Bloodbound to the Beastly King

The air in the palace was colder than usual. Caelum stood by the west terrace, staring out at the soldiers doing drills in the courtyard below. He should be with the king in the meeting room as the beta, but not today…

Today, he had to excuse himself and step outside. Something was off. He could feel it in his bones. What it was? He didn't know.

Footsteps approached quickly behind him. He didn't turn until he heard the familiar voice. It was his trusted warrior.

Caelum nodded, "What's the situation?" he asked.

The warrior bowed deeply, "My lord, I have news from Varrick's estate."

Caelum nodded again; he had been waiting for this news for hours now. "I'm afraid there has been a situation. The Lord has been missing for two days."

Caelum frowned. "Missing? What do you mean Lord Varrick is missing?"

"I have no idea, my Lord, but news has it that the Lord never returned to his home since two days ago."

Caelum paused, brows furrowed. "He didn't return to his estate since two days ago?" Wasn't that the same day he came to meet the king?

How come Varrick disappeared right after coming to the palace?

Caelum's jaw tightened. "The Lord has been missing for two days, and we didn't get reports about it until now?"

The guard looked down, unable to say a thing at this. He too had no idea why it had taken so long.

He blinked, remembering what he'd been told earlier. "There's more," the guard added, hesitating slightly. "Yesterday, one of the guards at the lower wing reported… there was trouble at the dungeon."

Caelum's brows raised. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

"The prisoner… Alpha Radek, he attacked the guards during the night. One almost lost his arm," he said.

"Radek attacked a guard, and I'm just hearing about it? What the heck is happening!" Caelum snarled.

"I'm sorry, Beta, but General Elara ordered that no one just report to the king. The guard only told me that because the guard who Alpha Radek attacked has asked to be moved to a different wing."

Caelum's brows furrowed. "And you're certain that Elara asked for this to be kept away from the king?"

"Absolutely. The general said she would tell him herself."

But she didn't… Elara hasn't told Thorne about the attack, which meant she wasn't going to.

Caelum's jaw locked. His thoughts were racing—Radek attacking guards, Varrick going missing, and Elara… silencing reports?

He nodded, "Bring the guard to me. I'll personally handle his request," he said.

The warrior bowed again then walked away.

As the guard rushed off, Caelum remained still for a moment, staring out at the soldiers below. His grip tightened on the balcony rail. Why would Elara want to protect Radek? What the heck was she up to?

Too many things were happening at once. Which should he tell the king first?

Radek's attack?

Varrick's missing?

Or Elara's cover-up?

_________

Adina stepped out of the palace gates, the air was even colder than before. She was going into the woods to see Thessara. She hadn't made up her mind yet, but she was curious.

Could she really be a healer?

She hadn't even taken a step when she felt an arm over her shoulder; she turned only to find Kora by her side.

"Kora… what are you doing outside the palace?" she asked, glancing back at the gates that three other maids just stepped out from.

"My dearest beloved," Kora began, and Adina sighed… This was it now… Kyle's random burst of dramatics Kora had begun to do.

"Fine… I won't bore you. Headmaid Maya has asked that me and the other girls go get something from the market."

Adina's brows furrowed. Since when did the palace maids start going out to get things from the market?

"She did?"

"Yeah. Surprising, isn't it?" Another maid Adina hadn't gotten familiar with piped up from her left.

"I've always been so jealous of you," the girl groaned.

Adina looked at her puzzled. "Jealous? Why?"

"What do you mean why? You're his majesty's personal maid."

"Exhibit A," another maid piped up.

"You get to go in and out of the palace just like you're doing right now," she continued.

"Exhibit B."

"You get your own personal room in his majesty's wing?"

"Exhibit C."

"Okay, I get it," Adina rushed out, face heating up. She wasn't sure she could continue to listen to the girls list everything.

"Now you get it. Every single maid in the palace would die to be in your shoes," the girl said again.

"Anyways… you're passing the town square, right?" Kora asked.

Adina nodded; she'd have to get to the town square then make a detour into the woods where Thessara lived.

"Good. We're passing there too. We can all walk together," Kora grinned.

They all made their way towards the town square, the other girls kept talking with Adina chipping in once in a while. It was fun like this.

Soon they were approaching the town square when all hell broke loose.

Someone's loud scream pierced through the air, and that was it. Adina couldn't see what was happening, not with everyone running as though their lives depended on it. She couldn't even see what they were running from.

She turned to her side, mouth open and ready to call for Kora when she saw that the woman wasn't at her side anymore. The girls she'd been walking with had all disappeared, probably lost in the disarray.

Adina froze. Her heart thundered in her chest. "Run!" someone yelled.

She turned to bolt, but a hand yanked her back.

"Come with me!" a voice hissed. It was the same girl who had listed reasons why she was privileged. Her grip was strong, fingers digging into Adina's wrist.

Adina hesitated, sweat running down her forehead, her pulse wild with fear and adrenaline; she nodded and ran with her.

What they were running from, she didn't know.

They jumped into the woods and continued to run and run until the noise slowly faded away.

Then, suddenly, the girl jerked her hand away, and Adina stumbled forward.

She turned around, breathless. "What are you doing?" she asked, glancing at where they just ran from, heart pounding hard.

The girl rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Gods, you're easy."

Adina blinked, confused. "What?"

The girl smirked. "Honestly, it's almost embarrassing how easy it is to trick you. My lady's going to be very pleased."

Adina's blood ran cold. "Your lady?"

The girl smiled. "Lady Elara sends her greetings."

It felt like a bucket filled with ice was thrown at her. Adina's eyes were wide, her face pale with shock.

"W-what? General Elara? Why would she— did she offend her? Was the general angry with her?"

Adina tried to crack her memory, but nothing came forth.

"How dare you lie on the general's name," Adina snapped, anger bubbling inside of her.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Believe whatever you want. All I know is I've done my job and delivered you as ordered."

Adina's hands balled into fists. "You—"

She lunged at the girl angrily, but the girl was ready. She pulled something from her pocket and slapped it hard against Adina's neck.

Pain exploded down her spine.

Stopping her in her tracks. She gasped as the pain slowly evened out and then something hot burst inside her. Adina gasped, her limbs turning to jelly. Her knees buckled, her vision blurring.

The girl crouched beside her as she collapsed.

"I did a good job," she said to herself, her smile growing wider. "You'll have the time of your life now," she whispered with a cruel smile. "Trust me."

"What have you done?" Adina whispered.