Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina stepped out of the carriage, the cold air making her shiver internally. She made her way into the seamstress stall. Even though the ceremony was still about two months away, she wanted to get the main part of it done and over with: h

er mating dress.

Thessara had spoken about it. Kora had spoken about it. They both wanted her to go all out, something huge with a long train at the end. Adina had listened to their suggestions clearly to know that wasn't what she wanted. She didn't tell them, though; she wanted to surprise them.

The seamstress was by the door with a wide smile. "Your Majesty," she greeted, bowing low.

Adina felt awkward. She wasn't queen yet. How could she correct the woman? She couldn't be addressed as 'Your Majesty' yet. She didn't say anything, though, smiling as brightly as she could as she was ushered into the stall.

"I have prepared sweets and drinks to your liking, Your Majesty," the woman said, gesturing at her workers to bring them all out. If it weren't for the fact that the place was called "Sumita's Sewing," she would've assumed she was here for a sweet-tasting event.

"Which do you like? The yellow dragonite-shaped ones, or perhaps you want the silver Monaco-shaped ones?" Sumita asked, already piling them onto a delicate porcelain tray as if Adina had said yes.

"I'm here for a dress, not to raid your sweet shop," Adina muttered with a small laugh, though her cheeks warmed at the woman's eagerness. "But… the silver Monaco looks nice."

"Excellent choice." Sumita clapped her hands sharply, sending the younger assistants scurrying with measuring tapes, pins, and stacks of fabric. "This way, Your Majesty. I'll make you look so beautiful."

Adina's smile tightened. Not yet, she wanted to say. I'm not queen yet. But correcting people only made it worse—they got flustered, over-apologized, and called her Your Majesty twice as much to make up for it. So she kept her mouth shut and followed the seamstress deeper into the shop.

The moment they entered the main area of the shop, the murmurs and laughs Adina had been hearing all went silent. Over thirty eyes fell on her, each of them staring at her like she was some alien that just came from a different realm.

"It's the Queen."

"The queen?"

"The future Queen of the realm!" They all whispered to themselves like she wasn't there. "Oh, she's beautiful. I see why she's the king's mate."

"I think I'm more beautiful than her. She's okay."

"Her hair is quite long and full. I wonder how long it took her to grow it."

They whispered again.

Adina's face heated up the more they all whispered like she couldn't hear them. Sumita cleared her throat, clapping loudly.

"The stall is closed until further notice. Please leave now, everyone!" she announced loudly.

The women all had different reactions to this. Some didn't mind, and some… they minded very much.

"Oh, that's not needed. I'm sure I can do my own without having to disrupt anyone," Adina rushed out.

Sumita turned to look at her like she'd grown an extra head. "Erh?" She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous, Your Majesty. The king would have my head if I ever did that," she said with a smile, turning to the women again, snapping her fingers together. "Leave my stall!"

The women reluctantly filed out, some throwing lingering glances back at Adina as they went. One girl even dared to wink as if they were sharing some secret joke. Adina exhaled when the last pair of heels clicked out of the stall.

"Thank you," she murmured, though her ears still burned.

Sumita smiled brightly as if she hadn't just thrown thirty people out. "Now, let's get to work. I've already prepared a few designs based on what I thought would suit you best."

She led Adina past rows of shimmering fabrics, silks that caught the light, and rich delicate velvet.

"I want something… simple," Adina said quickly, eyeing an ivory gown with a dramatic train that Kora would probably die for. "Elegant, but not—"

"Not what everyone expects from a Queen," Sumita finished knowingly. "Of course. Try this first."

She handed Adina a soft cream dress, sleek with a high neckline and a row of tiny buttons trailing down the back.

"Then, you will try these too. We will pick one that matches your taste in one of these," Sumita said, handing her an extra row of thirty, if not more, dresses.

Adina's eyes bulged, nearly falling out of her eye sockets. She chuckled nervously, eyeing the dresses on the hanger. "You're joking, right?"

Sumita looked at her, smile weaned off. "Joke?" She huffed, "Your Majesty… What is a joke?"

Adina couldn't reply; she could only blink as she stared at the clothes that she was going to be trying on.

"Chop chop. We don't have all day, Your Majesty," Sumita said, gently pushing Adina into another part of the stall.

Adina stepped into the back changing area, the heavy curtain falling closed behind her. The shop quieted, filled only with the rustle of fabric and Sumita's distant humming.

Adina looked around; the changing area was comfortably big, with a large mirror before her so she could see how the dress fitted.

Adina exhaled deeply, knowing she was probably not leaving there until nighttime. She began to unbutton her dress, slipping out of it and leaving her in her undergarments.

She took the cream dress Sumita had handed her first and slipped it on. Adina tugged the cream dress up over her hips. It was softer than she expected, and lighter too. She turned in front of the mirror, smoothing it down. It really was beautiful and it hugged her curves perfectly.

But then she tried to reach the zipper.

She failed.

Adina twisted her arm awkwardly, straining to pull it up, all to no avail. "Oh, come on," she gritted out, half-laughing at her own ridiculousness.

"Sumita?" she called, "I think I'm stuck, could you give me a hand?"

There was no answer.

She paused, trying to listen. There was no sound of the fabrics rustling or Sumita humming.

"Sumita!" Adina called louder, grabbing the zipper again, wincing as it caught on the lining. "Great. Just great."

"Sumi—"

"You always did need help getting out of trouble."

Adina froze, hearing the one voice she'd been longing to hear for hours now. He'd been too busy that they only spent minutes out of the whole twenty-four hours.

She turned, eyes wide with a smile stretched on her face.

"Thorne?"