Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina stood by the window, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. Hand rested over her chest. She had been standing there for minutes—maybe hours, waiting.

She wasn't waiting for him, though. Of course, she wasn't. Why would she? He chose to attend the party, the whorefest as it was called.

She was only bothered—worried about herself. Worried he would get with one of the women and the pain that would come with it.

At least that was what she told herself. Adina inhaled deeply as she rubbed her arms. The air was cold, almost freezing, which was weird.

Sleep evaded her, and she didn't even try to force it. She wondered, though, was she going to stay up all night, waiting for the pain to hit?

The door creaked, and the thoughts died down. She turned towards the door, brows furrowed. Whoever it was behind the door didn't step in.

Adina waited for a few seconds more, and when she got nothing, she walked to the door and pulled it open, wondering who it could be.

Her eyes widened the second she saw him. Thorne stood outside the door, looking furious. His hand stretched towards the doorknob, his brows furrowed in confusion when he saw her.

His gaze flickered from her head to her toe rather slowly. "You're awake," he said, his voice impossibly low and deep.

Adina's lips were parted open in surprise. She wasn't expecting him. Not when she'd overheard some of the servants talking about how pitiful their Luna was, spending the entire night in immense pain the bond pushed out all because her mate took pleasure in another woman's bosom. Adina couldn't help but feel sympathy for the woman while dreading hers.

"Why are you still awake?" Thorne asked, stepping into the room as she stepped back.

Adina's mouth parted, but no words came out. Nothing made sense. "I…um— I couldn't sleep," she settled for. "But I was about to sleep now…before your arrival," she rushed out.

Thorne arched his brow. "You were? In your day clothes?"

Shoot. She hadn't changed yet. "Yes," she replied stiffly, taking another step back as he stepped closer to her. Why was he coming so close?

Thorne hummed, "With your hair pinned like that?" he asked, and she nodded again. "Yes."

He looked at her intently, seeing the way she shivered. His gaze flickered to the open window, and he immediately understood. How long had she been standing there for?

"Were you waiting for me…?" he asked.

Adina's eyes widened. "W-What? No! I wasn't waiting for you…your majesty," she rushed out, and if she were Pinocchio, her nose would've grown an extra inch.

"No? Was it the party then?" Thorne asked, going straight to the point.

Adina's legs buckled at this. Why was he being so…so much?

"T-the party?" she stuttered.

"Yes. The party," he tilted his head sideways, watching her. He then took a step forward, closer to her. Adina instinctively stepped back, trying to create some distance.

She didn't get too far as her back hit the wall. A gasp escaped her lips. She didn't know she'd walked this far, and yet he didn't stop coming nearer to her.

Adina held out a hand, stopping him from coming closer to her. His gaze flickered to the hand she held out, touching his chest.

She glanced at it too and back at his face and swallowed hard. No. She had to be candid. This wasn't the time to be weak. "Forgive me, your majesty, but I don't understand what you mean."

"You don't?" he paused, nodding. "I'm asking you, Adina. Were you awake because it bothered you? Bothered you that I was at that place?"

Adina blinked up at him, her lashes fluttering once before she looked away.

"Why would it bother me?" she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've made our relationship… painfully clear, haven't you?"

Thorne's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. "You chose to go," she continued, "You didn't owe me anything."

He looked at her for a long moment, saying nothing. His gaze drifted down to the hand she still had pressed lightly against his chest. She quickly pulled it back, crossing her arms over herself like armor.

"So why were you awake?" he asked again, softer now.

Adina's throat worked as she swallowed, "Because I wanted to stay ahead of it," she admitted after a pause. "The pain... I just—" she stopped, her voice hitching. "I just wanted to be awake when it happened. So I could bear it."

Thorne's eyes widened for a brief second. He stepped back, almost as if her words physically knocked into him. For the first time, he looked lost, like he didn't know what to say.

"What?"

"I know the pain, and it's the most excruciating thing to feel. I just wanted to be awake when it hit. I didn't want to be caught off guard," she said.

He hadn't known that. It didn't cross his mind that she'd think he was—would do that to her.

"Adina..." he began but paused, seeing her tense up.

Her nose flared when the scent hit her. It wasn't strong, just faint, but it was there. Floral, sweet, and female.

Adina's face barely changed. She didn't gasp or recoil or cry. But the shift was clear.

Her arms lowered to her sides. Her lips pressed into a thin, controlled line. Her chest rose once, sharp.

Thorne noticed. Instantly. "Adina—"

"You should go wash up, your majesty. I'll draw your bath," she said, her voice quiet but strained.

Thorne flinched, a muscle in his jaw ticked. He should've made sure that woman's scent was off. What was he thinking!

"I didn't…"

"I understand. It's none of my business," she replied quickly, looking away as her heart raced. What had she been expecting?

Thorne cursed Radek in his mind. Damn him. Damn that entire gods-forsaken party.

He took a step back, wanting to spare her from the smell. He was doing everything wrong.