Chapter 121 Talking Back
Lakan had just left after checking on Althea and making sure she was not hurt. Then Ash had been sent outside with Melva.
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 me everything you know about that man you mentioned,” 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 became familiar. The second time 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 somehow.”
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 time was when we were out today. I saw a shadow following the carriage—it was the same energy. And then tonight… he finally showed himself. I saw him when he destroyed Rett’s warlock’s portal. He smirked at me 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 me. 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—handsome.”
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 me, 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 me.”
“How dare he sneak into my palace,” Gavriel growled. “That means 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 someone 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 me,” she said with a sigh. “While I was at the market, a boy bumped into me and slipped me a parchment.”
She looked up and met 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 met him first.”
Althea let out another heavy breath. “You might think I wanted to run away with Rett—”
“You won’t tell Melva where or when you were meeting him, and you won’t give Melva 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 me as a sister. Since I turned eighteen, his kindness has always felt like a trap, something meant to gain my trust so he could take whatever he wanted from me later. He simply wanted to have me 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 came 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 me?”
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 same 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 me 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 something 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 came 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 some saint in front of me,” he growled.
Althea blinked, caught between shock and anger. “That’s not what I meant—”
“I don’t care what you meant,” Gavriel cut her off sharply, his eyes blazing. “I don’t want to hear his name from your lips again.”
Her face tightened, frustration breaking through her fear. “But you’re the one who mentioned his name first,” she snapped.
“Are you talking back to me now?” Gavriel huffed, his voice dropping into a dangerous rumble.