Adina's heart was beating so fast she feared it was a heart attack. She didn't say a word, not as she was lifted off the platform, or as Thorne held her hand tight, or as he led them out of the place with the crowd cheering behind.

She said nothing, only staring at the man who saved her. At her mate.

The moment they stepped into his room, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Thorne!" Adina yelled, rushing to him.

His body slumped heavily in her arms, his skin burning hot and drenched with sweat. She cradled his face, her hands trembling as she brushed the damp strands of hair from his forehead.

"Hey—hey, look at me," she whispered, patting his cheeks gently. "Thorne, open your eyes."

They fluttered open for a second, those dark eyes looking up at her like she was the only thing holding him to life. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a low grunt before his eyes rolled shut again.

"No, no, no, no," she gasped, shaking her head. "Don't you dare, Thorne. You didn't fight your way back just to leave me again."

She looked up, eyes wild and desperate. "Someone help!" she screamed toward the guards outside. "Get Thessara! Now!"

A few palace servants ran off at once, startled by her tone. She held Thorne tighter; his body was so cold. "You're okay. You're going to be okay, I swear it." Her voice cracked. "You have to be okay."

Seconds later, the door burst open as Thessara rushed in, eyes wide with shock, breathless, her robes stained. Caelum followed right behind her, his face pale.

"W-what?" Her eyes fell to Thorne. "Oh gods." She rushed towards them.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, I don't know. He was standing a minute ago, and suddenly he fell, and when we walked in." Adina rushed out as Caelum and Mason helped carry him to the bed.

Adina dragged her hands over her face, body trembling. "Please tell me what's going on with him." She said, clutching his hand tight.

Thessara got to work immediately. When she heard that Thorne was awake, she tripped, fell over some herbs, and injured herself in the process… how could he have woken up just like that? Thessara's spell cast on him was heavy…

Caelum and Mason stood with worry, watching her move around.

"Talk to me! What's going on?" Adina practically screamed from where she was.

Thessara looked at her, "The spell. I'm afraid it's back again."

Adina looked at her, eyes wide and red. "B-but how? He came to save me. H-he spoke, he walked… so how? How is it back?"

Thessara shook her head pathetically, "I- He was healed for a minute. It was a result of the tears."

Adina's brows furrowed. "What tears?"

Thessara glanced at Caelum, who looked just as conflicted.

"Thessara!"

She sighed, "Listen, I have a theory that your tears and you being near him connected well with your bond. It called for him, and I didn't even think it was possible for him to wake up just from that, but it's clear that helped…"

"Except now, he's back to zero. The spell is there like it never left."

Adina fell to her knees, sobbing loudly now. This couldn't be happening. What kind of fate was this? To give her hope and snatch it right back?

"I- I have a solution though." Thessara said, sharing a look with Caelum.

"Solution? What? What is it?" Adina rushed out.

Thessara sighed, helping Adina up. "It's something called Soul binding." She began, staring at Adina like she understood what it meant.

"Soul binding? What is it? Can we do it for Thorne?" She asked instead.

"Soul binding can only be performed between mates. I must say, Adina. It's an incredibly dangerous ritual. You two will share a life force. If you die, he dies. Your fates will be tied as one."

Adina nodded hastily, wiping her tears. "Do it."

Thessara blinked. "What?"

"Do the ritual," she said again, her voice steadier now. "Do the soul binding. Bind me to him. Him to me, whatever it is. If that's the only way he lives—then that's what we're doing."

Thessara gripped her arm tighter. "Adina, this isn't a— do you not understand me? If he dies, you die. Your soul will be bonded forever. There's no going back."

Adina looked at her deep in the eye, unblinking. "Do it. Save his life."

Thessara's lips parted, stunned by how quickly Adina decided. "Adina… Thorne is my blood, but you…. are you sure? This isn't a decision you take so easily… what if something happens—"

"Something already happened!" Adina snapped, eyes glistening with fresh tears. "He nearly died. He came back for me, and then he nearly died again. I can't keep waiting around while curses and spells and other people decide if he gets to live. I'm not letting him go. Not again. If this is what it takes to bring him back. Do it."

She turned to the bed, her voice softer now. "He's all I have."

Thessara looked at her and Thorne then nodded. "Get me my things." She said to Mason, who gave a curt nod before walking off.

Adina's heart pounded hard in her chest as she watched Thorne…. the events of the past hour still haven't settled in her head. She was running on pure adrenaline at this point.

"Adina… you should let me check on your injuries. You—you need help." Thessara said, hand on Adina's shoulder.

Adina shrugged her hand off as she shook her head. "I've never been better. Just—just bring Thorne back."

Thessara sighed just as the door opened, Mason came in with three bags. Thessara took them from him and got right to preparations but paused, turning to face Caelum.

"Keep the room guarded. No one should know what's happening here—not until we're done."

Caelum was halfway to the door when it burst open.

"Elara." Thessara spat out, disgust laced in her tone.

Elara stood by the door, drenched in sweat from the heavy regalia she was wearing, eyes burning with anger. Behind her, Jocelyn was trying to keep up, but even she looked taken aback.

Elara's wild eyes landed on Adina, who was sitting next to Thorne, and she saw pure, undiluted red.

She stormed over to her, "What the hell have you done, you slimy bitch!" She screamed, dragging Adina up.

"You poisoned him and now you've spelled him, haven't you? He's unconscious again! What did you do to his majesty? You witch!"

Adina yanked her arm free from Elara's hold. Her chest heaving heavily. "Get out." She gritted out.

"What?" She scoffed, eyes flickering to Thorne's unconscious body. "You've bewitched him again. This—this is black magic! You've spelled him again, and now you have these traitors to help cover your tracks, right? Well, I refuse to—"

The rest of her words are caught in her throat as Adina raised her hand and slapped the living daylights out of her. The sound echoed through the room loudly.

Elara fell to her knees from the impact, her cheeks red from Adina's fingerprint. Her body trembled with anger, she looked up, eyes wide and glaring at Adina.

"HOW DARE YOU! How dare you raise your hand to me! You are nothing but a filthy low maid who—"

"—Who is now the future Queen of Obsidian." Adina snapped, her voice clear and firm. "And Thorne's mate."

Adina stepped closer to her. "Get Out."

Elara trembled with fury, the disgrace, the humiliation. She clutched her cheek, eyes red. "You will pay for this. I will never—" her words her cut off yet again as Mason hurled her to her feet and dragged her out, and beyond ignoring her pathetic screams.

"Keep her out. No one is allowed on his majesty's wing." Caelum ordered the guards who bowed.

Adina sat down and held Thorne's hand like she'd been doing before. There wasn't a single soul that would take her away from him. Not after he saved her, sacrificed his life to save her from death, and claimed her publicly.