"Albus, let my mother know that Kate has arrived. Tell her she’s gone for a stroll in the garden," Gabriel instructed. Once Albus departed, Gabriel’s attention shifted back to Sage with a sharper tone.
"Are you treating her well?" Gabriel asked, his eyes fixed on him.
Sage set the glass of water on the table with a soft clink. "Why don’t you ask her yourself?" he replied.
"Kate isn’t interested in you. Yet you ca with your father, given a month to win her heart. What’s really on your mind, Sage? Don’t tell your father insists on this marriage at all costs," Gabriel said, the frown etched deeper into his forehead.
Sage leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Didn’t you speak with your father about it?"
"Not really," Gabriel admitted. His tone grew firr. "What I want to know is your intentions. Do you even like her? Because from where I stand, Katelyn doesn’t look happy around you. I may not share many words with her, but I can read her eyes."
"I want her," Sage replied with an unwavering gaze. "I understand your protectiveness as her brother, but listen carefully, she won’t look happy with anyone because her heart already belongs to soone else. You know this, don’t you?"
"That’s not my place to say. Ask Kate yourself," Gabriel answered, keeping his voice guarded.
"Is it your beta she loves?" Sage pressed, watching him closely. "If we’re truly friends, Gabriel, be honest with . I want to understand her before I build a relationship with her."
"Karn doesn’t feel that way about her," Gabriel said without hesitation. "Not even a fraction."
"You’re certain?" Sage asked again, searching for any sign of doubt.
"Absolutely," Gabriel replied. "If he had the slightest feelings for her, he would have proposed long ago. But he feels nothing for her."
Sage humd, absorbing the weight of that information in silence.
"Kate is hard to understand," he admitted at last, his lips curving into a faint smile. "She cos across as... spoiled. I probably shouldn’t say that in front of her brother."
"Kate was pampered and sheltered from a young age. That’s why she seems that way," Gabriel replied. "She hides more than she shows. You had her over for dinner. Did everything go smoothly?"
"Of course," Sage said. "But I barely told her anything about myself. She’s not giving much of a chance, so all I can do is wait." His voice lowered, almost thoughtful.
Gabriel’s jaw tightened. "She thinks your family is better than you."
Sage’s eyes narrowed. "And how do you know that?"
"Alie and Kate share a bond, more like friends than sisters-in-law. They talk. But listen, Sage," Gabriel leaned forward slightly, his voice firm now, "you need to be honest with her. Don’t feed her a false image of who you are. She deserves to know the truth, how much you’ve suffered in that house, and that you’re still enduring it. If you truly want her as your mate, don’t let her stay in the dark."
"I get it," Sage replied.
"Co, I’ll show you the room," he asserted and the two stood up, heading down the corridor.
~~~~
"Mom!" Katelyn gasped in surprise the mont she stepped out of the washroom. She quickly set the towel down on the chair and rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her mother.
"I—I thought you had already gone back to the palace," she said, her voice still tinged with disbelief.
Mabel shook her head gently. "Tomorrow, I’ll return with all of you," she replied. "Alie is close to delivering the baby, so I’ll be staying here for at least two months."
"That’s wonderful, Mom," Katelyn said, her eyes glimring. Her hands rested warmly on her mother’s arms as a bright smile lit up her face. "You’ve changed so much... I love it."
From the bed, Alie watched them with a soft smile, her heart ward at the sight of their nding bond.
"So, why have I been called here?" Katelyn asked, glancing at Alie.
"Let’s sit first," Alie suggested gently. She guided her mother and sister toward the bed.
Once they settled, Mabel exhaled deeply. "I’ll tell her, Alie." Her eyes shifted to Katelyn. "It’s about a witch, one who has set her sights on Gabriel and Alie’s lives. Do you rember the High Priestess I used to speak of? She fed a poisonous lie about my son, a lie that pushed into making a decision... one that created an unimaginable distance between and Gabriel."
Katelyn’s eyes widened. "What? You an, a witch lied to you, Mom?"
"Yes," Mabel admitted.
Katelyn’s hands curled into fists. "That’s why Dad always told you not to trust the High Priestess, I an the bloody witch! At least she’s gone now. But... how do you know this? How did the truth finally co out? Wait, Alie... that mage, did he reveal everything to you?"
"She’s not gone, Kate," Alie interrupted gently, her tone laced with worry. "She’s alive and she wants to kill Gabriel and . Carlos has been helping us uncover fragnts of the past, and even his grandmother contributed to the search. That’s also why I wanted you back. I need you to wear a protection charm, one specially crafted by Carlos’ grandmother. Ophelia may not only strike at us, but at anyone connected to us."
Katelyn’s brows furrowed, her voice rising in disbelief. "That’s insane. Why would she want to harm you both?"
"The answers lie in our past lives," Alie said, her expression clouding with unease. "Carlos’ grandmother told us to wait two months before the veil between lives weakens enough for us to see our pasts clearly. But one truth has already surfaced. Ophelia’s child died because of us. And for that... she wants revenge."
A a solemn expression overtook Alie’s face.
"Alie, nothing will happen to you or Brother Gabriel. We will fight with her and save both of you. Don’t be afraid, okay?" Katelyn said, bringing her hand to Alie’s.
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