The wind was gentle, brushing past Adina's hair as she walked beside Mason. It was late afternoon, and she was already feeling tired from the walk, which was unusual, but Thessara did say it was one of the side effects of the spell.

Adina sighed internally. She had tried her best not to dwell on the fact that a woman like Elara, who had it all—the power, authority, title, beauty—would go through means like this, all for what?

"—-You don't mind, right?" Mason asked, his eyes on her, waiting.

Adina blinked, confused. "Umm…I didn't catch that," she said.

Mason stared at her for a brief second, then nodded. "I said his majesty is caught up in work right now, and since you've been cooped up in Thessara's nest all day, you don't mind coming to the training grounds, right? I have some business to attend to there. It won't take time, though. But if you don't want to, I'll escort you to your room, and you can—"

"I'll go," Adina blurted out, cutting him off. She had no idea what Thorne had told the man to do, but seeing as he wasn't too keen on letting her out of his sight, she assumed he told the man not to let her out of his sight.

A small smile made its way to her lips at the thought.

"Alright, come with me," Mason said, and she did.

The training grounds were bustling, with grunts and groans from the men, the sound of fists thudding against sandbags.

Adina's brows furrowed when they kept walking towards a part of the training ground she never knew existed. It wasn't like he came here often anyway.

Mason glanced at her. "His majesty keeps his more versed warriors in a separate place to train. He trains them personally himself," he said.

Adina didn't know this. It was news to her. She nodded as they walked away from the training ground and to a different part. This place was more put together. The air was colder here, there were more equipment to train, and there were about thirty men in total, all shirtless and sweaty.

Adina averted her gaze, wondering if it was all right to be here, especially with the spell on her. She tried to feel her body internally, but there was nothing, which meant she was good.

"Gamma Mason," the men chorused as they got to their feet, all bowing to the man.

Adina dipped her head slightly as the men greeted Mason, feeling out of place. She hid her unease behind Mason, tuning out of their conversation. She looked around the place, her eyes catching on the one open window. From where she stood, she could see the normal training ground and the warriors sparring.

"Adina," Mason's voice jolted her from her thoughts. She looked at the man.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. Stay here and don't wander, yeah?" He flashed her a grin and jogged off to speak with a group near the equipment racks.

Adina felt even more awkward. This time she wished he'd allowed her to walk to her room alone. She stood awkwardly, looking around the place. There were too many things happening at the same time, but one caught her eye.

There were four men all arguing as if their lives depended on it. From where she stood, she could hear bits of their conversations.

"You can't bench that."

"Is that a dare because even a grade 1 warrior can certainly bench that."

"You think way too highly of yourself. Try that, and you'll dislocate your shoulders. There's a reason his majesty hasn't put you on the team."

"You take that back. His majesty is only taking his precious time because he knows I'll wipe the floor with you peasants once I join."

Was this what happens in training grounds?

"Don't mind them," a new voice piped up, and she flinched slightly, not expecting anyone next to her. She turned, eyes widening when she saw Lord Levi next to her. "They're just not used to seeing a lady in this part of the grounds."

"Lord Levi?" she said, smiling wider now. The Lord had left the palace suddenly, and Adina hadn't seen him since then. There was no one she could ask, so she shrugged it off as one of those things.

Levi smiled. He wasn't wearing his usual dignified clothes but instead had joggers and a loose top on with some boxing gloves. His hair was cut into a bowl cut and wet at the ends.

"W-when did you return? I- you just left, and I—" she couldn't get one word out.

Levi chuckled, seeing how tongue-tied she was. "I got back to the palace yesterday. I should've said my goodbyes before leaving—" he paused for a second, "I'm sorry."

Adina shook her head. He had no reason to apologize.

"You returned yesterday?"

Levi hummed. "And searched for you as soon as I got back, but you surprisingly weren't in the pack. I thought you might've pissed off his majesty, and he did away with you."

"You did?" Adina asked.

"That you pissed off his majesty and he killed you?" he asked.

Adina's brows furrowed. No, that wasn't what she was asking about but…"His majesty wouldn't do that to me," she mumbled.

Levi glanced at her, his eyes darker than she'd seen. "He wouldn't, huh?" He paused, "You seem to know his majesty more these days," he said.

Adina blushed, averting her gaze, noticing the way Levi's gaze lingered on her neck. Even though she was wearing a turtleneck top, with the way she bent her head, the bruises on her neck peeked out just a little.

"Ah, Adina. Do you often get injured when I'm not there to save you?" Levi asked with a smile.

"What do you—"

Levi turned to face her fully, leaning closer to her and reaching for her neck, holding the neckline of her turtleneck properly to hide the bruise. She realized what he was doing and turned a deeper shade of red.

"Oh—I um—" she trailed off awkwardly.

Levi's eyes shut for a quick second, taking a deep breath. He opened them again, a faint gleam in his gaze as he inhaled her scent.

"What's going on here?" The voice was sharp, smooth, and cold enough to freeze the blood in her veins.

Adina flinched, her eyes snapping to the entrance. Thorne stood there, dressed in black, his shoulders broad, posture stiff. His gaze was locked on Levi's hand, still on her collar, and for a second, no one moved.

Levi stepped back, clearing his throat, his hand falling off her neck like it burned. "Your Majesty."

The place had gone silent, each of the men stiff and on their feet, all their heads bowed. "Your Majesty," they chorused.

Thorne didn't reply, didn't acknowledge them or him. His eyes were on Adina.

"Your Majesty…I didn't think you'd be done so soon," Mason rushed out, already by Thorne's side. He followed Thorne's gaze to Adina and swallowed hard.

"I brought her here. S- I wanted to check in on the guys and thought I could just have—"

"When did you return?" Thorne asked, the question directed at Levi. He stepped forward to where Adina was, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer to him.

Adina stumbled slightly as he tugged her to his side, her breath catching when her body collided with his. His arm was firm around her waist now, holding her there like he was staking a claim.

Adina looked down at the floor, knowing there were other people staring, watching this. Was this right? Was Thorne okay with people seeing this? Him holding her so publicly?

She'd tuned out of the conversation, her heart thumping hard in her chest. She blinked when she felt him tug her wrist.

She nodded, quickly catching up to what he was doing. They were leaving.

Just as they reached the door, Thorne stopped and looked at the men. "All of you, two hundred laps in the woods," he ordered.

"Understood, Your Majesty," they all chorused again, but as Thorne, Adina, and Mason stepped out of the place, they heard the men groan.

Adina couldn't help the smile on her face at this.

"Bringing her here, Mason? What even goes on in that head of yours?" Thorne asked the gamma, who looked like he was sulking.

"You told me to not leave her alone, and you were busy, so I thought—" he paused, shaking his head. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, but this is your fault too," he grumbled.

"My fault? Three hundred laps for you," Thorne ordered.

Mason's eyes widened. "What? I'm the gamma. You can't just—"

"Four hundred."

"Your Majesty!" Mason whined. A grown, well-skilled man like him whined.

Adina shook her head. Crazy things were truly happening.

"Five hundred," Thorne continued, smirking when he heard nothing from Mason again. He held onto Adina's wrist as they walked into the palace.