Bloodbound to the Beastly King

"You're pregnant… with His Majesty's pup."

For a heartbeat, the room froze, or perhaps Adina did. Her heart beat tripled, and she heard nothing but the shrill noise ringing in her ears. She watched as their faces all transformed from shock to utter happiness. Watched as they all fell to their knees, bowing.

"Congratulations, your majesties!" They cried.

Adina felt frozen in time, or perhaps she was. She felt Thorne's hand grip hers tighter. Was he shocked too? In disbelief?

Thessara gripped her shoulders, hugging her tight even as Thorne held her. "You're going to be a mother, Adina. The first pup our palace has had in decades. You've broken the curse!" She said.

The curse… that's right. Thorne cannot have a pup unless it was with a sage. Adina's a sage.

She's pregnant.

She glanced at Thorne and saw the absolute shock in his face… yet his eyes lit up like a hundred candles burned. He was happy.

His gaze shifted to hers, "We are going to have a pup, Adina." His voice cracked slightly as he pulled her into his arms, so fiercely, so desperately, that she melted against him, tears spilling down her cheeks. She hadn't even realized how much she needed that embrace until now.

They were going to have a pup. It felt like a dream. After everything that's happened. It felt like light in their tunnel.

When she pulled back, she realized the others except for Thessara had all stepped out of the room.

"How do you feel?" Thorne's voice broke her out of her thoughts. Adina shook her head. How did she feel? She had no idea.

Not once did the idea of having a child ever come into her mind. Not after what had happened with Roman… but now, the goddess was not only blessing her, she was giving Adina the greatest gift.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then the worries came… Memories of the vision she had came flooding into her mind. Her mother and Khaos. The same Khaos who had almost ruined Thorne's life.

She gripped his hand tighter, feeling him kiss her hands, hold her, mumble sweet words into her ears… in all of these, fear gripped her.

Thessara stood still, she should've left, but she still had to check on Adina more. Thessara knew something was wrong ever since Adina woke up. Now, watching the lost look in her eyes… she was certain.

A knock came at the door, and Caelum stepped in, "Forgive me, my king, but a matter needs your attention urgently." He said.

Thorne's jaw clenched hard. He didn't want to leave. Not after the news he had just received. Leaving Adina's side felt like betrayal.

"Can't it wait?" He snapped.

The beta hesitated, Caelum wasn't like that. Whatever this was, it had to be important.

"It's okay. I'm fine, and I'm still here. I understood that you need to settle things. I'll be here." She said, almost robotically.

Thorne didn't like that. He could feel her emotions through the bond, and although it wasn't as strong as it was before… it was slowly slipping back.

"No, I—"

"Your majesty. Perhaps it's better you let her rest. It'll do her and the pup more good." Thessara chipped in. At this, Thorne paused, he couldn't argue with that.

He nodded, leaning closer to Adina and kissed her cheek softly. "I'll be back now." He whispered before leaving.

Adina leaned back against the headboard, eyes shut close. She heard the door shut and let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Thessara handed her a glass of water she'd poured. Adina gulped it in a go and dropped it.

"Do you feel better?" The woman asked.

Adina shrugged, "I don't look like I feel better?" She asked instead.

Thessara sat next to her, "Maybe to the others, you do but not to me. Tell me, what bothers you?"

Adina swallowed hard, she held her hand over her stomach, realizing in a few months, she'd have a protruding belly.

"Adina." Thessara called, and she looked at the woman.

"I know who my father is."

Thessara blinked, clearly she hadn't been expecting that, but she also didn't look bothered.

"I see."

"You see?" Adina's voice cracked. "Is that all you'll say, Thessara?"

"Your father is not a—" The woman attempted to say, but Adina cut her off.

"My father is Khaos! The same man who ruined Thorne's life. The same man who ruined the realm once. The same man for whom Carter kidnapped me to reawaken."

"Adina!"

"I keep thinking, how this is going to work. What am I going to tell Thorne? How much more do I have to hide from him? What kind of mate am I? How would he feel when he learns who I am—"

"Adina!"

"I'm carrying his child… I should be ecstatic. I should be over the moon. This is the one thing Thorne has always wanted and here it is, happening. I should be overjoyed and yet… I find myself feeling this way. Thinking these things. How can I—" her voice broke midway. "—How can I be a good mate… a good mother when—"

Thessara pressed her hand over Adina's mouth, shutting her up.

"That's enough."

Thessara's eyes bore into hers, silencing every doubt tumbling from Adina's lips.

"You will not curse your pup before it's even taken its first breath," Thessara said firmly, her voice trembling. "Do you hear me, Adina? You are not Khaos. You are you. His blood may run in your veins, but his darkness does not rule your heart."

Adina's lips quivered under Thessara's palm, tears rolling freely now.

"You think you are unworthy because of who your father is," Thessara continued, softer now. "But you're not him, Adina. You're pure. You're good. You are the best thing this realm has ever had. Do not forget you have the blood of Vireyla running through your veins. Vireyla who was a sage. The goddess makes no mistake and you are not one, child."

Adina's throat tightened.

"You are not your father, Adina. And this pup—this pup is the goddess's way of reminding you that even in the darkest of places, light can grow. Do not rob yourself of that gift."

Adina broke then, sobs wracking through her as she clutched her stomach. She wanted to believe it—oh, how desperately she wanted to.

"Thessara… what if I lose myself?" she whispered hoarsely. "What if Khaos comes for me, and this time, I can't resist? What if I… hurt them even more than I did before… Thorne, he would never forgive me."

Thessara leaned forward, cupping Adina's tear-streaked face in both hands. "Nothing of that will ever happen. Khaos is never ascending. They need a sage and they'll only have you over my dead body." She said firmly, "Besides, Thorne is grazing through every inch of this realm. Carter and that witch will be found. There is nothing you can do, that Thorne wouldn't forgive. He's far too gone."

For a long moment, Adina said nothing, and then a small fragile smile tugged at her lips.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Thessara brushed her hair back tenderly. "Rest now. Your body needs it. I'll be right by your side."

"You don't have to…" Adina muttered as she leaned into the pillows, eyes fluttering shut.

"Shh."

Thessara watched as she slept, her words replaying in her head. She knew she had to do something. She needed to keep Adina's and Thorne's happiness. This news, it was best they've heard in decades… she can't let them be robbed of it.