Chapter 187 - 187
They had been on the journey for two hours or perhaps more. Adina didn't count anymore. She leaned against Thorne's shoulder, closing her eyes as the cold air filtered in through the window, her hand resting protectively over her belly.
Thorne sat still, his eyes fixed on her profile as if memorizing every breath, every tiny shift to memory.
He had imagined this so many times... granted it was with Roseanne. He had imagined having a pup with her, and when it all went down the drain, he never dared to hope, never dared to think... not until he met Adina. It crossed his mind during his rut, and as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he shut it out just as quickly.
Now, sitting in the carriage, staring at her as she slept, something warm curled up in his belly. He wasn't ever going to let go of this. Over his dead body. He was going to protect her and their pup with every drop of blood in his body. He'd drain out every life in the realm to keep her and their pup breathing. He swore it.
Adina's eyes fluttered open to see she was still in the carriage. She glanced right and smiled, seeing Thorne next to her, his gaze already on her like she hadn't looked away for a second.
"Did you watch me sleep?" She asked softly.
"I did," he answered honestly.
Adina smiled, her eyes crinkling. "You're being a creep, Your Majesty," she said.
Thorne's lips twitched, but he didn't deny it. He only held her closer.
"Are we close?" She asked as Thorne brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"We're approaching the gates now," he replied.
At this, Adina sat up, wanting to see the kingdom she had so desperately missed and wanted to be back in. The carriage shook slightly as the wheels ground over cobblestones, slowing as they neared the massive iron gates of obsidian.
The heavy gates were pulled open to allow them into the kingdom finally, but as the gates opened, Adina's gaze froze on the sight before her.
Right there by the gates, for all eyes to see, was a Radek. Or rather, Radek's severed head. It was jammed into a long stake and mounted right at Obsidian's entrance.
It was truly a gory sight to see.
Adina inhaled sharply. Thorne immediately lifted his hand to block her view, his jaw tightening. "Don't look."
But she caught his wrist and pushed it down, forcing herself to stare. To stare at that face that had once almost forced himself on her. The more she looked, the more her heart steeled. "I'm not afraid of him," she gritted out, glancing at Thorne, whose gaze was already on her. "He got what he deserved."
Thorne stared at her for a second longer and nodded, pulling her to him. "He did, and so will the rest of them."
The carriage rolled into the kingdom's grounds finally. Neither of them spoke anymore. Adina's mind filled with what she had just seen, and Thorne's filled with resolve to find Carter.
The carriage came to a halt, and Adina exhaled deeply. She had anticipated coming back for the longest time, and now that she was back, the memories came rushing back in. Thorne's hand was stretched out, giving an encouraging nod as if she could somehow tell what she was feeling.
She finally stepped out of the carriage, the cold air brushing against her face. She couldn't help but look around; everything was still the same. It had only been weeks since she was taken, but it felt like years to her.
Just as they began to walk up the stairs leading to the palace, a different caravan stopped a few meters away from them. Adina registered it as those used to transport slaves. It clanged with chains.
The guards pulled the door open and shoved the slaves brought in out. The slaves were dragged out in masses. Adina could tell some of them weren't even slaves judging by their clothes. Amongst them—
Adina's breath hitched... amongst the slaves were Carter's two daughters, Veronica and Freya.
The two were losing their minds, looking around, screaming, and thrashing. Adina couldn't believe her eyes.
At that same moment, Freya's eyes fell on Adina, and it was as though a dam broke through. "You witch!" She screamed at the top of her voice, stumbling forward as far as her shackles could carry her, hands stretched out, eyes wild.
"You wretched beast!" She screamed, but before she could as much as touch the air near Adina, Thorne stepped forward, being a barrier between the two women.
Adina was quick to stop him, her hand pressed on his arm as she stepped out from behind him.
Freya's shocked face turned sour again at the sight of Adina. "You—"
She didn't get to complete her words as Adina slapped her hard across the face, once, twice, and thrice.
Freya staggered backward, falling to her feet, hands on her cheek. "Y-Y-You," she stammered, looking at her hand only to find streaks of blood, as though she'd been hit by a claw instead.
Her ears rang indignantly from the slap. "You wretched—"
She didn't get to finish her words again. Adina's fingers fisted into her hair, yanking her head back until her scalp tore.
Freya screamed from the pain just as Veronica leaped forward to save her sister but was held back by a guard and the shackles she also had on.
"And this is all you could amount to even in my absence, Freya," Adina spat out. "You must've been so happy when I turned into a beast, weren't you?" Adina hissed. "After all—you spelled me."
Thorne froze from the revelation. Freya? He had thought Carter did it. He and the witch must've done it, but finding out Freya had done it... truly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
He stepped forward and pulled Adina back; no matter how much she wanted to rip Freya to shreds, he couldn't let her. Not when she was in a much delicate position.
Adina didn't let go easily; no, she spat directly at Freya's face before releasing her.
"Have you lost your mind, Freya did nothing of the sort! She's—" her sister yelled, but it all tuned out.
Thorne held Adina's hand, his jaw tight. "Lock Freya up in the dungeon until the day of her execution is decided," he said with finality.
He hadn't even thought about it.
Freya's heart dropped in octaves. Execution?
"W-what?" She stammered, spit long forgotten. "What are you talking about? I did nothing! It was all my father. He spelled her. I-I'm nothing but a victim of circumstance. You can't do this to me. This is unfair. It's injustice!" She screamed.
"No!" Victoria screamed, "You can't! There's no proof—how can you just believe her! She's lying! She's insane! She's manipulating all of us." Veronica rushed out, her words strung uselessly.
Adina laughed bitterly. "Unfair?" Her gaze cut sharp. "Unfair is your father chaining me, forcing me into his madness. Unfair is you casting a bloodlust spell on me on a day that should've been my happiest."
She held onto Thorne's arm tighter now, her gaze shifting from both sisters. "Perhaps," she began, her voice cold. "When Carter learns his daughter is to be executed... he'll finally stop being a coward."