Three days.

Three whole days. That's how long he's been without her. How long since he's last seen her. Thorne was past losing his mind. He was a crazed man. He was doing things he's never done. He had his warriors out there, searching every single house, every single carriage, caravan, abandoned house, cabins, sheds. Anything!

And still… not a sighting of her.

Thorne was past losing his mind. He was mad. He hadn't shut his eyes for a minute in these three days. Not even a wink. His body trembled with exhaustion. His mind was an overworked mess. Still, he didn't dare stop. He forced himself to stay upright at his desk, pouring over useless reports, maps, names that meant nothing when she was gone.

The door creaked open, and he didn't bother looking up.

Thessara stepped inside quietly, carrying a steaming cup of tea. The smell of herbs filled the room. She paused for a second, gaze settling on him. He was doing worse than she thought. Thessara took a deep breath and then she set it down in front of him gently.

"Your majesty…" she called. He didn't reply.

"You need to close your eyes, even for a moment," she murmured. "Your body cannot keep this pace. Adina wouldn't—"

"Don't!" Thorne growled lowly. His head snapped up, bloodshot eyes burning holes through her. "Don't say her name like that. She's not dead!" He growled.

Thessara shook her head rapidly. "I would never!"

"Enough with the lies!" He snarled, and she shut up instantly. The guilt she'd been feeling ever since it happened roused in her chest even more. If only she hadn't stepped out of there that day. If only she hadn't thought to go call Thorne. If she had just waited— then she could've saved Adina. She could've—

"Adina— She's gone!" Thorne whispered, his voice cracked, breaking the iron control he'd been clinging to. He dragged his hands down his face, palms shaking. "She's gone, and I—" He couldn't finish it. His throat closed up, grief strangling him.

Thessara's eyes welled up with tears. She shook her head, "Thorne—" she began but is cut off sharply.

Thorne pushed back from the desk so suddenly the chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"I should've been there! I am such a fool. Chasing after shadows while my mate was being—" he couldn't finish his words.

"Thorne please—You need…you need to shut your eyes. Even if it is for some seconds. You need to—"

"I don't need anything!" Thorne snarled, slamming his fist against the table so hard, it sent the cup of herbal tea jumping, his voice echoing through the room.

Thessara stayed still, "Thorne-"

"I stabbed her." Thorne croaked out, dragging his hand over his face, distraught. "I- I was so enraged with anger! So blinded by rage I couldn't recognize my own mate."

His voice cracked, and he shook his head violently, his knuckles white as he dug his fingers into his scalp. "The woman I vowed to love for the rest of my days. The woman I swore to protect, to cherish. I was the one who raised my claws against her. Me."

Thessara's heart clenched. She'd seen him break before. She was here for it all. Roseanne. His pup. She'd seen him at his worst, but never like this. Not like this.

Thorne's gaze darted to the side, unfocused, as though he was seeing it all over again. The look in Adina's eyes when he stabbed her. The confusion in her eyes. Followed was the terror. He pressed a trembling hand to his chest, as if trying to rip the memory out.

"She must've been so terrified…" His voice trembled, his broad shoulders curled inward, making him look less like a king and more like a broken man. "Goddess, she was crying, Thessara. I saw the tears in her eyes. She—" His throat closed again. He slammed his fist against the desk, "She was alone. She thought I hated her."

Thessara's tears slipped free now, but she didn't dare speak.

"How can I sleep when I don't deserve to?" He heaved heavily. "I can't go to my chambers." His voice was hollow. "Not mine. Not hers. If I open that door and she's not there, then I… I can't." He dragged both hands down his face, his eyes bloodshot. "I don't deserve to sleep. I don't deserve rest. Not when she's out there—gods know where, gods know what's happening to her."

"Thorne," Thessara whispered, desperate to reach him, "blaming yourself will not bring her back. We will find her. I swear it. I will not stop until—"

"Leave!" he roared suddenly, the sound. His eyes burned with rage. "Get out before I say something I cannot take back."

Thessara flinched but bowed her head, swallowing the lump in her throat. She turned and left silently, carrying the untouched tea with her.

The door shut behind her, and Caelum was waiting outside. His jaw was clenched, his eyes flicked to the cup in Thessara's hands, then back to her face.

"It didn't go well," he muttered, though it wasn't really a question.

Thessara exhaled shakily, shaking her head as Caelum continued, "The people are panicking. Their future Queen was a—"

"Don't." Thessara's voice cracked sharply, yet trembling. "Don't you dare call her that. Adina is not a beast. She's—she's the purest thing this kingdom will ever have."

Caelum's gaze softened, "I would never call Adina a beast, Thessara. I might've not been the closest to her, but she's Thorne's Adina."

Thessara understood. Thorne was out of it. Addressing the people wasn't on his mind, and the responsibility fell onto Caelum's shoulder. The people wanted to hear from the king, not the beta, and Thorne… he only wanted Adina.

Thessara's shoulders sagged, the exhaustion she'd been hiding finally spilling over. "I'm doing everything I can. Every spell, every herb, every chant I've ever known. Nothing is working." Her voice dropped, thick with guilt. "My powers… they're limited."

Before Caelum could respond, she walked away.

The moment she stepped into her cabin, she got right to work. Not like she'd ever stopped. She brought it all out. Every spell book. Every herb. Every scroll from the past sages. Hours went by, and still, she was surrounded by it all with no progress.

After what seemed like forever… Thessara paused, looking over everything she'd taken out. She collapsed to her knees, and for the first time in over a decade, Thessara cried.

Her sobs shook her body as she buried her face in her hands.

"Goddess, please…" she whispered, voice breaking. "Adina is the one thing this kingdom must not lose. She is the light. The hope." Her body trembled as she pressed her forehead to the floor, tears spilling freely.

"Virelya… help your daughter."