Thorne stood by the door, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he watched Thessara check on Adina. After she fell unconscious, he brought her here knowing it was closer than taking her to the palace.

"You're right. It's the sexual enchantment spell," Thessara said, glancing at him. She was done checking her. She shook her head in pity. The poor girl never had the chance to rest. It was always one problem or the other. By now, Thessara had concluded that every time she met the girl, it was always going to be because of a problem.

"I knew it," Thorne mumbled, brows furrowed as his mind worked tirelessly.

He stepped out of the room with Thessara, the two giving an unconscious Adina space to breathe.

Thorne's jaw clenched. "I should've known. I should've sensed it the moment she started acting strange."

Thessara gave him a side glance. "Don't blame yourself too much. That kind of spell was meant to slip under your nose. It's dark, old magic… and rare. Very few still know how to cast it, let alone get their hands on the ingredients."

Thorne ran a hand through his hair. "Who would go that far to hurt her?" His voice was a low growl now, "Who the hell would risk black market dealings and dark magic for this?"

Thessara shrugged lightly, her arms folding under her cloak. "I don't know anyone who might hate her but you, on the other hand. I can see and with her being your personal maid. It's looking more likely. Now the question remains. Who would do such a thing to her? She's the purest soul I've met in a very long while."

There was only one person Thorne could think of right now. One person who was at odds with not only him but Adina too. "Carter."

Thessara looked at him, surprised. "You think one of your councilmen did this?"

"No. But I wouldn't put it past him. He's been circling her like a vulture since the moment Radek entered the palace."

Thessara sighed. "Then she's not safe in the palace, not until you know who cast this on her and why."

Thorne finally looked up, eyes burning. "How do I remove this thing?"

Thessara sighed, walking over to her kitchen and grabbed her kettle, pouring a cup of coffee. "I know a way. But I'll need supplies from the palace."

She handed a cup to Thorne. "Take whatever you will need. Caelum will escort you himself. But how long will it take?"

"A day? Two? I'm not sure," she said, eyes closing, already trying to figure out how to mix all the potion.

"A day or two? She needs breaks… times when she's not feeling constantly aroused," he said.

Thessara nodded. "I know, I know. I'll give you something and you give her to swallow. It'll dull her emotions for a bit… that will be her break."

"Fine. Get onto it, Thessara," he said, and she nodded, dropping the cup of coffee. She moved around, grabbing the things she would need.

Once she was done carrying her bag, she turned to look at Thorne. "Take care of her and my baby."

"Your baby?" Thorne asked, brows furrowed.

"My house, Thorne. My house. I'm leaving you with my house knowing fully well what's going to happen in it," she huffed out.

"Gods, Thessara. Leave."

Thessara gave him a long look, half-teasing. "And try not to knock the poor girl out this time. She's been through enough."

Thorne didn't respond, but the tight line of his mouth softened a fraction.

The second the wooden door slammed shut, Thorne was already reaching to Caelum through the mind link. "Caelum."

"Your majesty." Caelum's voice was there immediately, like he'd been waiting.

"The rogue? Has he said anything?" he asked.

"He has said everything, Your Majesty. Held nothing back."

Thorne nodded, that's good. Very good, in fact. "And?"

Caelum was silent… "My king, I think it's better I tell you this in person."

"That bad, huh. Okay then. Tomorrow. But before then, I need you to find every seller dealing with sexual enchantments on the black market. Tear through the underbelly if you have to. I want names, who brought it in, who delivered it, everything."

"Understood, my king."

"And cancel all council meetings for the week. Radek's still to be locked up. No food. No water, in fact. No visitors. Until I say otherwise."

"With pleasure, my king." He paused for a second. "And Adina? How is she? The rogues didn't attack her too hard, did they?"

Thorne's gaze flickered back to the door. "No, she'll be okay."

_________

Thorne pushed open the door to the room quietly. Adina lay there, curled up in the sheets Thessara had covered her with, her dark hair fanned over the pillow.

Her chest rose and fell in slow, shallow breaths.

He stepped closer, boots silent against the floor. Her scent hit him, it was softer now, but still laced with the undercurrent of the spell.

She looked even more beautiful. His mate.

She blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering open as he sat beside her. Her eyes found his, dazed and blurry but trying to focus.

"T-Thorne," she whispered, brows furrowing as she took in the room. He saw when it clicked in her head, her eyes widened and she gasped, almost jumping off the bed. "I… I didn't mean—"

"Don't," his voice was low but firm. He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. "None of this is your fault."

She looked away, her cheeks blooming with shame. "I'm really sorry. I didn't—I wasn't thinking. I couldn't stop it. It felt like I was drowning. Like my body wasn't mine."

"I know," he murmured. "It's the spell. Thessara confirmed it."

Adina's breath hitched, remembering the girl she killed in the woods… remembering everything the girl said.

"What spell is it?" she asked quietly, already feeling her insides swoop with how he kept caressing her hands. Oh no, not again.

It was almost like he could sense it. Thorne reached for the pill Thessara had handed. "Open your mouth," he said.

Adina's brows furrowed. "What is that?" she asked quietly.

"I'm not going to poison you if that's what you think."

Her eyes widened at the implication. "Oh! No, that wasn't what I—" he dumped the pill into her mouth easily and handed her a cup of water.

It worked instantly. The second he dropped the glass of water, she began to slowly sink back into the bed. "W—what was that?" she drawled out slowly.

"Something to make you rest while Thessara finds a way to break the spell," he said, and she hummed, eyes slowly dropping but then she opened her eyes again, forcing herself to be more alert.

"Do you know who did it?" she asked.

"Not yet, but I'm going to find the—"

"General Elara. She made the girl put it on me."