The cell gates opened.

Adina flinched, instinctively curling tighter into herself. "Please," she whispered before even looking. "Please, not again. I swear, I'll—"

"Adina." The voice was sorrowful, filled with pain.

Adina lifted her head, blinking past swollen eyelids and dried blood, and her breath caught.

Thessara.

She struggled to sit up, "Y-you're here." She stammered, eyes darting around fearfully. "T-the warriors. They'll—"

"They're asleep. I bribed a maid who brought alcohol for them. I slipped in some sleeping potion," the woman said, her eyes falling on Adina's whole body.

"Oh dear gods," she whispered, her voice trembling as she stepped in. "What have they done to you…"

She crouched beside her, hands hovering like she didn't know where to touch, afraid any contact would hurt. Her gaze landed on the burns, the purple blooming across Adina's arms, the blood crusted around her mouth, and her fingers began to shake.

"Oh, dear child," she choked out, eyes watering. Elara was a monster. A monster in human flesh.

"D-don't worry. I'm okay," Adina croaked out. "Did you say the guards are all asleep? Does that mean?"

Thessara nodded, "Yes, I wanted to bring you to Thorne tonight but now…with these burns…" she shook her head. "You're too weak. You need to rest since they're all asleep instead. You can use this—"

"I'll go," Adina interrupted quickly.

Thessara's eyes darted to her face. "What?"

"I'll go," Adina said again, slower this time. Her throat burned, but she pushed through. "Take me to him. I'll see Thorne tonight."

Thessara frowned. "You can barely stand, child."

"I don't care," Adina pressed her palms to the ground and forced her body to move. Pain sliced through her body but she grit her teeth. "I'll crawl there if I have to."

She stumbled once, legs buckling, but Thessara caught her. "Please…I need to see him." Her voice cracked. "Please."

Thessara nodded, "Then come," she whispered, wrapping her cloak gently around Adina's shoulders. "But we must be quick."

The hallway was silent.

Thessara moved swiftly, holding Adina close, supporting most of her weight. Adina tried her best to walk faster, but it was impossible. Her lips were trembling too hard to speak. Every part of her body screamed in agony, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but him.

When they reached the King's chamber, Thessara paused. Her fingers hovered over the locked door. She glanced at Adina, whose eyes were stuck on the door, then pushed it open.

The room was dark, save for the crystal lamps that glowed in the dark.

Adina stepped in, and her knees nearly gave out at the sight of him.

Thorne lay motionless on the bed, chest barely rising, skin pale, body stiff. He looked like a sleeping statue, still and silent.

"Oh gods…" Adina breathed, stumbling forward. She collapsed at his side, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Thorne," she choked. "Thorne, I'm here."

She leaned in, resting her cheek on his chest. "Please… wake up. Please, I can't do this without you. I can't…" her voice cracked as a sob clawed its way up her throat.

"They all think I hurt you… but you know me. Don't you? You know me. I would never do this to you. Please wake up. Please, please, please." She sobbed into his chest, her body trembling.

Thessara stood at the edge of the bed, eyes watering at the sight. She looked away, wiping her tears. Then looked back at them, watching as Adina clutched him tightly while crying.

She took a step forward, hand stretched out to comfort Adina but paused when she saw it. Her brows furrowed slightly.

It was faint. Too faint to see yet her eyes caught it. Right where Adina's tears fell on his chest, it glowed, faintly.

"What?" Thessara muttered, stepping closer, eyes stuck on what she just saw.

"Adina, can you cry again?" She blurted out.

Adina paused, sniffling. "What do you mean?"

"Cry, into his chest. I want to see something."

Adina swallowed hard and nodded, not questioning the woman. It didn't take much to have tears running down her cheeks again. That was the only thing she could do…

Thessara leaned in closer to inspect, and at first glance, there was nothing, but then, looking closer, there was a faint sparkle or perhaps it was a glow.

Her eyes widened, "Oh my!" She gasped out loud.

"What? What is it? Am I hurting him? Should I—" Adina's rambling was cut off.

"I- there's nothing wrong. I just thought of something." She paused for a beat. "Are you done? I really need to look into what I just saw." She said.

Adina nodded, she wasn't done. She wanted to stay with him but knew if Thessara was crying this vague, it had to be important. And if it was going to help Thorne, she wasn't going to stand in the way at all.

Adina nodded, ready to be taken back to that hellhole.

Thessara stepped closer to her, supporting her arm. "I promise, it's not long anymore. I'll fix this and get you out." She said.

Adina smiled or at least struggled to smile. "I trust you, Thessara." She said, looking back at Thorne for a second longer, her chest heavy and then looked away.

"Please take me away."

_________

It had been two days.

Caelum's steps echoed down the corridor as he approached the heavy door. He knocked twice, then again when there was no response.

"Thessara," he called softly. "It's me."

Still no answer.

He sighed, pressing a hand to the wood. "You've been in there for two days. I need to speak to you."

Finally, the door opened… Thessara's tired eyes peeked through. Her usually sharp features looked tired and weary, strands of silver hair sticking to her damp temples.

"Caelum," she murmured, stepping aside. "Come in."

He blinked. "Are you… alright?"

"No," she said simply. "But I've found something."

The room was dark, filled with scrolls, open books, Symbols were scrawled on papers, half-burnt candles. It looked like a madwoman's lab.

Caelum turned to Thessara, who was now moving towards the table, hands shuffling about for something. "I thought it was my eyes playing tricks that night in Thorne's room."

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

Thessara paused to look at him. "I took Adina to see Thorne late at night, and she cried on his chest that night."

Caelum nodded, following what she was saying.

"I thought it was my eyes playing tricks, but I saw it clearly. There was a tiny spark, a glow where her tears fell on his chest. I couldn't believe my eyes. Their bond was even stronger than I thought… just from her being close to him, his heart, his wind could respond to her tears even while unconscious. It gave me an idea."

"What idea?"

"Soul binding."

Caelum's eyes widened, "Soul binding? Isn't that dangerous? There's a reason why it's forbidden."

"Forbidden because the two who tried binding their souls died. The woman wasn't strong enough. If a warrior such as that woman wasn't strong enough to withstand it. Then how can Adina. She's a mere wolf. She can't even—"

"Adina's stronger than you think. If I dare say, she's the strongest of us all. Don't underestimate her."

Caelum sighed, clearly conflicted. "Soul binding, Thessara. This kind of binding. It's forbidden for a reason. You're talking about life-force magic. The soul-for-soul kind. If one dies—"

"The other dies too," she finished, nodding. "Yes."

"And you want to do this?" he asked, incredulously.

Thessara swallowed hard, "I can't save Thorne. I can't perform black magic. I'm not a sage. I'm a mere healer who dabbled more into nature. I can't break the spell cast on him. Adina is losing more time with each passing second that he's not awake. The realm is in chaos. Elara is queen, and she's imprisoned half the nobles. Taxes are ten times higher. Elara is ruining the realm. This is the only way I can help."

She looked away for a second, the stress of the whole thing telling on her now. She looked worn out and insanely stressed. "That night… The glow in his chest… it wasn't just their bond. Adina was trying to save him without knowing. I think… I think her soul did it instinctively, trying to save him. But it wasn't enough. It needs a final anchor to seal it." She paused.

"This ritual. It's dangerous. It could kill her," Caelum said.

"Thorne would never forgive us."

"And yet he'll never wake up without her." Thessara's voice was hard now. "This is their fate. Not ours to meddle in anymore."

Caelum hesitated.

Thessara turned back to her books, "Give me tonight. I'll prepare the binding. Then… we'll let the gods decide."