Lakan had just left after checking on Althea and making sure she was not hurt. Then Ash had been sent outside with lva.
Althea swallowed hard under Gavriel’s intense stare. They were alone in the bedchamber now and the air felt heavy and still. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap, while Gavriel stood a few feet away.
Without breaking eye contact, Gavriel pulled a chair closer and sat right in front of her. His posture was firm, his arms crossed, and his expression unreadable.
“Tell everything you know about that man you ntioned,” he said in a low, controlled voice.
Althea nodded quickly. “I first felt his presence that night in the palace when I was standing on the balcony,” she began carefully.
“I thought it was just a shadow at first, but that energy—it beca familiar. The second ti was when I was at Moonwell Cottage. I’m sure he’s the one who tried to tap into my inner energy. I can’t explain it, but I feel... connected to him sohow.”
She paused when she noticed Gavriel’s face darken, his jaw tightening. Her throat went dry.
“Continue,” he ordered, his tone sharp.
Althea took a breath. “The third ti was when we were out today. I saw a shadow following the carriage—it was the sa energy. And then tonight... he finally showed himself. I saw him when he destroyed Rett’s warlock’s portal. He smirked at and even—” she hesitated, lowering her voice, “winked.”
“What?!” Gavriel’s sudden growl made her flinch.
“I said,” she repeated quickly, “he destroyed the first portal, smirked, and winked at . I clearly saw him. I could even draw his face. He looked like he’s around my age—maybe a bit older. Shoulder-length silver hair tied back. He’s... manly, confident-looking, and honestly—handso.”
Gavriel’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Aren’t you observant,” he said with a cold hiss, “considering how dark it was in that forest.”
Althea’s lips pressed into a small pout. “But the moonlight was bright enough to see him clearly.”
Gavriel leaned forward, frustration flickering in his eyes. “He destroyed the portal, yet helped that warlock stabilize the second one for your brother’s escape!” he snapped.
Althea frowned, confused but calm. “I know. That’s what I don’t understand either,” she admitted.
“It felt like... he wanted to stop Rett from taking , but still helped Rett and the warlock escape afterward. I don’t know why, but deep inside, it feels like—” she hesitated, searching for the right words, “he’s helping .”
“How dare he sneak into my palace,” Gavriel growled. “That ans he’s powerful enough to break through the barrier protecting my estate.” His jaw tightened as he turned his sharp gaze to Althea. “Whoever that man is, he can’t be trusted. I’ll have soone draw his likeness tomorrow, him and Amon.”
“You’re looking for Amon?” Althea gasped. “But I witnessed him turning into ashes. He died.”
“Yes. But you also saw him here. There’s nothing to lose by finding him or anyone who knows him, since he seems to be the only person who knew your mother well,” Gavriel replied simply.
His eyes dropped to the necklace in Althea’s hand, the pendant with the golden key.
“It’s the only thing my mother left ,” she said with a sigh. “While I was at the market, a boy bumped into and slipped a parchnt.”
She looked up and t his gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell Alpha Abner sooner. I wanted to make sure Rett actually had the necklace and get it from him, so I t him first.”
Althea let out another heavy breath. “You might think I wanted to run away with Rett—”
“You won’t tell lva where or when you were eting him, and you won’t give lva that signal to help if you plan to escape with Rett,” Gavriel cut in.
Althea gave a small, grateful smile. “Exactly. I won’t go with Rett because I can read his thoughts. He never saw as a sister. Since I turned eighteen, his kindness has always felt like a trap, sothing ant to gain my trust so he could take whatever he wanted from later. He simply wanted to have all to himself.”
She didn’t realize the disgust twisting her expression until Gavriel’s eyes flicked to her face. She also did not know what ca to her that she was telling him all of this. Maybe it was because she felt that Gavriel was really listening to her.
“I see only lust and obsession in his eyes,” Gavriel said, voice low. “I will kill that bastard the first chance I get.”
Blinking her eyes at him, she asked, “You believe ?”
Gavriel leaned in until his face was only an inch from hers. “I know the look of a man coveting my mate. I saw that sa look in Kael Moore when he looked at you.”
“No. Kael’s intentions were different.” Althea began. “He’s not like Rett. Kael’s intention towards are all pure and—”
Gavriel cut her off. Before she could finish, he crushed his mouth to hers. The kiss was hard and rough, as if he were punishing her for sothing he hated.
Althea felt the sting when Gavriel bit her lower lip. Startled, she pushed him away with all her strength, gasping for air as if he had stolen every breath from her lungs with that fierce kiss.
She was still panting when Gavriel’s hand caught the back of her neck. His voice ca out rough and low as he leaned in again, his tongue brushing her bleeding lip. “I don’t want you praising that man Kael like he’s so saint in front of ,” he growled.
Althea blinked, caught between shock and anger. “That’s not what I ant—”
“I don’t care what you ant,” Gavriel cut her off sharply, his eyes blazing. “I don’t want to hear his na from your lips again.”
Her face tightened, frustration breaking through her fear. “But you’re the one who ntioned his na first,” she snapped.
“Are you talking back to now?” Gavriel huffed, his voice dropping into a dangerous rumble.
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