can put the pieces together if we dig deeply," Caelum replied.

Thorne's fingers drummed against the window frame, his eyes wore that faraway look that meant he was thinking. After some minutes of silence, he turned to the beta and gamma.

"Fine. Do that. Look into Elara's relationship with Carter and Radek."

Caelum bowed again.

Thorne continued. "What we are certain of here is that this isn't the work of a wolf but rather a beast. Something we aren't familiar with. Our priority is the people of Obsidian, and thus… we must do everything within our powers to protect them." The two nodded in agreement.

"Pending the time we do this… we must not have another unfortunate incident like this of Man Timothy. We need to stay extra vigilant." He glanced at Mason. "Increase the patrols. I want them switched every three hours. Each station monitored by a senior guard, and no one is to be left unsupervised, not even for a moment."

Mason nodded firmly. "Consider it done, my king."

Thorne turned back to Caelum. "And I want records from the capital's archive. Pull every detail on Radek's time in the dungeons, the guards assigned to that floor during Elara's reign, and any official order she gave concerning him. I don't care how small it is. Even a whisper in passing, bring it to me."

"Yes, your majesty," Caelum gave a curt nod.

"And Elara's banishment. I want records of everything she did during those times. Those who visited her. Those she visited. Where she went. Who she met. What she ate, when she slept. I want to know everything."

Caelum's eyes narrowed slightly. "My king…"

"Everything!" Thorne emphasized, and the beta nodded. "As you order, my king." He turned to leave only to pause, a thought flashing in his mind.

"Forgive me for saying, but… Won't the people worry when they see that patrols have increased and the security in the kingdom has tightened?"

Thorne shook his head… he'd thought it through. "No… Not when they hear their king is settling on an official mating ceremony. It would be more than enough reason for a much tighter security."

"Official mating ceremony?"

Thorne nodded. It's been on his mind for the longest. While Adina's status had changed from being a slave the day he publicly announced her as his mate. He wanted her to officially be crowned queen and recognized as his mate throughout the realm. While it might not be the perfect moment to spring this up, especially with the death and missing people… it still granted him the opportunity he needed.

"My king, are you sure this is the time for your ceremony? With the realm in—"

"It might not be the perfect time for it, but it is the perfect start planning it." He interjected. "Summon all councilmen and nobles."

Caelum's eyes narrowed. "Your majesty…"

"Their king is getting mated. Summon them all. Especially, Carter."

__________

Adina sat still on the chair, her mind was hazy with different thoughts running through her mind. Her emotions were all over the place.

She blinked when she saw a white cup filled with steaming hot chocolate in front of her, she looked up to see Thessara holding it out for her.

"Drink up. You'll feel much better when you get some sugar."

Adina nodded, carefully taking the cup and took a sip. It was hot, yes, and sweet, yes.

Thessara smiled after seeing her drink it, she sat opposite her, head tilted slightly. "I know everything has been a lot to grasp, but you're intelligent, I'm sure you can understand."

Adina nodded, not saying a word. The silence between them stretched as the woman let her reel in her feelings.

"D-did you know?" Adina asked quietly.

"Know what?"

Adina looked up to the woman, "Right from when you met me, did you know… that I am a sage." She asked.

Thessara exhaled, dropping her cup. "I— I wasn't sure. You glowed differently, Adina. While your traits strongly suggested you weren't a normal wolf like the rest of us… it also showed you were of a different kind."

Adina's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Sages don't have birds as companions. Sure, they can channel their energy and move water, fire, name it. But Sages don't glow the way you did. It confused me."

"So I am not a sage?" Adina asked.

Thessara shook her head. "You are a sage. That, I am sure of… but you are also something else I'm not familiar with or sure of. The only one who can shed more light on what it is you are beyond a sage is… Virelya, your mother."

Adina inhaled sharply, eyes blurring with tears. How did her life go from being shipped as a slave to the scariest man in the realm to now being the daughter of the powerful sage.

Thessara shuffled closer, holding Adina's hand in hers. "I know this all sounds scary. It is scary, but I promise you, it's the good scary."

Adina chuckled wetly. "Is there anything like good scary?" She asked

Thessara shrugged, "There could be… you never know." She smiled, wiping Adina's tears.

"How— How can I speak to her again? I need to know what I am… what I can do. Who she is and who my father is."

At this Thessara's smile weaned off, she squeezed Adina's hand tighter. "I'm sorry, but the only way you can speak to her is when your energy gates are open. Unfortunately, you haven't mastered what your energy is, talk less of opening it."

"B-but I saw to her… I know I did."

"Yes, because your energy gate was open." She tilted Adina's chin up, their eyes locking. "To have the answers you so desperately need. You must master how to control your energy gates and move your powers accordingly."

Adina nodded, determination filling her eyes.

"And I will teach you. I will teach you all there is to being a sage. The last living sage of the realm."