Thorne’s Wrath

*(Thorne's point of view)*

The silence in the hall was oppressive, filled only with the echoes of my own thoughts. Lena wasn’t with me, and that was unbearable. The image of her by Kael’s side haunted me, a constant ghost in my mind. It gnawed at me in a way I couldn't shake. What made it worse was knowing that Kael, with all his indecision, had no idea what he truly wanted. How dare he keep Lena by his side and hesitate?

He didn’t even know what she was. That fact stung the most. Lena wasn’t just anyone—she was special, chosen by forces beyond what Kael could comprehend. And instead of recognizing it, of protecting her the way she needed, he faltered, as always. I felt my blood boil. Kael didn’t deserve Lena. He was weak, always divided, always questioning. He didn’t have the courage or strength to protect her the way I would. I might not have been perfect, but at least I knew what I wanted. I wanted her—and I would do whatever it took to have her back.

The anger inside me was like molten iron, heating with every passing thought. Kael had a way of lingering on the edges of everything, never fully committing. And now, even with the one thing that mattered most—Lena—he hesitated. He might not know what he wanted, but I did. I wanted her by my side, where she belonged, and I would bring her back no matter the cost.

My fist slammed into the stone table with a force that made the wood beneath it groan and crack. The sound echoed throughout the hall, and the officials around me flinched. Their wary eyes flicked between each other, uncertain if they should speak. I didn’t care. They were nothing but noise. My rage was a storm brewing within me, fed by the thought of Lena far away—and with the wrong man.

Kael, with all his hesitation and uncertainty, had no right to stand beside her. He didn’t understand her. He couldn’t see her for who she truly was, couldn’t grasp what it meant to have her by his side. And Lena... Why couldn’t she see that? Why wasn’t she here, with me, where she belonged? It was maddening, knowing she was slipping further out of my reach.

The counselors shuffled nervously as if they could sense that their presence was irrelevant to me. They murmured about strategies, alliances, and plans that needed my approval, but their words felt distant, hollow. Nothing mattered besides the fact that Lena should be mine—and she wasn’t.

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white, remembering all that I had done to keep her by my side. The marriage hadn’t been for love, at least not in the way others thought. It had been necessary—a way to ensure that she stayed with me, safe and protected. Or so I told myself. But now, with her gone, a gnawing emptiness festered inside me.

Maybe I had pushed her too far. Maybe my need to control everything around me had driven her away. But I couldn’t help it. Loving Lena—if that was what I felt—meant keeping her close, guarding her from everything that could take her from me. Letting her go was never an option.

The idea of her with Kael—someone who couldn’t even decide where he stood—was a bitter insult. How could she choose him? How could she trust someone who doubted every step he took? It was unforgivable. Kael didn’t deserve her loyalty. If he hesitated now, when things were already so fragile, what would he do when everything truly fell apart?

“Sir, the spies are still searching for Lena and Kael,” my advisor interrupted, trying to bring the conversation back to matters he thought were relevant.

“It’s not enough,” I snapped, my voice sharp as a blade. “I want results, not excuses.”

I turned toward the strategist, narrowing my eyes. “When they find her, bring her to me. And as for Kael...” I didn’t bother finishing the sentence. The threat hung in the air between us, heavy and unmistakable. Kael wouldn’t get another chance to stand in my way.

The advisor nodded cautiously, as if afraid to provoke me further. “Understood.”

I stood there in silence for a moment, the fire in my chest burning hotter with every breath I took. I had to end this. I had to bring Lena back. She belonged here, with me, not wandering through some forest with a man who would only lead her into ruin. Kael wouldn’t protect her, wouldn’t guide her. He would only put her in danger. And if Lena couldn’t see that now, I would make her understand.

This wasn’t just about love—it was about control, about ensuring that things unfolded the way they were meant to. I wouldn’t allow her to throw everything away for someone who couldn’t even decide what he wanted.

The decision was made. There would be no turning back. I would find Lena, no matter how far she ran, and I would bring her back—whether she wanted to come or not.

Kael had taken something that didn’t belong to him, and I would make sure he paid for that mistake. I wouldn’t lose Lena to him. Not now. Not ever.