Chapter 180 - 180
Radek's body had gone still. He was no longer spasming, nor was he still choking on his blood. He was dead.
Adina rose slowly, her eyes locked on the dead man, her chest heaved heavily. Her face and hands were covered in blood.
For the longest moment, she could do nothing but stare. Stare at the man who once tormented the living daylights out of her. The overwhelming energy she had been feeling slowly settled in her deepest core.
She turned around to find eyes on her. The wolves, warriors, all those who had been fighting Carter's beasts. Her gaze landed on Thorne, and her breath hitched.
She staggered backward slightly, looking at her bloodied hands again. Her eyes welled up with tears. She didn't want him to see her like this. Not after what happened on their mating day…
"T-Thorne—" her voice trembled, lips quivering so hard as she forced the words out of her mouth. "I…I didn't mean—"
But she never finished. Thorne was already moving. He crossed the space fast as if she would disappear if he didn't reach her in time.
He pulled her into his arms without a second thought, arms wrapped around her body so tight it was almost crushing. He buried his face against her hair, breathing her in, desperate.
"You're here," his voice was thick with emotion, "You're here. You're okay. Gods, Adina, you're okay."
Adina couldn't hold it back any longer. She cried loudly into his chest, clutching his arms tight as if he too would disappear. In all the scenarios she had created in her mind about seeing him… This never came across.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. The people— I'm sorry… I—" she choked out, the memories rushing into her head like a dam.
"Shh…" he whispered firmly, cutting her off, "Don't apologize. You survived. You came back to me. That's all that matters."
Adina shook her head, "Y-You don't get it… I- I killed—"
Thorne shook his head, his chest constricting with air. She was alive, breathing, and standing in his arms. He held her tight even as she muttered those profanities… She thought it was her fault. Hers. He wanted to laugh, scoff. How could it be her fault when he gave the leeway? He gave Carter the leverage to do this… to take his beloved and ruin her.
Thorne said nothing, only holding her tight, pressing his lips against her hair. Her body trembled against his, and eventually, it evened out. "Adina," he whispered but got no response in return.
He carried her in his arms, her face fell to the side, and his heart clenched again seeing her bloodied face. He inhaled heavily, jaw clenched hard. This was all Carter's fault. And he would pay.
He turned, his gaze falling on the head warrior and the men. "Find Carter. Comb through every hole, corner, every inch of the earth. I want him brought to me. He's injured. He can't have gotten far."
"Yes, your majesty," they said in unison.
Thorne carried her outside the crypt, ignoring the eyes of the people that had now gathered in fear. He marched to the pack house and finally laid her on a bed. She was still unconscious, and he could only imagine all that she had gone through.
He held her hand tight as he brushed her hair away. The door creaked behind him, and he heard footsteps. He turned slightly to see Caelum and a healer.
"Your majesty, if I may," the healer said.
Thorne nodded curtly and stood up, allowing the healer space. He looked at Caelum, who wore the same grave expression.
"Send a message to Thessara. Have her come here immediately," he ordered, shifting his gaze to the guard. "No one enters this room without my permission. I want no interruptions."
The beta and guard nodded. Caelum stepped out of the room to do his bidding. Thorne glanced at the healer; at this point, he didn't trust anyone with Adina. He knew Carter was a greedy man, but he thought it was just for power and money. He'd underestimated the man, and now it had come back to bite him.
His gaze shifted to Adina again, then to the healer who hovered around, waiting for permission to touch her.
"Just see if she's physically okay. Don't do anything more," he said, and the healer nodded again.
Minutes later, the healer stepped back, head bowed. "Apart from the injuries she suffered, she's physically okay, Your Majesty," he said.
Thorne nodded, dismissing the healer. He grabbed a cloth and soaked it in water, carefully wiping the blood off her skin. He couldn't stop staring at Adina even as he cleaned her. It had been what? A week? Two weeks? He'd lost count of the days. She was gone for that long, and he had lost his mind during that period.
His mind flashed with memories of what just happened. The way she'd stood over Radek… sliced his neck open, watched with satisfaction as blood spattered over her face. He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his fingers through his hair.
Sage. She was a sage. That was what Thessara had told him. If she were a sage, then how could she have done— He shook his head… cursing himself internally for even thinking such.
This was Carter's fault. That venomous snake had spelled her. He did this to her. Thorne's jaw clenched hard, teeth clamped hard. He wanted to strangle the man. To pluck those eyes of his out. He wanted so many things but…
He took a deep breath. He had to be more calculative than ever. He couldn't let Carter escape this. He knew the man would be on the run now, but no matter how far he ran, he would never outrun Thorne.
The door creaked open again, and his gaze snapped to it. "I said no interruption—"
He stopped, seeing who it was.
Thessara stepped in cautiously, her eyes falling on Adina's unconscious form. She was muddy, pale, and exhausted, but she was here.
"Thessara," he called.
Her gaze shifted from Adina to Thorne, and she managed a smile… a strained, sad one.
She bowed, "Your Majesty."