The cell gates slammed open, again.

Adina didn't flinch this time. She didn't even lift her head. What was the point?

Rough hands yanked her up by the arms. She stumbled, her legs barely working after days of torture and pain. Her head lolled, chin stained with dried blood and tears.

"Come on, it's finally your day of reckoning," the warrior sneered as he hauled her back.

"You've got a date with the gods," another said.

A date with the gods? What does that mean?

She whimpered in pain as her foot dragged against the roughly cemented floor.

"What's going on?" She managed to speak, using the last bit of her strength to do so.

The guards shared a look then burst out laughing like she'd said something insanely hilarious.

"What's going on is your execution," one of the guards replied with a huge grin. He was a different guard than the one Adina was used to.

"The regent has now decided to do away with you completely. She realized she's wasted way too much time on you and now… you're finally done for."

Adina blinked once as their words settled in her head. Then twice, her legs weakened at their words. Her execution. Was this truly it for her? Was this how she would leave the world? Leave Thorne?

She wanted to cry, to scream, to laugh… to curse. How could this be it? That she'll lose her life in Elara's hands? That she worked so hard, strived so hard to live ever since her birth only to end up this way?

What would they say after her demise? Poor Adina? Pathetic little thing? Or would they say she deserved it? If only she hadn't been born.

She squeezed her eyes shut tight, trying to remember her last moment with Thorne. It was that night after her win. Oh, she'd been so happy. Ecstatic even. He'd made love to her all through that night and even though he hadn't said he loved her verbally. She knew he did just as she did.

Adina smiled, the warmth in her chest trying to even out the mortifying fear she was feeling.

Her eyes were squeezed shut even as she was dragged out of the hallways, even when she felt the sun on her skin for the first time in days. Even as she heard the palace gates open.

Adina opened her eyes as the mighty gates groaned open, she had a The crowd was massive. Everyone wanted to look at the one who had dared poison their king. The one who had the audacity to poison the Lycan king.

The crowd had gathered right from the palace gates and stretched to the town square.

"Monster!"

"Witch!"

"Murderer!"

Adina shut her eyes, desperately trying to drown out their voices but it was of no use. She winced slightly when she felt the first tomato hit her, making her steps falter.

"Move it, slave," the warrior leading her snarled, gripping her hair harshly and dragged her to her feet. This one, Adina was sure belonged to Elara. Heck, all of them leading her this time weren't the same ones from before.

Adina stumbled as she was forced forward again, the crowd closing in like vultures. People screamed at her, spat at her.

She wanted to laugh so bad but her lips wouldn't curl. Why were they so angry? If she had truly poisoned Thorne, shouldn't they be happy? After all, they didn't like him.

Oh! Seeing as Elara's demonic ruling has ruined everything… they missed him.

Isn't that hilarious?

She swallowed hard, she was beyond pain now. She could barely even feel the rope that was shoved into her hands as she was dragged up the wooden platform at the center of the square.

She'd made do with her fate. If this was how she was meant to go. Her eyes flickered around the crowd, looking for familiar faces. Thessara? Caelum? Mason? Even Levi but none of them were there… she smiled faintly, the last bit of hope dying out in her chest.

She saw Elara walk up the platform, dressed in a queen regalia, with a crown on her head. Elara glanced at her aunt who stood some feet away with the other nobles and smiled.

Even Lord Carter and his daughters had come to watch.

How shameful.

"People of Obsidian!" She began, the crowd went silent, her voice boomed over the square.

"The unfortunate death of our king, Thorne Vargan Rhukor has left Obsidian and the entire realm in shambles."

Gasps and murmurs echoed through the people. Adina blinked slowly, barely registering the words. He's not dead. He can't be.

Elara continued, her expression tight. "A tragedy no one could have foreseen… brought about by the one standing here. She infiltrated this palace as a humble servant. But she was never humble. She had other plans. She gained our trust and stabbed us in the back. She poisoned our king and killed him."

She turned to face the crowd more fully now, her voice rising. "This was not just an attack on our king. It was an attack on the crown. On our future. On all of you."

Elara stepped closer to the edge of the platform, "But we will not let traitors rise in our midst. We will not let filth stain our bloodlines. Today, justice will be served. Today, this traitor will face the punishment she deserves."

She turned to Adina now, her eyes shining with glee. "Any last words, murderer?"

Adina raised her head slowly. Her lips parted, but no words came. What was there left to say? She swallowed hard and slowly shook her head.

Elara nodded with a smile, "Kill the traitor."

Adina's body trembled as she was dragged to the center, the noose tied around her neck slowly. She glanced around again, hoping to see one familiar face before she's killed… but nothing. A tear fell to her cheek.

The executioner stepped forward, reaching for the rope. Adina squeezed her eyes shut tight, sweating hard.

The crowd held its breath as the noose tightened around her neck…

"Unhand her!"

The words rippled through the crowd, his voice louder than anything at that moment. His eyes were locked on the platform, on the woman waiting for her last breath.

The crowd parted as they gasped in shock.

"He's alive!"

"The king is alive?"

Adina's eyes opened, body trembling. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the man walking through the sea of crowds.

He walked slowly, his skin was pale, sweat lining his brow. He looked half-dead but his eyes burned. Burned with rage… with determination.

And they were locked on her.

Adina's knees buckled… The realization dawning on her. Thorne was alive.

He was alive.

"Unhand her!" He gritted out again.

Elara's body trembled where she stood, eyes wide with shock. How? How was this possible?

Her legs reacted before her brain could catch up. She rushed down the platform to meet him, "M-M-my king," she rushed out frantically. Y-you shouldn't be out of bed. You're not—"

Thorne pushed her off with a hand, not sparing her a glance. He pushed past her like she was air. Like she didn't even exist.

All he saw was Adina.

Every step up the wooden platform felt like a heartbeat thudding through Adina's chest. Her eyes welled up but she couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Couldn't even cry.

"T-Thorne." She whispered, body shaking like she was doused in ice-cold water.

He finally reached her…

Without a word, without breaking eye contact, he grabbed the sword of a warrior nearby and cut the rope around her neck.

It dropped to the ground and the crowd gasped in shock, again.

A tear fell down Adina's cheek again. She wasn't going to die… not yet. Not if Thorne could help it.

He grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers with hers and faced the crowd. His eyes dark and filled with anger.

"Today. An abomination has happened. A thing that should've never, ever, ever happened, happened." He began, his voice hoarse from disuse.

He took another step forward, and the crowd—utterly silent—leaned in. Even the birds had stopped chirping. "While I lay in a cursed sleep, my mate… the woman the goddess herself fated to me… was imprisoned. Beaten. Humiliated. And today—almost killed."

The crowd shrieked in horror, shock, and disbelief. Elara staggered where she stood, her face drained of color…

"You call her names. A witch! A monster! A murderer. I'm here to tell you now, as the king of Obsidian and the entire southern realm. Adina is not a murderer," Thorne growled. "She is not a traitor. She is mine."

Before Adina could blink, he yanked the collar of her dress enough to expose the mate mark on her neck.

"This right here is proof of our union. Of the relationship I share with her. Adina isn't just a mere maid. I am madly and irrevocably in love with this woman. The gods have given her to me and I'll be damned to allow anyone take her from me. She's my second chance." His eyes roamed through the shocked faces of the crowd.

"And she is your future queen."