Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina didn't fight it. Not this time. She was tired to her bones, feeling like the blood drawn from her was something more. She wasn't sure what it was.

The beasts held her arms tight as they dragged her through the hallways and back to the place he'd taken her from. For a slight second, Adina worried they were taking her back to be alone, but they didn't. They took her back to Kora.

They pulled the gates open again and tossed Adina back into the cell as if she were nothing. She stumbled, catching herself on the ground. She let out a shaky breath and looked up, freezing as her eyes landed on him.

"Mason…" her voice cracked.

He was awake, propped weakly against the wall, chains weighing on his shoulders, but his eyes were open. Tired, red like blood, but alive.

Adina scrambled across the filthy floor, nearly tripping over her own feet. She fell into his arms, clutching him desperately. Mason grunted at the impact, pain flaring in his chest.

She immediately pulled back, horrified. "I'm sorry," she blurted out. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you—"

Mason chuckled slightly, his face contorted in pain even as he did. "Don't apologize. You didn't hurt me. I've had worse," he said.

Adina highly doubted that, but she said nothing, only clutching his hand tight as though grounding herself. He was truly awake, alive, and here.

Tears welled up in her eyes; it seemed like she couldn't do without them these days. Her throat tightened as she gulped hard. "I'm sorry," she began.

"Adina—" Mason cut in, but she shook her head, sniffling. "No, please—This is my fault. I… I dragged you into this mess. Into my mess…"

"If it wasn't for me—"

He shook his head sharply, his voice firmer than his battered body should've allowed. "Don't even start with that. His Majesty asked me to protect you, to keep my eyes on you and make sure you were safe. That's what I'll do. Always. This isn't your fault." He shifted, glaring at the cell walls as though Carter himself could hear him. "It's not your fault Lord Carter turned out to be a slimy, backstabbing sissy—" he raised his voice louder at that, using all his energy.

Kora startled at the raise in his voice, then almost smiled through her exhaustion.

Mason's gaze returned to Adina, softer this time. "But you… how are you holding up?"

Adina hesitated, she smiled stiffly. "I'm… doing my best."

His eyes narrowed. He noticed it then, the iron collar circling her throat. His frown deepened, and he lifted a hand, brushing it gently, careful not to touch the red irritated part of her skin. "What in the gods' name is this?" He asked.

Adina froze, then forced a small, stiffer smile. "It's… a collar. I woke up with it around my neck. It's a way for them to keep my powers in check so I don't accidentally break one of them," she said.

Mason's brow furrowed. It felt like it had been months since he was out of it because all of this was news to him. Powers? Since when did Adina start having powers?

"Powers?" He repeated, gaze shifting to Kora, who looked away, lips pressed tight.

Adina exhaled, "I… I don't just have powers," she began carefully. "I'm a sage." She looked at Mason, but not even a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. She continued then, "The last living sage of the realm… And Carter, he knows."

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Mason stared at her, unblinking, like the words were not making sense. Then after a while, he blinked. Eyes widening with shock.

"You're a what?" He asked.

"Sage. I'm a sage," she repeated.

Mason gasped, dragging his hand over his mouth. "Y-you're a sage. The divine being with the abilities to speak to the goddess and move between realms?" He rubbed his forehead as he spoke. "Adina! You're a sage." He huffed out a laughter as he spoke. "The sage! The last living one. You're what the king has been searching for. How— Does he know?" He finally put together words that made sense.

Adina shook her head slowly. "He doesn't. I found out not too long ago. I- I wanted to get a hold of my powers and then surprise him. I didn't know…" she trailed off. She didn't know Carter was also keeping an eye out for a sage.

"But how?" Mason asked.

"What do you mean?"

"How did that happen if you're a sage? You were on a killing spree, Adina. You were bloodthirsty. How can that be if you're a sage?" He asked.

Adina shook her head. "I… I don't know."

Kora shuffled closer to them, "it's really not so difficult. My guess, Lord Carter did it. He probably spelled Adina just so he can ruin her image in the kingdom and take her for the evil he needs her for. That way, everyone would've cursed and spat on her name. No one would think to search for the one who killed the people."

The more Kora spoke, the more it made sense. It's true. Freya had come to her in the presence of everyone. Freya was Carter's daughter. Who is to say she wasn't spelled at that moment.

Mason shook his head. "I always knew Lord Carter was a snake, but this…" He let out a bitter laugh, shaking against the chains. "This is lower than I thought even he could go."

Adina sighed, shaking her head. "He's after Khaos… he needs me for the reawakening."

At that, Mason froze. Khaos? Khaos mustn't be brought into the world, ever. The destruction that man caused. It was one that took the realm years to bear. "Carter is a rebel?" He asked, and she nodded.

"They've begun the process of his reawakening. All they need now is the Aetheris core, and they need me to guide them to it. Once I do that, they can complete the reawakening process and then will need my body as a vessel to wield the curses placed on him and also his powers," Adina explained.

Khaos was so strong, so powerful that he'd need a divine being to withhold it.

Mason shook his head rapidly. "That can't happen. If Khaos returns, the realm… everything—will fall."

"I know."

"We have to do something. I can't just— I need to contact the king. He needs to learn of what's happening. This is bad. A councilman being a rebel."

"He's their leader from what I see, and that's not all…" she leaned closer. "The missing people from every pack that Thorne has been searching for. I'm afraid Lord Carter is the one doing it. He's turning them into something else."

"These creatures," Kora muttered.

Adina nodded. "He's turning them into beasts. The ones we saw walking and guarding this place. They haven't even completed their transitions yet… they get much worse than this, and the worst part of this… there are hundreds of them."

"It's like he's building an army," Kora whispered.

"Exactly! He's building an army of beasts. And with his dedication to Khaos. I'd say he's building these creatures for him. They're preparing for his awakening."

Mason shook his head. "That cannot happen. We need to alert his majesty."

"But how?" Kora asked.

Adina didn't respond, thinking hard. Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind, and she looked at the two of them. "I have an idea, and I think it'll work."