The hallway was empty, silent except for the echo of Elara's boots against the polished obsidian floors.

She was angry—no—she was seething. She had just been training when she heard the news. Another council meeting? What was this? A joke where they could come and lay demands, and Thorne would have to follow up.

She hated it. Oh, she hated it so much. What else would they demand? His blood?

She should have known that this would happen. With their firstborn daughter as concubines of the king, they had access to the palace in disguise of checking on their daughters. Elara was sure they had given their daughters strict instructions on becoming Thorne's chosen mate and queen of Obsidian.

She couldn't let that happen. Elara had been the happiest person on earth when she heard Thorne had been absent. None of them had seen him for days…not until today when he showed up again.

Why couldn't he just stay away for the entire month? That didn't matter though…whatever it was the councilmen wanted to talk about…she had to know. She had to be there.

She wiped her palms dry as she made her way towards the king's wing. Her maid had informed her of the greedy men's arrival. Elara had promised to help sort out her sick mother's money problems if she did what she was told, and the girl… she'd been more than useful.

If only she could react now…but no. Great Aunt Jocelyn had told her to stay calm for the coming weeks. What she had planned was greater than what Elara imagined.

Which was why Elara had been calm…well, she'd tried to.

She sighed as she rounded a corner, but before she could move further, a sweet devilish voice rang out behind her, stopping her in her tracks.

Elara turned, blood boiling already at the scent that permeated through her nose. It was Irene.

Of course, it was her, and standing behind her were two other concubines. Elara knew these ones weren't threats…they were just background characters who supported the main characters like Irene.

Irene had her arms wrapped around her chest, brows arched. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused. I'm asking you where you're going. Didn't you hear, the king and the councilmen are having a meeting. How would it look if a mere general goes in and disrupts their—"

"Have you lost your mind, Irene?" Elara snapped, her voice sharp. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the three women block the way.

Irene scoffed. "Lost my mind? Look around, Elara, the only one who has lost their mind here is you." She spat out, and the other two behind her nodded in agreement.

What the actual fuck…

"You're the general. You have no business in there, so why would you want to go there?" she asked.

"Why would I—" Elara scoffed, shaking her head. Sure, they went against the norms. She was an unconventional general, but she still did her duties like any other. Sure, she wasn't supposed to be allowed into meetings like these if she wasn't called on by the king himself, but who cares?

"Get out of my way this minute. Have you forgotten your place?" Elara snarled angrily. She stepped forward. "You're nothing but a temporary concubine. Make no mistake."

Irene tilted her head, a mocking pout on her lips. "Oh, Elara. Always so emotional." She sighed dramatically, like she truly pitied her. "A temporary concubine or not. At least I'm not you. A crazy, delusional woman who keeps lusting after a man who would never see you."

The words slapped harder than they should have. Elara's fists clenched at her sides.

"I mean, surely you've heard the rumors?" Irene continued. "That you're in love with him. That you've refused to search for your mate because you're so pathetically hung up on a man who will never choose you."

"A rumor you started," Elara spat out.

Irene paused, brows quirked up. "Am I wrong?" She smirked, stepping closer to Elara. She leaned towards her, making sure no one else would hear what she was about to say.

"I know your secrets, Elara. Your deepest, darkest secrets." She stared Elara in the eye. "Do you think the king will still keep you at his side once he finds out just how insane you are? That you've kept each of the letters he—"

Elara's eyes widened. Nobody except her great aunt Jocelyn knew about this. How could Irene?

Elara's blood boiled red. She grabbed Irene's arm tightly, head tilted sideways. "You know, I was trying so hard to keep away from you, but then you opened your mouth and now all I can think about is how easy it would be to crush your windpipe."

"Elara—" Irene raised her other hand, but Elara grabbed her wrist so fast it made the other girls gasp.

"You think you know me?" Elara hissed. "You don't even know half of what I've done. What I'd do."

"Elara let—" Irene didn't get to complete her words as Elara forcefully let go of her, making her stumble backward with a gasp.

Before she could even breathe, a heavy slap landed on her cheek.

The slap echoed like a gunshot.

Elara's slap struck Irene hard across the face, sending her falling. She landed hard on the floor with a scream, her hand twisted awkwardly beneath her.

The other concubines froze, their eyes wide with horror.

"I think it's sprained—!" Irene cried out, clutching her wrist. "She hit me! She—"

"You should thank me," Elara cut in, her voice cold and breathless. Her chest was heaving now, adrenaline buzzing in her ears. "Because if I really let go, you wouldn't be able to crawl away."

Irene glared at her, eyes sharp with venom, then suddenly she screamed. Her scream echoed off the obsidian walls when the massive doors to Thorne's office creaked open behind them.

Elara froze.

So did the concubines.

Thorne stepped out, alarmed by the loud shrieks, and behind him were the other councilmen, their ceremonial sashes draped over their shoulders. They looked absolutely shocked. But none were more horrified than Lord Kethan—the eldest councilman and Irene's father.

"Irene?" he barked, rushing down the corridor the moment he saw her crumpled on the floor. "What happened?"

Irene whimpered, cradling her wrist. "She did it," she said, pointing to Elara with her uninjured hand. "She attacked me. Just because I told her to wait and not disturb your meeting!"

"She slapped her, my lord," one of the other concubines chimed in quickly. "We saw it. She got angry and just—snapped."

"She twisted her wrist on purpose," the second girl added. "There was no reason. She just lost control."

Thorne's eyes cut to Elara instantly. "What. Did. You. Do."

Elara didn't answer. Her breath was ragged, her hands still trembling slightly. She was still too far gone to think straight, too far down that spiral.

Lord Kethan turned to Thorne, shaking with fury. "His majesty's general has assaulted my daughter."

"She provoked me," Elara spat out, "If she'd only learned to stay in her place then—"

"What did I say that was so wrong? I told you to wait out and not be angry…the rumors are already flying high and you acting so brash with his majesty would only fuel the disgusting rumors more." Irene defended.

She looked at Thorne. "Everyone has heard of the rumors. That the general is in love with his majesty… I was only helping to put the rumors to rest."

"That's it! Elara has crossed all boundaries. Just because the king made you general doesn't mean you have the right to raise your hand against a councilman's daughter and even at that, the king's concubine. That's a serious offense."

"I will not tolerate this," Lord Kethan continued. "This is not the behavior of a general. If she can attack a noble's daughter in the hall of the king, what else is she capable of?"

"Yes. Doing this means the general doesn't regard the crown. Slapping and hurting the king's concubine. She should be punished." Another councilman said.

Elara scoffed internally. Punished? For Irene? What was this? A madness convention.

She looked at Thorne. "My king. Irene disrespected me. She caused this. You know me. I would never do anything like this if I wasn't provoked. Irene planned this." She defended.

"You liar! The rumors must be true. You are in—"

"ENOUGH!" Thorne's voice boomed through the walls, and they all went silent instantly.

He glanced at Irene, who was now standing, sobbing and clutching her wrist. "Take Irene to the healing ward. Let them have a look at her wrist." He ordered. The two concubines jumped forward to help her.

Lord Kethan moved to follow, only to pause. "My king. I understand your relationship with the general, but she cannot go scot-free. Right now, Irene isn't just my daughter, she's an Obsidian concubine. She carries your royalty right now. I implore you to be just."

He bowed then walked after his daughter.

"My king," another councilman spoke carefully. "You've always maintained order in this court. But if word gets out that your general can strike a concubine and face no consequences…"

"You may all leave." Thorne ordered, and one by one, they all walked off, leaving Elara alone.

Thorne looked at her for a second, then walked back into the office. Behind him was Elara.

"Thorne…you know me. I'm not a violent person. What I did today—it's only because she said those things and provoked me. I'm sorry. I put you in a tight spot with the council members. I shouldn't have. I made mistakes and I'll—I'll get down on my knees and apologize to you, but please—please don't—"

Thorne turned to face her, "What are you doing, Elara? You've never been so out of it before, so why? What's going on with you?"

Elara paused, her heart beating fast. What was she supposed to say? That this whole concubine thing was running her insane?

"I apologize. I'll do better." She said.

Thorne shook his head. "No, I do think you need a break. Maybe Irene provoked you, but you aren't one to get provoked so easily."

Elara's heart dropped at this. A break? What was he going on about?

"I don't need a break. I'll do better, please, I promise I will do better—"

"I care about you, Elara. You're one of the few persons I care about. And I don't want the council speaking of you in such a derogatory manner." He paused, seeing the fear in her eyes.

"You'll leave the palace for a month. Until the concubines leave. It'll be a good break for you. You'll be provided with everything you need for a month, and afterwards, you can return to the palace."

Elara's heart stopped. Her biggest fear was being away from him. She wouldn't bear it. Couldn't.

Shaking her head, her body trembling like she just lost something important. "No, please no. Don't tell me to leave…" she stepped forward, grabbing his hand. "I'll do better. I won't be provoked again. Don't punish me so harshly."

Thorne exhaled, wringing his hand out of her grasp. "This isn't a punishment, Elara. It's a break."

"A punishment disguised as a break. Will you really take the side of a woman like

Irene? A concubine over mine!" She snapped suddenly.

Then as if she realized who she was before, she deflated, tears running down her cheeks. "Please don't send me away. I don't want to be away from you."

"That's enough, Elara. I wasn't so sure about the break, but now I am. Perhaps this would put to rest those rumors I hear. And perhaps this might lead you to find your destined mate."

Elara flinched like she'd been struck. She looked at Thorne, hoping to find something that said he liked the rumors, maybe he entertained even a bit, but there was nothing.

"The rumors—" she began.

"Are false." Thorne said with finality, and that hurt more than everything that's happened. He stepped away from her, back to his work like her heart breaking was nothing.

"