Bloodbound to the Beastly King

The hall was filled with murmurs and whispers. It was the first council meeting since the disaster that happened on the mating ceremony day. The king had completely closed himself off, and none of them could get through to him. They were all stuck with an overworked beta.

Finally, the king agreed to their summons. And now, they were all seated in the hall, nervous and anticipating.

The doors to the hall groaned open, the king stepped into the hall, and the murmurs stopped instantly. The place went dead with silence, all of their eyes on the man they called their ruler.

But this was not the king they remembered.

He looked like a cursed man. His eyes were bloodshot, like someone who had not slept for days… or weeks. His beard was wild and unkempt, his hair was rough like he had run his fingers over it countless times. His aura was grim and dark, not a single light behind those eyes.

The councilmen and nobles all shifted nervously in their seats. Not all of them were opportune to have seen the king after Roseanne's death. They were all appointed to their positions years after the disaster.

Those who were around back then said he was at his worst. They'd never seen anything like it. The king was out of his mind…

Yet… seeing him like this… they were convinced it had never been this worse.

Thorne didn't spare them a glance as he strode to the head of the table and dropped into his seat.

His gaze flickered over them all, jaw tight as he took note of Carter's disappearance. It was unusual. One would've expected the former head councilman to be at the palace, advocating for the people or something. It didn't matter though, Thorne couldn't care less about his attendance.

One of the lords finally found his voice, though it trembled. "Your Majesty," he began cautiously, "this is the first council you've attended in days. We understand the situation on the ground, but letting rumors and fears fester too long will cause an imminent collapse in the kingdom and thus the realm."

Thorne's eyes narrowed as the man spoke, but he stayed silent.

"The people are… frightened. They need reassurance. The city walls have been reinforced, but it isn't enough. Seeing the many warriors patrolling every area is sending them into an even bigger fear. They need the king to speak to them. Tell them it's all fine." He paused, looking around at his fellow men for support. He cleared his throat and continued. "The people clamor are scared, and one can't blame them. Not with—" he hesitated, swallowing. "Not with the beast still at large—"

The words cut through the air.

Before the man could finish, Thorne surged to his feet. The table shook as he shoved it aside. In an instant, he was across the room, seizing the lord by the throat and slamming him against the wall with brutal force.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Call her that again," Thorne growled, eyes red with anger. The man clawed at his hand, his face turning red, feet kicking helplessly. Thorne's grip tightened, "Call her a beast one more time, and I'll tear your tongue out myself."

The hall fell into silence; no one dared to breathe.

"F-forgive— Forgive." The man managed to choke out as he fought for air.

After a long, terrifying moment, Thorne released the man. He fell to the floor, coughing and gasping.

Thorne turned to the rest of them, "This meeting is dismissed. Until I say otherwise, you will not gather here again."

None of them dared to speak or contest his words. They watched as he stormed out of the hall.

Outside, Caelum was waiting anxiously; he'd practically forced Thorne to attend the meeting. Hearing the commotion in there, he knew nothing good was coming out of it.

He straightened up when he saw Thorne step outside, his eyes narrowing upon seeing Caelum.

"Well?" He barked.

Caelum shook his head. Every time Thorne asked that. It meant an update about Adina missing. And every time, Caelum would shake his head.

"No news. No trail. No word of Adina. Nothing."

Thorne's jaw clenched, the vein in his temple pulsing. He turned away from Caelum, grabbed a vase, and hurled it against the wall. The glass shattered.

He stormed off without speaking. Behind him, Caelum exhaled, motioning for a maid to clear the glass. He wasn't sure how long Thorne's sanity would last. All he knew was that they had to find Adina soon.

________

Thessara's chamber was lit with candles, some burnt out and some still burning. She was hunched over a table, filled with ancient scrolls, her ink-stained fingers dragging across words. She'd been searching tirelessly for something, anything that might help locate Adina.

But the words blurred before her eyes.

A sharp pain split her skull, so sudden she staggered back. She clutched her head tight, and suddenly her head snapped up to the ceiling as her eyes turned milky white,

her body stiffening as the world around her slipped away.

"Thessara." The voice was calm, soft, and gentle. It was also familiar. So, so familiar.

Thessara's breath hitched. She knew that voice. The same voice of the woman who took her in as her disciple years ago.

"Virelya," she whispered as she turned.

The woman's hair was long and white, her eyes piercing silver. She was beautiful, just like Thessara remembered.

Virelya stepped forward, holding Thessara's hand in hers. "I do not have much time. Listen well, Thessara. You must hurry! Adina is in danger. She is being dragged toward the crypt of Noctra."

"The crypt of Noctra?"

"The Aetheris Core lies within," Virelya continued. "It holds power beyond the realm, and if it gets into his hands. The Core will not serve her, it will serve him."

Thessara nodded, shoving her questions down. "What must I do?"

"Time is fast spent, Thessara Virelya's image began to fade, "You must find her before it's too late."

The vision snapped. Thessara collapsed to the ground, her chest heaving as sweat trickled down her face.

There was no time.

She scrambled to her feet and ran out of the cabin as fast as she could. She could still hear Virelya's voice echoing in her mind. 'You must save her!' You must find her before it's too late.

Gods forbid it was too late.

Thessara burst into the palace and hurried straight to Thorne. She pushed the doors open. Thorne stood behind the window, lost in thought.

"Thorne." She called, and the man turned to her, jaw clenched, "Thessara. What are you doing here?"

Thessara shook her head, stepping closer to him, "We do not have time. We must save Adina before it's too late." She rushed out.

"Speak clearly, Thessara."

She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves, but it was of no use. "I saw her. Adina is in danger. We must save her before it's too late. She's being taken to the crypt of Noctra."

Thorne froze, "And how do you know this?"

Thessara hesitated. She hadn't wanted to reveal it. But there was no more time.

"Because…" her throat was tight, but she pushed the truth out. "The one who came to me was Virelya of the South."

Thorne's eyes darkened, confused. "Virelya? That sage has been dead for decades."

Thessara shook her head firmly. "She is but—she is Adina's mother. Adina… she's a sage. The last living sage of the realm."