Thorne froze.

Levi was still smiling, mid-sentence, when the air went colder.

Adina felt it before she saw him, like her body knew he was near before her eyes did. Her heart dropped into her stomach.

She turned her head.

Thorne stood at the edge of the path. His eyes were feral, unreadable, locked onto her, then shifted to Levi. Then back to her, slowly and dangerously.

Adina's breath caught. Her hand dropped the bag Levi had given her. She quickly stepped back behind Levi and bowed low.

"Your majesty."

Levi blinked in confusion, only then realizing who had arrived. He bowed too, "my king."

Thorne didn't say a word. His eyes flicked between her and Levi. That bag in her hands mocked him. Her soft voice burned him. That flower in her hair made his vision blur red.

His jaw clenched. His fists trembled at his sides. And for a terrifying moment, he nearly yanked her away right there, almost ripped her from behind Levi like she belonged to him.

He was going to—until—

"Your Majesty!" A high, sultry voice broke through.

One of the concubines, Veronica, clad in a flowing, pale silk robe that barely covered her shoulder, ran toward him, practically throwing herself into his path. Her breasts almost leaping out of the dress she wore.

"Your majesty," she whined, immediately latching herself onto his arm like a leech, completely ignoring the heat radiating from his fury.

Adina's gaze fell to the concubine's arm wrapped around Thorne's arm, and she gulped hard. Levi glanced at her, his jaw clenched tight, and then he shuffled his feet slightly, blocking Adina's vision.

This didn't go unnoticed by Thorne, whose brows cocked up. The audacity of this child.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," the concubine whined even harder, pouting. "We haven't had time together… You've ignored me all through for three days, your majesty. It's not fair."

Thorne didn't even hear her. His eyes were still on Adina. Even with Levi blocking her view, he could still clearly see her.

The concubine pressed herself harder on his body, forcing his attention, and he glanced at her.

"What," he barked, and she flinched.

"Your majesty. Have I offended you?" she asked, eyes wide, lips jutted out. Goddess help me.

Throne didn't reply, he glanced at Levi only to find Adina gone from behind him, like she was never there.

She had used the distraction to bow once more, quietly, respectfully—And vanish.

He turned his head just in time to catch the back of her dress slipping through the garden gates.

She didn't look back… Not even once.

________

It was late. The kind of late where even the wind felt tired.

Adina exhaled as she slipped quietly into the palace library, grateful, again that no one in the Obsidian Kingdom seemed to care for books. At least not this part of the palace. Not this deep into the night. The silence here wasn't just peaceful, it was necessary.

She clutched the lantern tighter, its warm glow casting shadows on the shelves as she made her way to the farthest corner. She'd dragged a small stack of books with her. Ten in total and all with titles she'd never imagined herself searching for.

Breaking Mate Bonds. Severing the Soul Link. Nullification of Marked mates.

Thessara had promised to look into it. She'd promised she wouldn't be in pain anymore and said she needed more time to get things in order. But after what happened today. Seeing the concubine Veronica cling onto Thorne's arm like it was salvation. Seeing the way her body pressed onto his, the way she looked at him like she couldn't wait to jump his bones. Something in her cracked hard and she knew she had to do something.

Heavens help those who help themselves, she thought bitterly, settling into the corner and opening the thickest book in the pile.

Her eyes scanned the page, but the words started to blur almost immediately. Marked mates. Rarely severed. Soul trauma risk. Consequences unknown. Wolf disappearance.

Adina shook her head. What would happen to her wolf again if she went through with it. She barely survived Roman breaking their bond and had even lost their child alongside.

Adina shivered internally at the thought of what this would take if she went through with it. She paused for a second then shook her head. She won't be breaking the bond. Only nullifying it so she won't feel anything.

That's better, right?

She blinked rapidly, trying to focus. Her fingers trembled slightly, and not from the cold.

She didn't notice the door creak open.

Didn't hear the footsteps.

Not until… SLAM!

A large hand crashed down onto the page she was reading. Adina flinched violently, her breath catching in her throat as the lantern fell sideways.

Her eyes snapped up only to find him standing before her.

Thorne stood over her, towering. His chest heaving. His hand still pressed on the page, right over the words Nullifying a Bond.

His eyes weren't just red.

They were wild. Like that of his beast. The same one who had caged her that night and sank its canines into her neck.

"So it's true," he said quietly. But there was nothing calm in his tone. His voice was rough, low, like it was dragged from deep in his chest.

Adina stiffened. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She stood slowly, forcing her legs to obey.

"Y-your majesty," she said, bowing slightly. She had an inkling that when Thessara disappeared from the cabin that morning. She'd probably come to tell Thorne about what she said but she didn't want to dwell on it then.

This, though. It confirmed her thoughts.

She opened her mouth to speak. To say something. To defend herself then paused. There was no need and so she bowed deeply, turning to leave.

"Don't," he growled and the fire in the lantern crackled. He grabbed her wrist tightly. So tight she knew it'd leave a bruise.

"Your majesty—"

"Is this what you want?" he cut her off, eyes flashing. "To nullify the bond?"

Adina swallowed, suddenly tired of it all. "Yes. Yes. This is what I want. Isn't that what you made clear? That I disgust you? That I'm a despicable person. You don't want this bond thing you down. You hate that it's with me so why? Why aren't you happy? Why are you…" her voice cracked. "….Why are you acting like this now?"

Thorne's eyes flashed bandage saw it all. Fear, pain, rage, all tangled up as one.

"Because I'm the only one who can break it. The only one who can nullify it. You don't get to do that."

Adina stared at him for a long moment, his words ringing in her ears. Then she laughed, cold and bitter.

"Since when? Mating goes both ways, my king…" she ripped her hand out of his grasp. Her body trembling with each word. "Do you think because you're king, only your pain matters?" She shook her head. "You know, I was scared, wary of the power difference between us. I'm just an omega and you are the king—but not anymore. I don't care about the consequences any longer. If I nullify this bond or break it and then you decide to sell me or kill me afterwards. Then Fine. Do it. I'd rather die than continue to feel this pain."

She panted hard as the words left her lips, their eyes locked on each other and for a second there was nothing but an overwhelming silence.

Thorne didn't say a word. No— he only stared at her with as much intensity as she did. He stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.

Adina swallowed hard, a tear slipping down her cheek. She stepped back, shaking her head like none of it was worth it anymore. She turned to leave—

But before she could…..

He grabbed her and a gasp ripped from her lips.

Then he slammed his mouth into hers.