"You must take concubines."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Thorne stared at the twelve men before him, each draped in wealth and arrogance, their heads bowed slightly as if that softened the blow of what they had just said.

His ears rang with their words. Take concubines? Surely, they didn't mean….

His jaw tightened as his gaze flickered through each of them. "What did you say?" His voice was low, deadly even.

The men shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Lord Kethan cleared his throat for the third time. "Your Majesty. This is a matter of urgency and shall be treated as such. You must take—"

"How dare you?" Thorne's voice cut the man off, it was deep, dark, and hoarse. "You dare come into my kingdom… and suggest this?"

Lord Kethan didn't flinch, no, they were all determined. This has been going on for years. Not anymore. He stood his ground. "Your Majesty—"

"Do I look like a man who needs to be told how to secure my throne?" Thorne cut in, voice sharp and low.

"This is about securing your throne but securing Obsidian. What happens after you? The kingdom needs to be stronger. The only way that can happen is if there is an heir."

Another councilman cleared his throat. "This is not a question of your strength, my King. But of the kingdom's future. A throne without an heir—"

"Is still a throne," Thorne snapped, standing to his feet. His chair scraped against the ground. "And I am still king. Or have you all forgotten?"

He knew the council coming to Obsidian was trouble. They only came when you lay trouble but this— this he wasn't expecting. Concubines? They never crossed his mind. Not in a million years.

The men didn't move. Some exchanged glances. Kethan's hands folded in front of him calmly.

"Forgive us, Your Majesty, but this is not personal. It is a necessity. Obsidian needs an heir. You refuse a queen. The gods have not granted you a second mate. This… is the only solution."

"Only solution to what?! What exactly is so wrong that needs such an absurd solution?"

"It's not at all absurd, My King. Other kings take concubines even with their queen. As a king, the first priority is your kingdom and—"

"Don't you dare!" Thorne growled, the tables trembled at the extent of his rage. "Don't you dare lecture me on what a king should and shouldn't do! Have you lost your darn minds?" He snarled.

Lord Kethan lifted his chin. "We understand this is difficult to hear, but it is not madness. It is practicality. Your people need the reassurance of continuity. They need to see a future."

"Then perhaps they should look elsewhere," Thorne spat.

"Your Majesty—"

"Enough!" Thorne roared, his voice thunderous, shaking the glass windows. The guards outside the chamber stiffened at the sound. "I have given this kingdom everything. My blood. My life. My pup. I watched my mate die in my arms, and you stand here and demand I share my bed with strangers, all for the sake of legacy?"

He was breathing hard now, the beast clawing at his insides. His hands trembled with the effort of holding it back. "I won't do it," he said through clenched teeth. "I won't dishonor her like that."

Kethan's eyes narrowed, still calm. "It is not dishonor. It is necessity. You may not believe it, but Roseanne would have understood."

That made Thorne freeze.

"Don't. Don't you dare speak her name," he growled.

Kethan looked at him then gave a faint pitiful sigh. "Then perhaps you'll consider this instead. It has already been decided."

"All twelve provinces. All twelve bloodlines. We have each sent our first-born daughters to Obsidian. They will arrive within the week and reside in the palace for a month. At the end of that time, you will choose three concubines of your liking."

Thorne stared at him, silent. Shaking.

Kethan continued, tone even but final. "Or you may name a queen. Or a mate. Someone who can bear you a child. If neither happens… the council will reconvene and take matters into our own hands."

No one breathed. The words landed like a blow. It was one to Thorne.

Thorne didn't speak. He didn't trust himself to. He turned and stormed out.

~~~~~

The doors slammed shut behind him. Thorne braced both hands against the wall, head bowed, shoulders heaving.

Caelum stood across the room, watching him quietly.

"They've lost their minds." Thorne spat out.

"You can't be surprised," Caelum voiced out.

Thorne laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. "I'm not surprised," he muttered. "I'm furious. They're parading their daughters in here like… like offerings. As if I'm meant to choose a favorite and bed her like some prize-winning beast."

He raked a hand through his hair, his frustration coming off him in waves. "Concubines? Have they no respect for their own daughters?"

Caelum stepped forward. "Each of the twelve bloodlines only has one wish, your majesty. One of their daughters to be the queen of the realm."

Caelum sighed, "You've delayed this for years, Thorne. You knew it would come."

Thorne scoffed, "I didn't think they'd force me to choose," Thorne said bitterly. "I thought—" He cut himself off, fists tightening. "I thought I'd have more time….time to find a sage."

Caelum shook his head "Sages are extinct, your majesty. Sages went extinct after the war. The last traceable one was seen in the Isles of Siva, and that was years ago. I'm afraid our search for a sage has to come to an end."

Thorne turned away, running a hand through his hair, gripping the back of his neck like it might keep his rage in place. "I can't give them an heir, Caelum. Unless one of their daughters is a sage. I can't breed them."

He laughed, the sound was hollow. He really could never have a break.

"Let them send their daughters. Let them play house in my court. But I won't choose any of them. I can't."

Caelum watched him for a long moment "Then what will you do?"

Thorne didn't answer, but in the silence, his thoughts screamed…

Adina.