Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina wrapped the shawl tight around her shoulders, gaze stuck on the old box next to her. It's been a week she returned from Crystal moon and she still hasn't been able to look at it.

Her heart thumped hard in her chest even though she already knows the content of the box. Slowly, she opened the box, eyes fixed on the crest in it. She bit her lip, hand reaching for it slowly only to halt mid air when she heard footsteps walking towards her direction.

She quickly shoved the box under the bed just as the door opened, revealing Thorne. His gaze settled on her, he frowned. "Why are you here?" He asked.

Adina smiled, hoping it didn't look strained. She had no idea why she still hasn't told Thorne about the box. About everything that's happening to her…. It was selfish, she knew that much but she still couldn't bring herself to tell him….yet.

Just for a bit. I'll keep it to myself for a bit longer.

She thought to herself, smiling wider. "This is my room. Where else would I be?" She asked.

Thorne's eyes narrowed, clearly not liking the response. "My room is now your room. You know that." He replied, walking towards her. He stopped right in front of her, caressing her cheek softly.

"I haven't seen you much since we returned."

Adina hummed, "You've been busy." She replied. She has been busy too. Trying to figure out the secrets she didn't even know she held.

"Forgive me. I've been too caught up with this." He gestured with his hands. Adina shook her head. "Don't. You have a duty. I understand. I'll wait for you however long it might take."

Thorne stared at her for a while longer, eyes growing softer like he couldn't believe she was here and real. After some seconds, he cleared his throat. "I was thinking." He began, pulling her up to stand and sat in her place then pulled her back towards him so she'd sit on his lap.

"Thinking about?"

"It's time we start preparations for our mating ceremony."

Adina blinked, startled. She wasn't expecting that. "Are you serious?" She asked.

Thorne nodded with a smiled, "Yes I am. What do you say?"

Adina stared at him, lips parting slightly in surprise. A thousand thoughts clashed in her head. Her being a sage. Her mother, Virelya. Her powers. Her questions. Her fears.

But Thorne… his gaze was so sincere, so calming. Like the chaos around her couldn't touch her so long as he held her in his arms.

She smiled faintly, threading her fingers through his hair. "I say… yes."

Thorne's smile widened as he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. "Good. Because the realm needs to see you for who you are. My Queen."

"Do you have a date set?" She asked, mind buzzing with excitement. This was real and it was happening.

"What do you say two moons from now?" He asked.

She nodded rapidly, if her head was screwed to her neck, it would have fallen off. "Yes, yes, yes." She rushed out, hugging him as tight as she could.

She would have a mating ceremony. A real one where her mate loved her.

"I— Thank you." She whispered, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions.

Thorne frowned, holding her tighter. "Why are you thanking me?"

Adina shook her head, eyes blurring with tears. "You…You want me."

His frown deepened. "Of course I want you. I always want you. Do I have to say it everything till you believe that I love you? Because I will."

She giggled wetly, registering that this was the first time he was saying he loved her. "Don't ever thank me for wanting you." He said firmly.

She nodded against his shoulder, the previous fear and worry she'd been feeling all gone…replaced by an overwhelming amount of happiness.

"Do you think it's okay for us to have a ceremony with everything that's happening, though? The missing people…" she trailed off.

Thorne frowned, forcing her to look at him in the eye. "Things are always going to happen, Adina. I can't stop it nor can you. I'm not going to deter my happiness or yours any longer. This will happen regardless of whatever happens because I want this….i want you."

Adina smiled and hugged him even tighter, "I love you too.." she said softly.

Thorne hummed, chest vibrating as he did. They stayed there for a while longer, hugging each other until a knock at the door disturbed their moment.

Thorne groaned frustratedly and Adina giggled. She stood up and allowed him get up too.

"I swear they always interrupt…"

"It must be important." She replied.

Thorne nodded, pulling her closer for a bit and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you in a bit." He said then walked towards the door.

Outside stood, the beta. He bowed to Thorne, gaze straying further into the room. "My lady." He said, bowing too.

Adina's eyes widened slightly, not expecting that. "B-beta Caelum." She bowed back.

Caelum's gaze shifted to Thorne who shrugged. "She'll learn." He said.

"What do you have for me?" He asked.

"Good news, your majesty. It couldn't wait till morning." The beta replied.

Thorne paused in his steps, eyebrows raised. "Goodnews? I don't hear much of that these days. Tell me, who died?"

"I found a guard….He was there the night of Radek's madness."

Thorne frowned. "A guard? Who is he and why hasn't he spoken up since that night?"

"Fear," Caelum replied simply, jaw tense. "He claims he was threatened by Elara…. He said after the sudden death of the former guard…he got even more scared,"

Thorne's frown deepened. "Where is he now?"

"I took him to the east wing holding cells. He's… shaken. Babbling half the time. But he mentioned something strange, he said Radek shifted into something…."

"Something?"

Caelum nodded grimly. "He looked too shaken to even say what it was…. he said Radek was given something to calm down and only then did he return to his usual form." The beta paused for a second, "He said Radek's eyes turned black. Not just his pupils. All of it. And his veins? They went dark, his skin was marred with bruises and injuries that looked like they were decaying."

Thorne's face grew serious with each word. "Take me to the guard."

Caelum nodded, immediately leading the way. It had taken him an entire day to find the guard. He wasn't even a guard any longer. Elara had released him from his duties while she was regent and the man had now returned to the village where he was living as a farmer now. It had taken Caelum hours to find him and when he did, the man had fallen to his knees, begging for forgiveness.

The walk to the east wing was tense. Thorne said nothing, and Caelum knew better than to interrupt his thoughts.

When they arrived at the cell, two guards flanked the door, straightening as they saw their king.

"Your majesty." They said in unison. One looked at the beta, "My Lord, he hasn't stopped talking to himself since you left."

Caelum shared a look with Thorne and nodded. The guards pulled the cell gates opened, letting them in.

Thorne stepped in, eyes narrowing at the sight of the guard. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but it wasn't this. Every guard in his kingdom were all taken care of to the brim…everything they needed was all provided for but this man…. He looked like he'd been starving for months. He paced around the cell, his hair was over grown, beards uneven and dirty. He kept mumbling to himself, not even noticing that the cell gate had been opened.

"This was how they said the previous guard was acting till he jumped into the river." Caelum said through the mindlink.

Thorne nodded, clearing his throat. At this, the man jumped into fright. Turning only to see them. He fell to his knees at the sight of the king.

"Y-your majesty." He cried out.

Thorne stepped closer, bending and touched the man's shoulder. "It's alright. You're safe here." He said. The man looked up at him, as though he were contemplating.

The man's lips trembled. "You don't know…what I saw," he whispered. "I tried to forget, I really did."

"You're not in trouble," Thorne said carefully, voice low. "Just tell me what happened that night."

The man's eyes darted around the cell fearfully, He leaned in closer, "T-The alpha, he was possessed. He'd been itching all day, peeling his skin off layer by layer. One of us tried to get him to stop but he lost control. He tore him open and killed him. He killed him in cold blood." The man wore a forlorn expression, "his eyes were black, and his skin turned… grey, like something dying. And his hands— his claws were different. They were long, sharp…Like a beast's." He looked up at Thorne, wide-eyed. "He wasn't a wolf anymore. He was something else."

Caelum's gaze darkened. "What calmed him?"

"A vial," the man replied quickly. "A woman gave it to him, as soon as he drank it, he passed out. Like nothing happened."

Thorne frowned, "Was the woman the former general?" He asked.

The guard shook his head…"No, she was different. I've never seen her before."

Thorne looked at Caelum. "Elara wasn't alone that night? She brought someone into the palace." His jaw clenched tight. "Find out who it was."

He looked at the guard again who was full on sobbing now. He shook his head and stepped out the cell, ready to leave but paused.

"And Caelum," He looked at the beta in the eye, "Invite Radek to the meeting tomorrow. Think of something…but I want him there."