The scream tore out of her throat before she could stop it.

Pain exploded across her back like fire. It was incredibly painful. Adina writhed, her wrists shackled high above her head, barely keeping her feet from dangling off the ground. Blood trickled down her arms, mixing with sweat and dirt.

"Again," the head warrior barked.

The whip cracked through the air, and Adina screamed, her throat burned from how loud she was being.

Adina convulsed, her body jerking so violently it had the chains above her shaking. Every lash sent new pain digging into her nerves, deeper, deeper, until it blurred into something. Her vision swam.

"I—I didn't—" she choked out, her voice broken. "I didn't poison him."

The warrior sneered. "Lies. Say it. Say you cursed him."

Another whip.

"P-please…I didn't," she cried out weakly.

"Say it or I'll carve it into your skin. Say you poisoned him," the warrior barked.

Adina shook her head, head dangling. She couldn't give up. She had to see Thorne.

She gasped, blood coating her lips now. Her voice was hoarse now. "I didn't do it…"

"You are his personal maid. You gave him tea after which he collapsed. He ate only from your hands and drank what you gave him. You poisoned the king and refuse to confess," the man growled.

"Confess your sins!" He barked as he lashed her again, her back burning as though it was lit on fire.

"It's always the soft ones who decide best. Confess now! Who are you working for? Who sent you to kill our king?" He barked out.

Adina could do nothing but cry. They weren't listening to her.

The warrior brought the dagger close to her cheek, pressing it there. "So confess. Or I'll ruin that pretty face next."

Adina whimpered, breath hitching. The blade dug just enough to break the skin, blood seeping from her cheek.

"P-please…I didn't do it."

The warrior raised the dagger higher and deeper. "Confess."

She squeezed her eyes shut just as the dungeon doors burst open. Caelum and Thessara burst through it.

Their eyes fell on the scene going on, and Thessara's heart audibly broke.

"Enough! Stop this madness at once!" Caelum growled, and the walls shook, the warriors froze where they stood. No one had ever heard the beta so angry.

"What are you doing? Who gave these monstrous orders?" He snarled as Thessara ran to Adina, holding her thighs up to relieve the pain on her arms.

"Answer me!" Caelum barked.

"The regent did. She wants the poisoner punished for the crime she committed," the head warrior replied.

"Forgive me, beta, but we can't stop. She has to confess—"

"She will die before she ever speaks, and then you'll be the one who answers to the realm," Thessara snarled. "Unchain her this instant."

"I'm afraid we cannot—"

"Under my authority as beta of the realm, I am ordering you to stop this barbaric torture and unchain the woman!"

The warrior looked conflicted. On one hand was the regent, and on the other, the beta. Who held more authority now? He shook his head, remembering the deadly look in the regent's eyes when she gave the order. He shook his head, "Beta! She's a traitor…We cannot free a traitor."

Caelum scoffed as he stepped closer to the man. "And when she dies. Will you answer for your crimes then? When the king wakes and finds out you killed his maid, then what? You will be held just like she is right now, tortured and forced to speak the truth, and then he will kill you with his bare hands."

"She is a wounded prisoner! And unless Regent Elara wishes to bury a broken body, you'll step aside."

The warrior looked conflicted for a second then nodded to the other warrior who began to unchain her.

Adina sagged in the chains, head lolling forward. "Thessara…" she breathed weakly.

"Oh, goddess," Thessara whispered, her heart breaking at the sight of her.

"Be quick!" She barked at the guards.

The moment Adina's hands were freed, she crumpled into Thessara's arms like a ragdoll.

Her back was raw and heavily bruised. Her breathing was labored. Thessara held her tightly, cradling her like a child.

"I didn't do it," Adina wept against her shoulder. "Please, you have to believe me—I didn't spell him, I'd never hurt him, I love him—"

"I know," Thessara said softly, stroking her hair. "I know, sweet girl. I know your heart. You're not capable of such darkness."

Adina cried harder, the pain too much to hold in anymore. Her sobs echoed through the walls.

"I'll get you out of here. I'll treat you myself." Thessara gently shifted her. "But I need you to be strong for just a little longer."

Caelum stepped forward to help, "Come," they help her back into the cell, and Caelum immediately pulled his jacket for her to lay on.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She kept muttering.

The gates creaked again, and Adina stiffened, her heart dropping to her stomach at the sight of the head warrior.

"I came to bring you this…" He held out a sealed jar of thick herbal ointment. "It's for the wounds."

Thessara snatched it from him without thanks. She gave him a look of such cold disdain that he flinched.

"I'll be back soon. Let me check on what's happening with them." Caelum said before stepping out.

Once alone, Thessara knelt and began to treat Adina's wounds with painstaking care. Every touch was gentle. Even as Adina would wince in pain, she'd pause to blow air on her wounds and whisper loving words to her.

"I need to see him," Adina whispered between tears. "Please, Thessara, just let me see him."

Thessara paused. Her lips pressed tight. She knew the bond Thorne and Adina shared, it was one that even they themselves didn't know the depth of. It must be hurting Adina like hell right now…

"Elara's like a madwoman now," she murmured. "The palace is on fire with paranoia. But I'll make it happen. I promise. Even if it's for a moment."

Adina nodded slowly, eyes dull with pain.

"I need you to tell me everything," Thessara said gently. "Everything that happened. From the moment Thorne returned from the hunt…up to the night he fell."

Adina, still trembling in her arms, nodded again.

"There's no need for that." Caelum's voice came in, stopping Adina before she could even begin.

Thessara's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"The king was perfectly okay up until he went to the outer borders to see Elara because she tried committing suicide."

"What?" Thessara's voice echoed through the cell walls, and she quietened down, "what?"

Caelum nodded, whispering now. "After he got back from the outer banks, he was okay, and then the next day, he got sick. I asked if he would take a break instead of attending the meeting, but he refused. He said he was fine, but I could see he was far from fine. The king has never been ill, and this was odd. Insanely odd." he paused then leaned closer to them.

"You know what's even more odd. He fell this ill after going to see Elara in the outer banks."