"Did you do anything to offend any of the concubines?" Kora asked Adina as they both walked back towards the house.

Adina glanced at her, brows furrowed. "Offend? I haven't even attended to any of them, so how could I?" She asked, her brows furrowed. "Did anyone complain that I did anything?"

Kora hummed. "Not exactly. But I was with Lady Freya, and she asked about you…"

"Freya?" Adina asked, puzzled. She tried racking her memory for who could be Freya amongst the concubines.

Kora nodded. "Yeah. But she said you looked familiar, so it's good. I just wanted to be sure. You know, after all that happened with the head maid. I didn't want your name being brought up again for the wrong reason."

"I didn't do anything wrong," Adina said again.

"That's good. Wouldn't want Maya and the others piling on you anymore," she replied, pausing as they arrived at the slave quarters. Kora was going in here, and Adina would walk all the way to the Alpha's wing.

She bade goodbye to Kora and continued her walk.

Adina's steps slowed as she turned the corner leading toward the Alpha's wing. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her robe.

She didn't want to go there. Not now. Not when her heart was this heavy.

The image of the twelve concubines flashed in her mind. The way they'd argued bitterly, insulted each other. All for Thorne. If women who were as beautiful and attractive as them were fighting over who got to carry his babies, where did that leave her?

She shook her head. It wouldn't take time before he starts bedding them. Nobody could resist such beautiful women.

No— she won't stay idle knowing the pain would come soon. She had to act fast.

And so— Adina made a U-turn. There was only one person in Obsidian that she knew could help her. Thessara.

The woman usually didn't stay in Obsidian, but by the goddess's grace, she was under some spiritual hermitage, and so she was in a house at the far ends of the forest, staying in solitude.

Adina knew this because the woman had sought her out before she left. Adina tempered the way she clasped her hand over Adina's. "If ever you need me, I'll be at the house where the moon lilies grow. Just follow the scent. You'll find me."

And tonight… Adina needed her.

The moon was high in the sky by the time she reached the palace grounds. No one stopped her. Most of the guards were still distracted with the arrival of the concubines, and besides, she was just a slave. Who cared where she wandered?

She slipped past the garden walls and into the woods. As her feet crunched over dry leaves, she wondered if Thorne would even know she wasn't in the palace.

Ah, until when would she keep thinking like this? Such a fool.

Crickets sang somewhere in the distance. The deeper she went, the quieter everything became.

Eventually, a sweet floral scent filled the air, and she paused, sniffing. It was it. Moon lilies.

She didn't waste time in following the smell.

The house appeared suddenly, a small cabin. A single lantern glowed from the inside, casting a warm light in the dark.

Adina smiled, her heart thudding hard in her chest. She wondered if the woman would be surprised to see her. She wondered how shocked she would be if she told her of her plans to nullify the bond.

Adina stepped forward and knocked.

It took a moment, but then the door creaked open.

She blinked, surprised. She'd been expecting to knock a few more times.

Thessara stood there, robed in midnight blue. Her silver hair was loose around her shoulders, and her eyes immediately softened at the sight of Adina. "Oh dear child. What has happened?"

Adina's throat burned, and her eyes watered. She hadn't been feeling this much emotion before, but now… standing in front of the woman. The way she looked at her, how soft her voice was. It triggered something inside her, and a tear fell to her cheeks.

"I need your help."

Thessara didn't say a word. She simply opened her arms. Adina stepped into them without hesitation.

She didn't cry loudly. There were no sobs, no heaving breaths. Just silent tears as she clung to the woman who smelled faintly of herbs.

After a while, Thessara guided her inside.

The cabin was warm and simple. Wooden shelves lined the walls, packed with scrolls, dried herbs. A kettle was steaming on a small fire.

"Sit," Thessara said gently, leading Adina to a cushion on the floor. She handed her a warm cup of tea. "Now… tell me everything."

Adina stared into the tea. The scent was calming. It was lavender and something sweet, but it couldn't stop the ache in her chest.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just cried all over you. I'm really sorry," she said, head bowed.

"Don't apologize for hurting…" she paused, eyeing Adina's body. The girl looked thinner than the last time Thessara saw her. The injuries on her body were still evident. Thessara looked away, anger bubbling inside of her. "I knew my nephew was a fool, but this is over the top. What has he done to you?"

Adina snapped her face up, eyes wide. "His majesty has done nothing to—"

"Don't defend him. He has done everything wrong. You're all skin and bones, but he doesn't see it?" She hissed out, stepping closer to Adina and tilted her head upwards to face her. "Your eyes are thin, your body is littered with bruises. You should be healing as a wolf, but your wounds stay. He doesn't see this? That you aren't healing as you should? Aren't you eating?" She snapped.

Adina looked away shamefully. Should she have come? Did she just spell more trouble for herself? She didn't want any more drama. She only wanted to nullify the bond.

"Thessara, I—"

Thessara didn't budge. "What has happened to your wolf? Why won't she heal you?"

Adina looked away forcefully this time. She had no answer for the woman. Her wolf was still there; she could feel her, but her presence was weak. She barely spoke to her anymore. Perhaps all the pain had gotten to her, and now she's retreated to the deepest part of Adina.

It wasn't uncommon for this to happen.

Thessara stared at the girl, her heart heavy. Before she left the palace, she had sought her out specially and told her of the moon lilies. She had been curious to know if the girl was truly as special as she thought. No ordinary being would smell moon lilies nor follow the scent. But Adina did.

Now she was sure the girl was truly special. She was someone Thorne needed in his life, and yet… he treated her so terribly.

Such a fool.

Thessara sighed, "Tell me everything that's happened."

Adina swallowed hard. "Concubines. The king has twelve concubines now, and while I know my place in his life, I can't stay calm knowing the kind of pain I will be in once he starts to… bed them."

She looked up then, tears glimmering in her eyes. "I don't want to feel it when he touches them. I don't want to ache just because he looks at someone else. I didn't ask for this bond. I didn't want it."

She took a deep breath in and exhaled. "I want to nullify the bond."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Thessara stared at Adina like she's grown two heads.

Finally, she sighed, "Adina," she said softly, "You do know what you're asking, don't you?"

Adina nodded, but her throat tightened. "I'm not asking to cut the bond. B-but I don't want to be in that pain again. If there's a way… I'll pay the price. Whatever it is."

In that pain again. Thessara could only stare at the girl. She wondered what exactly she'd had to endure before Obsidian.

Thessara looked at her for a long moment. Not with pity, but with something heavier. With sorrow and respect all tangled into one.

"I will look into it," she finally said. "You won't be in such pain again. I promise you."

Adina blinked, that was it. The tension slipped from her body. "Thank you. Thank you," she rushed out.

Thessara huffed as she got up. "Thank me when you aren't in pain anymore," she said.

She glanced at the sky through the window. "You'll sleep here tonight. It's too late to send you back."

"Is that— will that be fine?" She asked, knowing this was perfect for her. She truly didn't want to stay in the king's wing tonight nor the slave quarters.

Thessara smiled. "Of course. Come, I'll show you to the room. It's a tiny old thing, but I think you'll fit in just fine," she said, leading Adina to the room.

Later when Adina laid in the bed, she couldn't help but be grateful to Thessara. Even if her entire life was falling apart. At least, she wouldn't be in pain.

_____

The next morning when she woke up, Thessara was nowhere to be found.