Bloodbound to the Beastly King

The courtyard had never looked so heavy.

Rows upon rows of warriors stood in formation, their armor glinting under the sky that seemed almost unwilling to shine. The wind was aggressive and fierce.

Thorne stood on the raised platform, his eyes fixed on the thousands of them. He was convinced his daughter was alive. Carter was everything but not dumb; having Virelle served him better than her dead. Thorne knew that much.

Thorne cleared his throat, and for a brief moment, nothing came out of his mouth. They all shared in his pain, in his grief. They knew and had seen the damage caused by the former head councilman.

Still, he chose to give a speech.

"Carter has taken from us again, and again, and again, up until now," he started, his gaze settling on each of them. "He has taken our peace, our joy, our safety, our people. He has taken my daughter."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd at this... the unfortunate massacre was something they all witnessed and saw. Nobody had seen it coming, yet having the king say it solidified it even more.

Some warriors clenched their jaws. Others lowered their heads. A few gripped their weapons harder, as if holding them back from reacting too soon.

Thorne stepped forward slightly. "We are not going to search blindly," he said. "We are not going to wait. We are not going to beg for answers that will never come freely."

His eyes darkened. "We are going to take everything back."

The silence that followed was loud. Then Thorne's voice dropped lower, more dangerous.

"And we are going to end this once and for all."

The army of warriors broke out into loud howls as they hit their chests. Thorne watched, his face stoic and filled with determination. This would be the end of it all.

Thorne turned as soon as he was done with his speech, barely taking a few steps in when Caelum caught up to him, albeit slower than he usually was, due to the injuries he still sustained.

"My king," the beta began... Thorne paused to look at him, his gaze dropping to the man's severed arm.

"We ride at dawn... We'll only take short breaks to recover, then we go again!" He said like he could read Caelum's mind. The beta shook his head.

"Understood, Alpha, but—" he trailed off.

"But nothing! Prepare for our departure. I'll be with all in a minute," he said, pushing forward.

"Will you see the Queen before your departure?" Caelum suddenly asked. Thorne paused in his steps for a second, his mind flashing through all that happened.

"You're dismissed," he said instead.

Caelum watched as the king walked away, his heart heavy with how much it looked like he would bleed for.

______

The palace was quieter than it should be... After the tragedy that happened, everyone was mourning.

When Thorne reached her chamber, the door was already open.

Thessara was inside.

Adina lay on the bed, motionless, her face pale beneath the dim light. Her breathing was shallow, as though even unconsciousness couldn't give her peace.

Thessara sat beside her, a damp cloth in hand, carefully tending to her as if she might break with one wrong touch.

Thorne's heart tightened at the sight; he despised it. Knowing he was the cause of it.

He couldn't step in there, didn't know how to.

"She's been like this since you left," Thessara began suddenly. "The emotional strain... it's a miracle she's still breathing."

Thorne didn't respond, his eyes on Adina's face. She looked drained even while unconscious; the torment was too much for her, he knew it.

He had to end their suffering once and for all.

"I know you're hurting, Your Majesty..." Thessara paused for a second, turning to look at him. "But you can't shut her out for—"

"I'm leaving," Thorne said calmly.

Thessara blinked twice, clearly taken aback. "Thorne—"

Thorne shook his head; he wasn't willing to listen to her. "Do me a favor, look after her." He paused, his gaze shifting from Thessara to Adina.

"Until I return."

As he turned to leave, Thessara called out to him, making him pause in his steps.

"Whatever you do, bring Virelle back."

Thorne didn't respond as he walked off.

__________

Hours passed, and this time, Thorne and the warriors had left, leaving enough to fight if anything were to happen.

Adina finally stirred awake, her eyes blurry, her body aching all over like she'd been dragged on train rails.

Her eyes opened. For a moment, she didn't speak; she only looked around, the events that led to her lying here came rushing back.

She whimpered; the pain was just as fresh.

Thessara leaned forward immediately. "Adina—don't push yourself."

She shook her head, "T-Thorne." She croaked out, looking towards the window. "Is he still out there?" She asked.

Thessara sighed internally, just as she opened her mouth to speak, the door opened, cutting her off.

Kora walked in cautiously, carrying a tray of hot herbal tea.

"You're awake. I brought you some herbal tea," she said, placing it next to the bedstead.

"Thorne? Has he— Is he still—" the words were heavy in her mouth.

Thessara decided to cut in before the question could break her any further.

"He has left."

Adina froze, her fingers tightening around the blanket. For a moment, she simply stared at Thessara, as though her mind refused to process what she had heard.

"Left?" she whispered.

Thessara nodded slowly. "He took the warriors with him. They've gone after Carter."

Adina's breathing changed instantly, becoming uneven. "Without me?"

Kora lowered her eyes, silently stepping back toward the wall.

"He believes Virelle is alive," Thessara said gently. "And he is going to bring her back."

At the mention of her daughter's name, something in Adina's expression shifted.

Her lips trembled. "Alive?" she repeated, almost afraid to say it aloud.

Thessara hesitated only briefly before nodding again. "Thorne is convinced of it."

That was all Adina needed. She threw the covers off herself at once.

Thessara stood abruptly. "Adina, no."

But Adina was already pushing herself up, her body trembling from weakness. Her legs nearly buckled beneath her, and Kora rushed forward to steady her.

"You can barely stand," Thessara said, her voice rising with alarm. "You've just given birth. Your body has not recovered. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you will collapse."

"I do not care," Adina said, her voice raw and firm.

She pulled away from Kora's grip and forced herself fully to her feet. "If my daughter is alive, then I am going after her."

"Adina—"

"No." She turned to Thessara, eyes blazing despite the tears clinging to her lashes. "I have already lost too much. I will not lie in this bed while everyone else fights for my child."

Her chest heaved heavily. "This happened because of me."

Thessara's face tightened. "Do not say that."

"But it is true!" Adina cried. "If I had listened—if I had destroyed the core when Thorne asked me to—"

Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the pain down.

"I cannot undo what has happened," she said, quieter now, "but I can fight to bring her back."

Thessara searched her face, perhaps hoping to find hesitation there, some trace of weakness she could still reason with.

There was none.

Adina reached for the cloak draped over the chair nearby and pulled it around herself with shaking hands.

"I'm leaving," she said. "I am not asking for permission."

Kora stepped immediately to her side, choosing sides.

"If you go," Thessara said, worry tangling in her voice, "you may not survive the journey."

Adina fastened the cloak around her shoulders and met her gaze. "Then I will die trying."

Thessara closed her eyes briefly. Then she opened them again and shook her head.

"You are impossible."

Adina said nothing.

Thessara stepped toward the doorway, brushing past them both.

"If you are truly set on doing this," she muttered, "then someone has to make sure you do not bleed to death on the road."