Adina woke up to darkness.

Her head throbbed hard, as if someone had slammed a hammer into her skull. Her eyelids felt heavy even as her eyes fluttered open. When she tried to sit up, the world tilted, and a sharp pain lanced through her head.

She whimpered in pain as another sharp pain shot through her shoulder. What had happened? Where was she? And Thorne? Where was he?

"Thorne," she croaked out, her voice raw and hoarse. She got no response in return.

Adina clutched her head in her hands, her mind was blurry, and nothing seemed to make sense no matter how much she tried to make it. She blinked, forcing her mind to work.

What happened? Why was she in this dark room?

Suddenly, it all came rushing back to her. The screams, the crying. The blood… oh, there was so much blood. The way everyone's eyes had been full of terror and absolute horror directed at her. Thorne— the way he fought her, the unfiltered hatred in his eyes… The sheer hatred in his eyes when he sunk his claws deep into her. The warriors that she—

No, no, no. She didn't do that.

"No…" Her breath hitched, trembling hands, "No, that wasn't me. I wasn't—"

She was dreaming. That's all. She would never kill anyone, let alone go on a killing rampage. She would never!

Adina's spiral was cut short at the sound outside the door. The scrape of the lock turning had her freezing. The door creaked open, and a flicker of light flashed into the room.

A woman stepped into the room, her silhouette sharp against the light behind her. She carried a small metal tray. "Hungry, your grace?" The woman said, her voice sweet—almost too sweet.

She finally stepped closer to Adina, and then Adina saw her properly. The woman looked eerily familiar; she was tall, slender, and old.

"Where am I?" Adina asked.

The woman smiled, "I know you'll have a lot of questions. How about I answer them after you eat and I check that wound of yours?" She said, as if they were family.

"Who are you, and what have you done to me? Where am I?" Adina asked as she scampered backward.

The woman tsked, "So many questions. Where would I even begin?" She asked, smiling.

"How about you begin with who the hell you are?" Adina snapped angrily.

The woman raised her brows, lips curled upward. "Ah, there's the fire I've been hearing about."

Fire? What fire?

"Eat up, and I'll answer all of your questions." The woman replied instead, she stepped closer to Adina, bending to pass her the food.

Adina slapped the tray away, and the bowl fell to the ground, spilling across the dirty floor. "I don't want your filthy food," she spat. "Tell me where I am."

The woman's eyes darkened dangerously as the food spilled onto the floor. She whipped her head up to Adina, nose flared.

In a flash, her hand shot out and clamped around Adina's jaw, her nails digging cruelly into her skin.

Adina immediately raised her hand, gathering her energy as Thessara had taught her, ready to use her powers. Except, she couldn't summon her energy. She tried again to find the gate, but there was none.

The woman smirked cruelly, "What? You can't use your powers?" She mocked.

Adina's eyes widened at the realization, "What have you done to me?" She gritted out.

The woman's fingers dug deeper into Adina's jaw. "Your powers are absolutely useless here. As long as you wear that collar around your neck, your powers will forever be gone." She grinned, seeing the horror in Adina's eyes. "You have no idea what it is you've landed yourself in. But you'll learn. You'll learn quickly!" She grinned sinisterly, "This is home now. Forever. Whether you want it or not."

Adina's chest heaved, anger burning through her veins. Her lips twisted, and she spat in the woman's face.

The woman froze for some seconds, then she calmly wiped the spit away with the back of her hand. The next second, her palm cracked hard across Adina's cheek, the sound echoing through the small room. Adina's head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging.

Adina's eyes burned with anger. For a second time, she summoned every ounce of power inside her, willing her energy to flare, to push teach this woman a lesson.

Still, nothing happened.

Her stomach sank. She tried again, harder, but it was like reaching into an empty well.

The woman chuckled, "You still don't get it. Your powers? Are gone!" her hand drifting to a small button at her belt. She pressed it.

Pain exploded in Adina's body. Her muscles seized, her lungs seized of air, sparks of pain jolting her until she collapsed on the floor, gasping. Her fingers clawed at her neck restlessly.

The woman stood over her, grinning. "Do you understand now? You can no longer carry out those petty tricks. Your powers are absolutely useless in here."

Adina's eyes burned with tears she refused to shed. "You can't keep me here. Thorne will come for me." She rasped out.

The woman laughed loudly, "Your king? Oh, precious little Adina. You must've forgotten all that happened. You attacked his people." she began.

Adina shook her head rapidly, tears burning in her eyes.

"Killed them."

"No, stop it!"

"Tore them from limb to limb."

Adina could no longer hold back her tears, the memories flashed in her mind, clearer than anything.

"You betrayed your king. Your mate."

She forced Adina to look at her, "He's never coming for you. No one is."

Adina shook her head violently, "No… Thorne loves me. He'll find me."

The woman leaned close, her breath ghosting over Adina's ear. "Loves you? He shoved his claws into you himself. Didn't you feel it? The hate?" She whispered venomously.

Adina's chest seized. She saw it again, the way his golden eyes had gone red with hate. That wasn't her mate but still it was. The memory was clearer, the at he had stabbed her, her blood on his claws.

"No…" Her voice cracked.

The woman pulled back, standing tall. "Cling to your fantasies if you want. It will make the breaking easier." She walked toward the door, "Eat, sleep, cry, do whatever you must. But you'll learn to accept, this is your home now."

Adina squeezed her eyes shut and reached inward.

Thorne?

Kora? Mason? Thessara? Please… someone!