Adina sat in the shower, eyes closed. Her body was washed off the mud Thorne had thrown her in. A smile made its way to her lips as she remembered how they'd gotten back to the palace.

Thorne had carried her bridal style, ignoring every shocked look they received. Adina, on the other hand, had been so shy she hid her face in the crook of his neck. She was sure it was a sight to see, the two of them covered in mud.

The door creaked open behind her, and her eyes snapped open. She turned only to find the usual culprit inside the bathhouse, pulling off his shirt.

Adina's eyes trailed his very toned and muscled chest, down to his six-pack stomach. She licked her lips involuntarily, gaze trailing to his arms now. How was it possible that he looked so perfect? Like he was sculpted by the gods themselves. Adina was sure they took an extra day in carving this perfection of a man. She looked up at him only to find him staring at her with a knowing smirk.

Her face heated up instantly, knowing he'd practically caught her staring at him hungrily, and the bond between them was such a tattletale now that he'd even feel the arousal settling in her lower parts.

She cleared her throat awkwardly, cheeks dusting with a bright red. "W-what do you want, your majesty?" she asked.

Thorne cocked a brow as he unbuttoned his pants. "Your majesty?" he asked, the pants pooling down at his feet, leaving him in nothing but a thin, tight undergarment that left nothing to the imagination.

Adina swallowed hard, suddenly sweating even in the bath. How was that even possible?

Thorne slowly pulled off his boxers, and Adina's lips parted, unblinking. He shrugged off his boxers completely, now standing in front of her, completely bare.

She swallowed hard, mouth watering. Years of training and years had made his body beyond perfect. There were scars, but they only made him more attractive. His cock stood proud and thick, already hard under her gaze.

Adina bit her lips, eyes wide. She'd seen him before, touched him, had him inside her, but something about him now… it made her ache.

Thorne stepped closer to her, he didn't get into the water, no. He stood right in front of her, his cock right in her face. "You keep staring at me like that… now look what you've done." His voice was hoarse and deep. "What are you going to do about it?"

Adina's throat bobbed up, licking her lips. She shuffled closer even in the water, looking up at him through her lashes.

"P-please," she begged…

Thorne gave a curt nod, and she instantly stuck her tongue out, licking his length. A moan escaped her lips as she shut her eyes. Adina shut her eyes as her tongue slowly traced along the underside of his cock. She took her time, her hands gliding up his thighs, steadying herself.

Above her, Thorne exhaled a quiet, trembling breath, his hand sliding into her wet hair. "That's it, you're doing well."

She moaned softly in response, the praise lighting her up in all the right places. She took him in fully, mouth stretched around his cock. She moved slowly, teasingly, tongue tracing along every ridge and vein.

"Fuck!" Thorne breathed, hands tightening in her hair.

"I'm gonna fuck your mouth, baby," he said, and that was the one warning she got.

His hands gripped her hair, guiding her rhythm as he slowly fucked her mouth. "Good girl," he groaned, eyes dark, jaw tight. "So eager. You were waiting for this, weren't you?"

Adina moaned in response, her thighs squeezing together in the water. His scent filled her senses, thick and earthy and unmistakably him.

Thorne's control started to slip, his thrusts grew deeper, rougher. Each time her nose brushed his skin, he twitched inside her. "That's it," he growled. "Take it. Fuck, you're perfect."

His hips snapped forward, his cock pushing deeper down her throat. She gagged once, but didn't stop, her hands gripped his thighs, letting him use her like she was his and his alone.

"So perfect like this," Thorne growled. "On your knees, mouth full of cock. Look at you. A fucking masterpiece."

He glanced down and met her gaze, her eyes glassy and cheeks flushed, saliva dripping down her chin.

"Mine," he said. "Fucking mine."

His breath hitched and thrusts faltered. Then he came, hot and thick, flooding her mouth.

But when she moved to swallow, his fingers were suddenly at her lips, pressing them open.

"Don't," he rasped. "Keep it there."

Her eyes widened, a tiny, obedient whimper escaping her throat as she obeyed. He dipped two of his fingers into her mouth, dragging the cum out slowly. It dribbled over her lip, her chin, and down her throat.

He stared at her like he was a man possessed.

"You look so fucking perfect like this," he whispered. "So marked. So full of me."

He smeared his cum over her cheek, her jaw, her throat, rubbing it in like he wanted it seeping into her skin.

"You'll smell like me for days," he muttered. "No one will be able to walk past you without knowing who you belong to."

His hands moved to her neck, tilting her face up, and then his mouth was on her, biting, kissing, sucking until bruises bloomed across her skin. He marked her neck, her collarbone, the top of her breast.

"So fucking pretty with my cum on your face and my name on your skin," he growled.

Adina was breathless and so fucking crazy with need. She was depraved… Knowing she had his cum all over her sent her into ecstasy. Her body trembled with an overwhelming amount of need and want.

Thorne was sick, yes. Perhaps she was just as sick.

Thorne got into the bath, spinning her around so he'd cage her. His hands roamed her body as his cock prodded her hole.

"You're mine. Mine. Mine. Mine." He chanted animalistic.

_________

Hours later, Adina was in his bed, asleep. And Thorne, he was back in his office, going through some documents and reports before he returned to her side.

Caelum walked in, holding a few rolled parchments. He paused, nose twitching, then looked at Thorne with a slightly raised brow.

"Your majesty," he called.

Thorne hummed, not looking up. He was restless, an indescribable buzz settling in his skin like an itch. Was it the remnants of Elara's spell? He wondered.

"My king," Caelum said again, and Thorne responded with another hum.

Caelum sighed, dropping the parchments on the table. "Thorne!" he called out.

Thorne looked up, irritated. "What?"

"I passed by Adina," he began, but the king's eyes flashed red.

"You what? When? Where? She's sleeping, so how? Did you go into my room, Caelum?" he rushed out angrily.

"I didn't. She went to get water to drink, and I passed her. That's all," Caelum rushed out before Thorne strangled the life out of him.

Thorne visibly relaxed at him, still twitching slightly.

Caelum stared at him for some seconds more. "Forgive me for asking, but when was the last time you checked your rut schedule?"

At this, Thorne paused, brows furrowed. "Years ago. Why do you ask?"

Caelum's brows furrowed slightly, then he nodded more to himself. "Your rut is coming soon."

"What?" Thorne growled. "What nonsense are you speaking? I haven't had a rut in over a decade. Why would I suddenly start-"

"Because your Lycan and your wolf are in sync now. They recognize Adina as your mate. They've aligned with her and now… your rut can finally begin again."