Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Thorne sat at the head of the table, jaw clenched tightly as he eyed the eleven councilmen who had gathered before him.

Were they expected? No.

But did they come unexpectedly? Yes.

It was an intervention, they said. And now, they all sat in their seats, shifting uncomfortably as if something was biting their buttocks.

Thorne's gaze flickered over each of them carefully before landing on the root of the problem, Lord Carter.

"An intervention? Tell me more," he said, leaning back against the chair.

"Forgive us, my king, for showing up without notice, but this matter has gone far enough that we can no longer sit still and watch," one of them began.

"Exactly! This matter is tearing us from within and causing a division in Obsidian. The longer we let this go on, the longer it will affect more than just Obsidian but the realm as a whole. We need to put a stop to this," another said.

Thorne nodded. "Since you've all come, I assume you know the matter at hand."

"Yes," they all chorused.

"And your intervention is what?" he asked.

The council members all looked at each other, making sure they had the correct answer. Finally, one cleared his throat.

"What Alpha Radek has done is beyond unacceptable, and we believe he should be punished, but having him behind bars is—"

he didn't get to finish his words as the door was flung open.

Caelum rushed in, eyes wide. He bowed to Thorne. "Your majesty…" he began. "There's been commotion in the town square. A group of servants was attacked while leaving the gates."

Caelum swallowed hard. "Adina was with them. She's missing."

The silence in the room was deafening.

For a moment, Thorne heard nothing but a shrill, sharp noise.

He shot up from the seat, the chair scraping against the floor, the only thing on his mind was Caelum's voice. 'Adina's missing.'

He didn't make it to the door as Lord Carter's voice rang out behind him, "Will the king leave his council members in such an important meeting to chase after a slave?"

Thorne didn't move at first, his back to them. Still. Too still.

In a blur, faster than the council could register, Thorne vanished from where he stood.

Gasps filled the room.

In the blink of an eye, Lord Carter was already choking. Thorne's hand was wrapped around his throat, pinning him high against the wall like he weighed nothing. Like he was nothing but a rag doll.

The lord's hand shot out, grasping at Thorne's arm, desperate for air.

"Say that again. I dare you," the king's voice was deep with unrestrained fury.

Lord Carter clawed at Thorne's wrist, struggling for air.

"Call her a slave again, and I will snap your neck and feed it to the dogs."

The other councilmen stood frozen, pale with fear. No one dared speak.

With a growl, Thorne flung Carter across the room. He hit the floor hard, rolling over with a groan.

Thorne heaved heavily. His aura burned red-hot, filling the room with raw power and fury. He didn't look at any of them again. He stormed out of the room with Caelum hot on his heels.

___________

Adina~

Her breath hitched, sharp and shallow.

The heat. It was everywhere, crawling up her skin like wildfire.

She couldn't think.

Her back arched off the ground, a gasp tearing from her throat as her body ignited from the inside out. She didn't know what was happening, only that something had snapped loose inside her and it was hungry.

"Ngh—" she moaned loudly, dragging from her lips as the ache settled deep in her belly, tightening.

Her legs trembled. Her arms were limp. Everything in her begged—craved—touch.

The girl stood above her, grinning with smug satisfaction. "There it is," she whispered. "Didn't take long, huh?"

Adina blinked up at her, sweat beading down her temples. "Wh… what did you… do to me?"

The girl crouched, brushing Adina's hair back mockingly. "Now, how would I know? This is all General Elara's doing." She grinned. "But if I were to guess… you've been hit with the sexual enchantment spell."

"W-what?" Adina croaked.

"I told you, didn't I? You'll feel good in no time." She winked.

Adina's lips quivered. "You're… insane."

The girl shrugged. "Maybe. But I've done my job. And the rogues?" She stood up, glancing past the trees. "They're not far now. You'll be just the way they want you."

Adina's heart pounded with horror. She touched her neck where the girl had hit her, and she felt it, something sharp and tight like it was sewn into her, which was impossible.

No.

No.

Even through the dizzy haze, she could feel the danger. She refused to be taken. Not like this.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up—hands clawing against the dirt, body screaming in resistance. Her entire body trembled like it was seconds from combustion.

She stumbled, nearly falling again, but her body moved on instinct.

Run. Her mind chanted. Run. Run now.

But she barely made it two steps before the girl caught her wrist with a firm grip.

"Oh no, no," the girl said sweetly. "You have to stay. They'll be here any minute."

Adina jerked away, but the girl tightened her hold. "You want to run?" she sneered. "Fine. But they'll find you writhing in the dirt like the filthy little whore you are anyways." Her face scrunched in disgust. "The king must be out of his mind to choose a filthy rat like yourself over—"

Adina didn't hear the rest of her words anymore, no…. Something in her snapped. Something that had stayed buried deep inside her.

She turned back around slowly, too slowly. Her eyes burned volcano red, she looked like the reincarnation of the devil. "What did you say?" she growled, her voice dropping several octaves into something… not human.

The girl blinked. "What?"

Adina lunged. Her hand shot out, fingers wrapping tightly around the girl's throat. She slammed her back against the nearest tree, and the girl gasped, she didn't look smug anymore…. she looked scared. Scared of Adina.

"W-wait—"

Adina didn't wait. No— she's had enough!

She bared her teeth, her canines seeping out. She jumped at the girl and sunk her mouth sank into the girl's neck with a sickening crunch. Tearing her flesh off.

The girl screamed.

Adina didn't stop.

She ripped her head back, mouth stained red, the girl's scream dying into a gurgle.

Adina let her drop. She staggered backward, panting, eyes wide with shock as she stared at the girl's body. How can she kill? She's not supposed to— she can't.

She looked at her hand coated in the girl's blood and gasped. How? Could she really? Did she?

Then she felt the most excruciating pain shoot up her head, Adina groaned, holding her head like it was about to burst out.

She staggered backwards, tears streaming down her cheeks. What was happening to her? What was—-

She fell to her knees, the pain was blinding, and now it wasn't just in her head but her entire body, like her blood was fighting against something else in her.

It was vicious, and she screamed, excruciatingly so.

Suddenly the pain stopped, everything settling back in her like she wasn't just gasping for air and writhing in pain. The only thing left was the unbearable hotness that filled her body…. the feeling of want, need, and desire coursed through her body… it felt like it had increased by a thousand.

Adina gasped, desperate for the feel of something—anything…

Her ears shot up when she heard it. Silent footsteps rushing towards her… the scent was unfamiliar… it was one of the rogues coming for her.

Adina managed to stand, she couldn't be taken away…. she couldn't allow herself to be caught… and so she ran…