Bloodbound to the Beastly King

"I still can't believe it was that easy," the woman said, grinning as she stared at the last piece for the ascension. She smiled, turning to face the one who'd brought it to her.

"Lord Carter, your ways are truly divine, I must say."

Carter didn't reply, his gaze stuck on the core behind her. He'd planned it out for months, eight months! He had to be careful and be a ghost. But he wasn't silent. No, he'd carefully mapped out his plans. First was causing the fake rift and causing a supposed war. One Thorne had to see himself. He chose the farthest part of the realm for it, one where Thorne would have to be gone for days. The eastern border was the best!

It worked! A war started, and Carter went in on his next action, gaining more men. He needed more than he had. He needed to keep turning wolves into beasts, needed to get his army. And for months, he did just that. He didn't take anyone from the realm again, no. He went out, had Alma cook up some of her spells, and that brought in men from other realms. They could trace it to Obsidian, and thus Thorne couldn't be wary of his presence.

Then he waited. He waited long until the perfect moment came. Then Thorne let his guard down. The search for him began to dwindle down. The people no longer spoke of him as much as they did before. And then, the perfect day came. Oh, it was so perfect. Thorne left for the eastern border, leaving the palace vulnerable.

Initially, Carter had gone for Adina. He wanted Thorne to feel what he felt. To know what it was like to lose someone. It didn't matter that the man had lost his mate and pup in the past. He wanted him to feel the wound afresh. He'd planned to kill Adina with her pregnancy. Getting the core would've been a bonus, but that wasn't his main target.

But then, the gods smiled on him. They gave him a chance, one he could never turn down. The pup. Thorne's own flesh and blood.

He grinned sinisterly. It was all perfect.

"By now, Thorne should've gotten the package. Oh, how I wish I were there to see the shock on his face. To see the agony and despair," he shook his head. "Tsk. What a shame."

"They must be running out of their minds at the palace," Alma said, pausing, her brows cocked up. "Do you think he'll really believe the pup is dead?" she asked.

Carter shrugged, "No. They'll figure it out eventually, but the plan is to make him doubt. Is the pup alive or not?" He was interrupted by the sudden cries of the pup yet again.

"This is as irritating as it gets," Alma snapped.

The pup wailed endlessly, almost taunting.

Carter's jaw tightened, annoyance clouding his eyes.

"Give her here," he said, hands stretched towards the maid holding her. She stepped forward carefully, placing the wailing infant into his arms as though she feared he might break her… or worse.

Carter looked down at the child. She was so small. So loud and yet… So… powerful.

His fingers adjusted slightly beneath her, and the pup trembled. The cries didn't stop. If anything, they grew louder, her tiny face scrunching up as though she rejected his very touch.

"Did you really have to take the pup? She's a liability," Alma asked irritably.

"She's far from being a liability. This is my repayment, for the loss of my daughter, I took his. Knowing Thorne is losing his mind, knowing he's uncertain if she's alive or dead. Knowing he's losing time. It brings me more joy," he said.

Alma rolled her eyes. She didn't have it in her to care about his daughters that had died, especially that silly brat Freya. The pup's cries once again pierced her ears, and she scowled, grabbing the child from Carter's arms. She sneered at the pup, her eyes turning dark.

"Silence!" she screamed.

The child did not stop; instead, she grew louder, so loud it could burst their eardrums.

Carter covered his ears, "Why did you do that? Give her to the maid."

Alma didn't listen; she lifted her hand, ready to strike the pup, only to freeze, her raised hand unable to move. She stopped struggling and scoffed.

"This little demonic creature," she hissed and threw the pup aside, the maid barely catching her.

"Take her out of here and lock her up or something."

Alma clicked her tongue in irritation as the maid ran off. "There is something wrong with that pup."

Carter lowered his hands slowly. "Of course there is," he said quietly. "She is his daughter."

Alma let out a dry laugh. "And?"

Carter's lips curved, but there was no warmth in it. "And she is hers."

That made Alma pause. "…The sage," she muttered.

Alma exhaled, walking towards the core. "It changes nothing. In two days, the full moon will be at its peak. That day will be historic. It'll be the day the dark lord reawakens and ascends."

_________

Adina lay in bed, eyes wide open but blank. It seemed like she was out of touch, but in reality, she wasn't. The guilt was suffocating her. If only she'd taken out the core like Thorne asked her to. Perhaps Carter wouldn't have come for it. Perhaps… her daughter would still be with her.

She shut her eyes, and more tears flowed down her cheeks.

Thessara stood some feet away, watching as Adina sobbed quietly. She looked away, blinking back her tears. How could she heal this one? This pain that seemed to never leave them. What concoction could she brew? What book could she read to help take this pain away and guarantee they never go through a pain like this again?

She swallowed hard and wiped her tears. Just as she took a step forward to Adina, the door creaked open, and a maid came in.

"What?" Thessara asked, seeing the maid's eyes dart to Adina.

"M-my lady," she stammered.

"Speak!" Thessara snapped.

"H-His majesty got a package delivered to him minutes ago." Her eyes darted to Adina, who was still in her own world.

"I-it came from the criminal lord—" she didn't need to complete her sentence; it was well explanatory.

Adina flew up from the bed at that, wasting no time, she ran towards the hall where she knew Thorne would be.

If Carter had sent a package, she had to see it too. She had to know what it was.

"Adina!" Thessara yelled from behind as she ran after her.

When the hall came into view, Adina skidded to a halt. And froze.

There, in the center of the room, was the package. The small bundle of baby clothes, coated in blood. Her stomach twisted violently, bile rising.

Her gaze snapped up. Thorne stood there, hands stained with blood. His jaw was tight, his posture rigid. The sight was unbearable.

"No…" she whispered, stumbling. Her knees gave way, sending her falling down. She pressed her face into her hand, the room spinning around her.

Thessara knelt beside her, but Adina's body shook uncontrollably. She couldn't hear them, couldn't feel them. All she could see was the blood.

"It's over."

Adina's head snapped up, eyes locking with his. Her tears streamed freely. "No… it can't be… it's not…"

Thorne's hands twitched involuntarily, voice barely above a whisper.

"Carter… he's killed her."