"You're really going into town?" Caelum asked, passing the papers in his hand to a maid as he dismissed her. Thorne hummed, looking outside the window. The weather was cool, calm, and the perfect time to leave.

"You, King Thorne, are going into the town today?" Caelum asked again, this time earning Thorne's attention. The king turned to look at him, brows cocked up.

"Yes, and?"

Caelum shook his head. "Nothing, my king." He replied, shaking his head. "Love really does change people," he muttered.

Thorne paused and shot him a sharp look. "What was that?"

"Nothing, My king. Nothing," Caelum replied but couldn't completely get rid of the amused look he wore.

He shot a glance at Mason who stood by the door, also looking shocked. Mason shrugged.

This was something Caelum never saw coming. Thorne has stayed in the palace without the need to visit the town or its people. He was satisfied getting reports instead. He hated walking among his people ever since Roseanne's death. The people's words got to him. The condemnation. The spiteful words.

Caelum didn't blame him. The people could be really judgmental of those in power, especially the king.

"How are the preparations for the hunt going?" Thorne asked.

Caelum cocked his brows again. Thorne asking about the preparations for the hunt? He didn't even entertain the idea of the hunt in the first place but now? What was happening to the king?

"Caelum?" Thorne called out and the beta blinked back to consciousness.

"Yes, my king. The preparations are going smoothly. We've handed invitations to those who will be attending," he replied calmly.

Thorne nodded. "I will be joining the hunt this year," he said.

Caelum's jaw dropped. Okay, was the man sick? Has he been spelled by some evil sorceress? Is that what is happening?

"Make the preparations tighter and fun. Increase the bounty or price to be given. Make it more… fun," he ordered. "Adina will be joining."

Aha! That's the catch. Adina will be… Wait, did he say joining?

"Adina is joining the hunt?" he asked.

Thorne looked at him, nodding. "She will."

If she is joining then, does that mean… "Are you going to use the avenue to announce your mating?" Caelum asked.

Thorne stiffened slightly, he shook his head. "Not yet," he replied. No matter how much his Lycan claws at him from within. No matter how much he wanted to yell it to the whole world that he's been blessed with Adina… he couldn't…

"I can't yet… I can't only think of myself. Once I announce her as my mate. Once the world knows. She becomes a weapon they can use against me. Every enemy, every bitter councilman, every discontent noble… will go for her throat. She's already in danger just being near me."

He exhaled hard, like the words had taken something out of him.

"I have to think of her first. I have to make sure she's ready. That she can defend herself even when I'm not there. I need to train her, protect her. I can't make her a target of my enemies. I won't make the same mistake twice."

Caelum nodded, it made sense. He opened his mouth to speak but just then, the door opened.

Adina stepped in with a smile that only faded when she laid eyes on Gamma Mason and Beta Caelum. "Your majesty," she bowed.

Thorne's gaze fell on her and Caelum saw the change. His eyes softened instantly, eyes twinkling with something he couldn't decipher. He smiled at her and Caelum had to look away, feeling like he was interfering in such a private moment.

"I'm ready," Adina said, eyes on him like no one was in the room.

Caelum glanced at Mason who had already averted his gaze, also feeling like he wasn't supposed to witness the moment.

Thorne walked towards her, hand stretched out to her. She slipped her hand into his, the two of them staring at each other with a smile. It was like they were communicating internally.

Seconds went by then Thorne blinked, clearing his throat. "You're coming with, Mason," he said as they walked out of the room.

Mason followed behind.

The town of Obsidian was full of life.

It was full to the brinks with various stalls set out, vendors yelling out the products they sold. Some children running around barefoot, laughing and playing even in the marketplace. While some children hawked in the streets. It was like watching two different realities.

Some vendors argued with each other, some were quiet, some screamed at their customers. It was full of life.

Adina watched with awe as all of this happened. Thorne walked with Adina by his side, her arm tucked gently into his, Mason following closely behind along with a few discreet guards in casual attire.

"Come, won't you buy some fresh squeezed lemons?" One vendor called.

"Buy some ripe tomatoes."

"Sweet potatoes are available! Won't you buy?"

"Corn! Corn! Buy some roasted corn!"

Adina watched with excitement. She felt like a child handed a toy. Thorne smiled at her childlike innocence.

"You can buy what you want," he said and she nodded, rushing towards the corn stall.

"Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?" Mason mumbled behind.

"It's not and shut up. I can hear you grumbling all the way," Thorne snapped through the mind link. He didn't need to look to see the gamma straightening up.

"How much for these?" Adina asked, picking two five corns.

"Six silvers," the woman said, grabbing a bag to put the corn.

"Six silvers?" Adina asked, brows furrowed as she mentally counted the coins she had with her. She'd taken the amount she could save over the months and six silvers out of them would leave just three silvers.

"Can't you do five silvers?" She whispered, hoping Thorne wouldn't hear. She wanted to treat him, the gamma, and the guards.

The woman stopped what she was doing, chewing her gum rather loudly. She gave Adina the nastiest look. "No. It's six or nothing!" She snapped.

"Six silvers? That's daylight robbery," Thorne said, stepping closer to her.

"Thorne…" Adina mumbled, trying to get the coins out of her pouch now.

The woman put the corns back on the griller. "Daylight robbery?" She scoffed. "Hey! Rodney's mother! This nobleman over here says six silvers for five corns is daylight robbery!" She yelled to the other stall.

"What? Six silvers? Vero's mother sells hers for ten silvers!" The woman yelled back.

"Hear that. You're getting it at a bargain here. If you can't buy, you might as well leave. I don't want noble men wannabes loitering around my stall."

"Have you lost your mind? Do you know who it is you're talking to?" Mason growled, stepping forward.

The woman wrapped her arm over her chest, brows cocked up. "Who? Who are you?" She burst out laughing. "Do You think you're the king?" She spat on the ground.

"You're no better than my spit even if you were the king. Leave my stall this instant!"

"Woman!" Mason growled but is stopped by Thorne.

Adina looked around, seeing the other vendors come out from their stalls. "Do you not like the king?" She asked quietly and felt Thorne stiffen beside her.

"Who would like a man like that? One who doesn't care about his people. A man, or is he just a coward!" the woman snapped again, tossing the corn back onto the fire with a huff. "Look around! Children begging, mothers starving, and what do we get? Taxes. Silence. Guards who look the other way!"

Another vendor chimed in, "He's holed up in that palace with his whores and wine while we rot!"

Adina's face fell and Thorne said nothing.

"Guards who look the other way? What does that mean?"

"Are you not in the kingdom or are you only pretending? The king's men are rotten pieces of shit. They're just like him. They collect bribes from thugs and look the other way as honest people are beaten to a pulp for not delivering money."

"They're only following the steps of the king. I heard he let a whole village burn two winters ago."

"What?"

"You must be new here. That's why you bargain such a low amount. Let me tell you. Run while you still have your legs or be ready to deliver half your earnings to the king's guards." She huffed out.

"The king lazes around while his people suffer! He's no king but a coward!" Another vendor said.

Adina looked up at Thorne nervously. "We should go."

She hurriedly paid the money and took the corn. She held onto Thorne's hand, pulling him but he didn't budge. Instead, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a pouch of silver coins. Without a word, he tossed it onto her stall.

"For all the children who haven't eaten today," he said and walked away.

Adina hurried after him, grabbing his arm. "Thorne… I'm sorry. I insisted that we come. I didn't think."

"You did nothing wrong, Adina," Thorne said, stopping to hold her hand. "I needed to hear it."

Adina stared at him but couldn't see through the unreadable mask he already wore. She nodded quietly and they continued to walk around.

They reached a place where it was only full of beggars. "I'll be right back," she said, stepping towards them and began to put silvers into their trays.

Just ahead, slumped against the wall of a half-collapsed building, was a blind old beggar. His beard was matted, his eyes cloudy and white, a tattered hood covering most of his face.

Adina bent to put a coin into his tray but suddenly the man grabbed her wrist.

Adina gasped, eyes wide.

"Please bless me," the man rasped.

Thorne turned in a flash, about to break the man's hand when Adina held her free arm out. "Wait!"

She looked at the old man, startled. "What?"

"Bless me," he said again, voice hollow. "Your touch carries light."

Adina tried to hand him coins, her other hand trembling. "Here. Please take this—"

He shoved the silver aside. "No coin. I want your blessing."

Adina's brows furrowed. "I—I don't understand."

The man's grip tightened, he looked up at her, his eyes milky white. "Bless me, daughter of the moon."

Thorne yanked her back with a growl, and the man fell to the ground.

But before anyone could speak, the beggar pointed directly at Thorne.

"The goddess herself has given you a gold mine, and yet you cannot dig," he spat out bitterly. "How pathetic."

The guards stepped forward and Thorne dragged Adina along. "That's it. We are leaving. This place is full of creeps," he said.

Adina swallowed hard but nodded, looking back at the blind man who lay on the floor like he were now asleep. She held her wrist, wondering what the man was talking about.