Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina's brows furrowed, her mind swirling with confusion. Why was he looking at her that way? Why was he staring at her….

Her eyes widened slowly, it was almost like each puzzle was falling into place the more she stared at him.

Thorne took a step towards her and her heart beat quickened….her face flushed hard but she found it more difficult to look away.

With the storm raging outside, with the lightning cracking up in the clouds, she couldn't hear anything but the pounding in her heart. She couldn't see anything but him.

"It was you," she muttered, eyes wide with shock as he held the handkerchief up like it were some evidence.

Thorne halted in his steps, his expression unreadable. Then he began walking again like he didn't hear her.

Adina swallowed hard, "It was you," she said with more confidence, more clarity.

Thorne said nothing at first, but his eyes flicked to her face, searching, waiting. Then he took another step closer, the floorboards groaning under his weight. His hair clinging to his forehead, and yet somehow… he looked calmer than she'd ever seen him.

"You were with me that night, right?" she said confidently.

She gasped the second he reached her, stopping so close to her, just an inhale of the air and she'd be choking with his scent.

Thorne's gaze dropped to her hand for a second and slowly, he wrapped his large hand around hers. Adina stiffened slightly from the touch, she could count how many times Thorne has touched her. They weren't that many.

"You were the one who left this behind, right?" she asked again.

Thorne didn't speak. Instead, his fingers tightened gently around hers, enveloping her hand and the old handkerchief. "I did."

Adina's heart stuttered at this. She never for once thought it was him who stayed with her that night. That he was the wolf who had wrapped his fur around her to keep her warm. Who had left her the handkerchief.

She'd thought he despised her back then at least. Maybe he did despise her but if he did…why would he have stayed with her? All through that stormy night?

Adina's breath trembled as his fingers curled around hers, warm despite the chill of the rain still clinging to his skin. His grip wasn't forceful, no, it was… protective.

She looked up at him, her lashes fluttering as her eyes locked with his. "Why?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you stay? You—"

"Stop thinking so much," he replied calmly, a contrast to the way she felt.

She was feeling way too many things at the same time it was becoming difficult to stay sane. For the longest time, she'd thought about the person who stayed with her. Wondered what the initials embroidered on the handkerchief meant only to find out….it's been him all along.

She swallowed hard and nodded. He was right, she was thinking way too hard about it. He was the king of the kingdom and had patrolled the kingdom during the storm. That was all there was to it.

"Whatever you're thinking isn't correct," Thorne's voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

She blinked, startled. "W-what?"

Thorne took a step back, his gaze flickering outside the window. "I stayed because I wanted to….it was the right thing to do," he replied, eyes shifting back to hers.

She could do nothing but stare at him blankly as his words settled in her mind. He stayed because he wanted to?

His gaze flickered down to the mark on her neck and she watched as he gulped hard. His fingers ghosting her skin. Adina's eyes shut close the second he touched the mark.

It was electrifying.

Her eyes fluttered as the feeling of his fingers brushing against her neck lingered right over the mark he'd left — a mark that had changed everything.

She opened her eyes slowly, breath shaky. His face was so close now. Close enough that she could see the droplets clinging to his lashes, the way his eyes darkened just slightly when they landed on her lips before flicking back up.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she whispered, unsure if she wanted an answer or just… more silence.

Thorne didn't speak at first. His jaw flexed, his eyes dragging over every inch of her face like he was memorizing it. Or maybe… like he was fighting something.

"I don't know how to stop," he said quietly.

Adina's heart skipped, maybe stopped altogether. "Stop what?"

He didn't reply. No- he stared at her for a moment longer then shut his eyes tight like he was physically restraining himself.

Adina's heart pounded hard in her chest. She didn't dare ruin the moment. Her hands stayed clutched at her sides.

Finally, Thorne opened his eyes, something she couldn't recognize flickering behind them. "You should sleep," he said, voice rough. "Before I do…" he trailed off.

Adina didn't argue. She couldn't. Her heart was pounding too loud to form words.

She simply nodded.

But as she turned toward the bed, she knew things had changed. Irrevocably. And for the first time since she arrived in Obsidian, she smiled, a genuine hearty smile.

________

The next morning, Thorne was out of the room and so was Adina. She'd returned to her room as fast as she could.

She had barely slept. She pretended all night and when he stepped out, she made her way out immediately.

She needed a break, some space where his scent wasn't clinging to her senses. Where she didn't feel like she was drowning with each breath.

Now, it was noon and she was in the courtyard. Her mind wouldn't stop replaying everything that happened last night. It was torture, hearing his voice, remembering the way he had stared at her.

Oh, it was torture….one she couldn't bear.

She'd grabbed all available clothes due for washing and washed them all. Anything to take her mind off the thought that plagued her. It was sickening.

She washed everything she could find, helping the other maids to wash too. Of course, they didn't mind leaving their chores to her. She wanted it too.

Now, she was at the courtyard, drying each cloth she'd washed.

"Adina!" A familiar voice broke her out of her thoughts. She turned, wet cloth in her hand, sweat trickling down her forehead.

"Kora."

The other smiled manically at her before rushing towards her. It's been days since she last saw her friend.

The other girl beamed at her, cheeks flushed as she ran up with wide arms and threw them around Adina without warning.

"Ugh, I've missed you so much, it's been so boring without you. The palace felt like a prison."

Adina blinked, still holding the damp cloth in her hand as Kora squeezed the life out of her.

"Kora!" Adina whisper-yelled.

Kora leaned back, laughing as she winked. "Don't worry. I won't get in trouble. I made friends." She replied.

Adina's brows furrowed. Friends?

Kora's gaze shifted to the rows of dryer Adina was currently standing behind with dozens of clothes spread on them. "Why are you doing this? Are you on punishment? Washing the entire kingdom's dirty laundry. Was it Maya? She asked you to do this?" Kora shook her head, tsking. "What kind of punishment is this?"

Adina smiled sheepishly, rubbing the nape of her neck awkwardly. "I'm not being punished. I volunteered to do it." She said.

Kora stared at her like she'd grown five heads. "Say what?"

"It's not a big deal, really? Look, I'm almost done too." Adina rushed out, trying to convince Kora but the other only looked at her like she'd lost her mind. Maybe she has.

"You volunteered to wash the entire kingdom's dirty laundry?" Kora asked.

"It's not the entire kingdom…." Adina trailed off, "It's just a couple.." she mumbled.

"Adina. Why do you do this to yourself? Are you trying to make your fingers fall off?" Then suddenly she leaned closer to her, eyes squinted sharply. "Did something happen during the trip? Is that why you're doing this?" She asked.

Adina looked away, memories of that day flashing in her mind but she quickly shut it down.

"No, Kora. Nothing happened. I just missed working." She mumbled, getting back to spreading the cloth.

Kora looked at her like she now had ten extra heads. "Who misses working, Adina!"

Adina shrugged, what was she to say? My brain went on overdrive and I needed to do something to physically stop myself from thinking about last night?

"Help me?" She asked, looking at the woman over her shoulder.

Kora shook her head. "Yeah, no. This one is on you but I'm here to give you moral support." She winked. "So tell me, what's the moon festival like?"

Adina managed to shut down the memory of that place and instead spoke about the little ones.

Soon, she was out of space to dry the rest of the clothes. She gathered the basket in her hands to move to the other side of the palace. Kora followed by her side, talking about her own experience of the festival.

They didn't make it far when they noticed some of the servants pausing, straightening their postures and lowering their voices.

Adina's brows furrowed as she followed their line of sight. A carriage had just pulled up to the front steps of the palace, its emblem shimmering under the sun.

"Someone important's here," Kora murmured, "Looks like… a council member?"

Adina squinted, brushing sweat off her brow. The figure that stepped out of the carriage was tall, composed, and dressed in rich green robes that brushed the ground as he walked.

His hair was dark and slicked back, not a strand out of place. His presence alone made the maids nearby drop into curtsies.

"Councilman Carter," Kora said under her breath, nudging Adina. "He doesn't usually come to the palace unless something serious is going on. Wonder what brought him here."

Adina was about to hum and look away until the man's gaze briefly landed on her.

Just for a second.

For that one single second, it felt like the air seized. Like the brush of cold wind against her neck.

He kept walking, his attention already shifting elsewhere. But Adina stood frozen, the laundry basket still clutched to her chest.

"Did you see that?" She asked Kora as she exhaled shakily.

"See what?" Kora asked, eyes on Adina.

Adina swallowed hard and shook her head. "Nothing…he just looked really familiar."

Kora chuckled lowly. "He's the head councilman of the king's cabinet. There's no way you know him."

Adina nodded, Kora was right. It was just one of those moments…..