The hunt day had finally arrived.

Adina stood in front of the mirror, tying her hair into a ponytail. She wore brown leather pants, a white shirt tucked in tightly, and a fitted vest that hugged her waist. Her boots were laced up to her knees, and her sleeves were rolled to her elbows.

Thorne had specifically picked out the clothes for her, saying she had to wear this or nothing. She smiled as she remembered how adamant he had been, leaving her with no choice but to do his bidding.

She heard a knock at the door and paused, brows furrowed. There was only one person who came to her room, and it was Thorne. Thorne would never knock.

Adina stepped forward and pulled the door open, her eyes widened for a second when she found Kora standing outside her door.

Kora looked at her from head to toe, clearly stunned. "Y-you're joining the hunt?" she asked.

Adina nodded stiffly, glancing at Thorne's door. No one was allowed on the king's wing except with granted access.

"What are you doing here, Kora?" she asked, wincing internally at how sharp her tone had come out. Granted, she was still feeling hurt with the way things went down in the town back then.

Kora sighed, "Can I come in? I won't take much of your time. I just want to talk," she said.

Adina stepped aside, allowing her into the room. She didn't miss the way Kora's eyes flickered through the room. It was a good room, far better than the slave quarters where twenty of them had to share a space.

Adina cleared her throat, and Kora turned back. "I'm sorry," she began.

"Sorry? You did nothing wrong," Adina replied.

Kora shook her head. "I- when chaos broke out, I ran just like the others, and I swear I thought you were running next to me, but when I reached the palace gates, you weren't there. It was just me and another girl," she paused, stepping closer to Adina.

"I reported what happened to the head maid, and she said she would take care of it, but then she wasn't doing anything about it. I mean, three girls were missing, and she looked so—" her face was scrunched in annoyance. "She didn't care, and I tried to tell the king, but you know how difficult that is… and he wasn't even in the palace, and everyone just seemed to be on such a tight rope. I met with the former general Elara, and she said she would look into it, and I should keep quiet about it so people don't get scared."

The tension pinned in Adina's shoulders melted away. Of course, Elara would do that too. The hate she had for Adina must've been so great.

"Kora…"

"I didn't see you in the palace for some days. I didn't know what to think. I was getting desperate, and I was thinking so many things, and then General Elara was banished, and I didn't know what to do anymore. Then I saw you suddenly, and it was just—"

She didn't finish her words, Adina hugged her tightly, chest constricting with air. At first, she'd been hurt, upset that Kora just disappeared and was back in the palace like nothing happened, but now… with the explanation, it made sense.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," Adina mumbled.

Kora laughed wetly, "I'm sorry too. I should've tried harder."

Adina stepped back, wiping the stray tear at the corner of her eye. "You did your best. The rest is history. The king found me, and…" she paused, remembering how the entire thing had gone. The king didn't only find her, he fucked her into oblivion.

Thankfully, Kora didn't see how flustered she got; she was too distracted looking at the room.

"Honestly, Adina. Are you sure you don't need a roommate? This place is the heaven I pray for," she said.

"Ah, Kora…" she replied shyly.

Kora turned to look at her again, "I should leave you be. The hunt is starting soon, and I know you're going to be on his majesty's team."

"Aren't you joining?" Adina asked. If she remembered correctly, Thorne said it was allowed for anyone who wants to join.

Kora stared at her like she'd grown five extra heads. "Join? Have you lost it?" she huffed out. "The king is going to be joining. Will I be competing for or against the king?" she shuddered outwardly. "I could never. I'm okay serving drinks and food as my job requires."

"Do you want to join, though? I promise the king won't mind."

Kora gives her a deadpan expression, brows raised. "Of course, the king won't mind. You have him wrapped around your finger."

"Kora!" Adina whisper-yelled.

Kora at least had the decency to look scolded, "It's not like I lied. Haven't you heard the rumor going about? People keep talking about you two, and if I didn't know better, I would say you two are mates," she mumbled.

Adina's face grew redder at this… Just— do you want to join or not," Adina huffed out.

"You're still asking me? Of course, I want to join. It'll be my first and last time playing with the royals and the nobles."

Adina chuckled, opening her mouth to speak but is cut off just as the door opened suddenly.

Thorne's aura immediately filled the room, the two women immediately stiffened. Kora bowed so deeply, her head almost touched the ground. "Y-Your majesty," she stammered.

Thorne barely paid her any attention, his gaze stuck on Adina. Dark and intense. His eyes slowly trailed her body, from the way her ponytail pulled her hair tight to the curve of her waist under the fitted vest, down to her long legs wrapped in leather and laced boots. His jaw tensed. His hands clenched.

Adina cleared her throat, shifting under the heat of his gaze.

Thorne finally spoke, his voice low and insanely deep. "You're not wearing the dagger I gave you."

Adina blinked, caught off guard. "I— It's in my drawer. I didn't think I'd need it today."

His brow lifted. "It's a hunt, not a picnic. Bring it," he said, giving her one last glance before leaving.

Once the door shut, Kora let out a deep sigh, clutching her chest. "See, wrapped."

Adina doesn't reply, already digging into the drawer for the dagger, her face red.

"Let's go," she mumbled.

_________

Everyone was already gathered in the woods, there were all more than Adina thought initially. The head maid, a couple of maids, Gamma Mason, Beta Caelum, Lord Levi, and his people. Some of the nobles too.

"The rules are clear," Gamma Mason called out, his voice booming across the clearing. "There are three flagged tokens spread out in the woods across various surfaces, each bearing the crest of Obsidian. The first team to find and return three flagged tokens wins. You have three hours."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as excitement filled the air.

"Now, we will begin choosing teams. Only four people are allowed per team, and there will be five team leaders. You will call out the team you'd like to join."

Mason's voice echoed as he stepped forward with a scroll in his hand. "The five leaders will be His Majesty King Thorne, Lord Levi, Beta Caelum, Lord Veylan of the Eastern Wing, and myself."

A murmur burst through the crowd, mostly excitement, but also nerves. Everyone knew choosing a team in front of the king wasn't just about strategy… it was political.

Thorne stood with his arms folded, his face unreadable. His eyes, however, flicked straight to Adina.

She swallowed, averting her gaze.

"Adina…" Thorne's voice came through the mind link.

"I'll go first," someone called out, a noble's son, clearly rushing to join Thorne's team. "I'd like to join His Majesty's team."

Another followed. And another. All trying to butter up the king.

Thorne didn't speak. He barely nodded, his eyes were still on Adina, almost like he could hear her thoughts….

He couldn't though. She pulled up the mind-block.

Kora elbowed Adina, whispering, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go."

And no matter how tempting it was to choose his majesty. Adina, however, had other plans. She still remembered how hot and jealous Thorne had gotten from Levi just touching her neck. The way he pressed her against the mirror, hands closed on her neck. The sheer possessiveness. She wanted more. Needed to have more of him like that.

Perhaps she was turning into a sexually depraved monster. It was the fault of the spell. She concluded. In any case, something dark and twisted in her wanted to push Thorne's button. Maybe she just liked when he lost control, when the king dropped his mask and became hers.

Her lips curled as she stepped forward, eyes locked on Thorne's.

"Adina…" Thorne warned.

"I'd like to join Lord Levi's team," Adina said, loud and clear.

She felt eyes on her instantly as the words left her lips. Caelum's, Mason, Kora, and even Levi blinked, like he hadn't expected her to actually pick him. But then, that slow, smug smile curved his lips.

Thorne's gaze burned, but he said nothing, his gaze following Adina as she walked over and stood beside Levi.

Fucking Levi.

"Next," Mason called, trying to keep things rolling.

A few more names were called out. Caelum got picked by a few of the warriors. Veylan had a few nobles flit to his side. Mason himself got the head maid and two others who looked like they just wanted to survive the next few hours.

And then only a few were left. Kora hesitated for a second, then blurted out, "I'll join Lord Levi too."

Adina looked at her, surprised.

"What?" Kora mumbled as she walked towards her. "Only you get to make bad decisions?"

"Kora!" Adina whisper-yelled, knowing Levi could hear her.

Levi chuckled, not taking offense at Kora's words.

But from across the clearing, Thorne didn't laugh. No, his face had turned to stone.

Mason cleared his throat. "Teams are full. You have three hours. If a flag is returned late, it will not count. No shifting, no magic. Play fair."

"And remember," Caelum added, "this is a friendly competition."

Thorne's eyes cut to him, and Caelum coughed and looked away.

"Let the hunt begin."