It was now night when Adina stepped into her room. Thorne had left her to attend to some things, so she found herself back in her room instead of his, as he wanted.

She let out a breath, her eyes flicking over the room. She hadn't been there in days, which felt strange. The room still carried her scent, but now mixed with a hint of Thorne's scent.

Adina smiled, resting her back against the door. She bit her lip shyly as she remembered the way he had held her in front of his men. She felt special, the most special she had felt in a while.

She still remembered him telling her to keep their mating a secret and to cover his mark, but now he was holding her publicly. She wanted to scream out loud, overwhelmed with joy. When the rogue incident had happened in the forest, Adina had thought it was the end of her life. She thought she would be ruined for eternity, but now, knowing that was what brought Thorne closer to her, she didn't feel as strongly about it anymore.

She walked towards the mirror, staring at herself. Slowly, she began to unbutton her blouse. She pulled off the blouse and then her skirt, leaving her in nothing but her undergarments.

She swallowed hard as she stared at her reflection. The bruises on her skin were beginning to fade, her waist still bore his marks, but the hickey on her neck was mostly gone except for one or two marks.

She shut her eyes, remembering how his hands had felt on her skin. Quickly, she opened her eyes, realizing she was treading dangerous territory if she continued.

Adina shook her head and instead stepped into the bathroom. She wasn't sure if Thorne was going to come back. As the king, his duties were ten times that of a normal Alpha, and she knew he liked to work at night.

She stepped into the bathroom, shutting her eyes as the water flowed down her body. She lingered under the water longer than she meant to, letting it trail down her curves, her thoughts slipping dangerously back to the feel of his mouth on her skin, the way his voice dropped low when he whispered in her ear.

She slapped her cheeks twice to get rid of the thoughts. The spell must be gearing up again, she thought to herself. She had already used the herbs Thessara gave her before leaving, and it was supposed to last her until midnight before her next usage.

Maybe it wasn't working as well if she couldn't stop thinking about Thorne's hands on her body or his lips on her skin.

She sighed and stepped out, wrapping a towel around her, drying her hair with her fingers.

She froze the moment she stepped out.

Thorne was there, sitting in the chair by her bed as if he had been waiting for hours. His legs were spread lazily, his elbow resting on the armrest, one hand propping up his jaw. He looked like a sin carved in shadows, his eyes locked on her as if she were his next meal.

Adina shuddered internally, licking her lips. "Y-you're here?" she said, her voice more shaky than intended.

"I am," he replied hoarsely, his eyes dark and intense on her. Goosebumps erupted on her skin as he took her in, from her wet hair to the towel wrapped around her body to the water droplets on her skin.

Adina suddenly felt hot.

"What are you doing here? S-shouldn't you be in your office? In the room—"

"I said I'd be gone for a while," Thorne said, his voice low. "Not that I wouldn't return."

Adina swallowed again, her grip on the towel tightening. "Yes, but—It's been minutes," she mumbled.

Thorne cocked his brows. "You were in there for an hour. It's been anything but minutes."

She opened her mouth, closed it again. He was looking at her like he could see through the towel, like he could see everything. She shifted on her feet, acutely aware of every inch of bare skin.

"Go on," he said quietly, nodding toward her wardrobe. "Get dressed."

"You're… you're still here." Why was she suddenly feeling so shy?

"Yes."

She hesitated. "Then turn around," she muttered.

Thorne didn't move. Didn't blink. Just cocked his brow slightly. "No."

"No?" she repeated, her heartbeat jumping.

He stood slowly, his steps measured. She instinctively stepped back until her spine kissed the cold mirror behind her.

"W-what are you—" she stammered, her eyes wide and face red.

"Why should I turn around?" he asked, and she blinked.

"B-because I'm going to change," she replied quietly, gasping softly when he spun her around to face the mirror.

He leaned down, his chest brushing against her bare back as he whispered in her ear, "You've never had a problem being naked in front of me before."

Adina's breath caught in her throat, her eyes flicking up to meet his in the mirror. His gaze was already there, hungry, locked on her.

"I—Thorne," she whispered, her voice shaky.

"Tell me, did you have fun today?" he asked. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Fun? What fun?

His hand came up to gently pull the towel from her grip. The towel loosened, sliding down her body, pooling gently at her feet. Her skin prickled as the cool air kissed her damp skin, followed quickly by the heat of his hands.

"Going to the training room, speaking to Levi…." He dragged his fingertips along her arms, then down to her waist, eyes never leaving hers in the mirror. "Letting him touch you."

Adina's lips parted, her breath stuttering. "It—it wasn't like that."

"No?" Thorne said softly, "Because from where I stood, he touched your neck. And you let him."

Adina gulped. "Were you jealous?"

Thorne's jaw clenched, his fingers digging slightly into her waist. His eyes never left hers in the mirror. "Yes. Yes, I was."

His hand slid up her stomach slowly, trailing up her bare skin until it settled just under her breast. "I especially don't like seeing another man's hand near what's mine."

Her breath hitched. "I didn't mean—he wasn't—"

"I know, but I don't like it. I don't like seeing Levi talk to you or even touch you." He paused. "Do you have any idea what you do to me, Adina?"

Adina trembled, her breath caught in her throat.

"Only I get to touch you… to hold you." He dragged his fingertips along her arms, then down to her waist, eyes never leaving hers in the mirror. "Look at yourself," he murmured. "Look how beautiful you are when you're all flushed and breathless… because of me."

"Thorne…"

He hummed, "I can feel it, you know." She snapped her gaze to him.

"Can hear your thoughts too… everything that goes on inside that pretty head of yours."

Adina's eyes widened. She thought she'd put up the mind block. Didn't she?

Her eyes widened. "I wasn't—"

"You were," he cut her off, one hand sliding up to cup her breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple. "You were thinking about the way I touch you… the way I taste you." He leaned down and kissed the curve of her neck. "Were you aching, Adina? Hmm?"

She gasped, unable to stop the small moan that escaped her lips.

"That's what I thought."

Adina bit her lip, stifling a moan. She couldn't possibly be this weak.

Thorne's mouth trailed down her neck, lips brushing along her skin. His hands were everywhere. She could see it all in the mirror. The way her lips parted, the way she trembled, the hunger in his eyes as he watched her.

"I should punish you," he murmured against her collarbone. "For letting him touch you. For making me feel that rage."

Her breath caught. "Thorne…"

He hummed again. "You knew what you were doing, didn't you? The moment he touched you, you knew."

"I didn't…" Her voice cracked. "It wasn't like that. I didn't think—"

"You didn't think I'd see?" he cut in, eyes locking with hers in the mirror. "You're mine, Adina. You belong to me."

His hands gripped her hips, pulling her against his body. She felt him, hard and pressed against her back, and it sent a wave of heat pooling low in her belly.

"I'm a very selfish man, Adina. I don't want to share even your gaze," he growled. "Not your scent, not your skin, not the way you smile. I want it all to myself."