Chapter 147 Prophecy
Gavriel was restless. Even with Althea asleep in his arms, his mind wouldn’t stop. Through the mindlink, he gave nonstop orders to his men—tightening patrols, securing the perimeter, and doubling the guards. He had never been this terrified in his entire life. The thought of losing her, even for a moment, made his chest ache.
He didn’t want to let her out of his sight, not even for a second. But he knew he had to, at least for a while, to make sure she would be safe.
Tonight’s incident shook him to his core. It made him realize just how important Althea had become to him, not just because of the mate bond or instinct, but because of something much deeper.
This morning, he still had doubts… about fate, about her, about himself. But now, after everything that happened, all of those doubts were gone.
He gently kissed the top of Althea’s head, then slowly slipped out of her embrace. Before leaving, he brushed his lips softly against hers—a brief, tender kiss—then quietly stepped out of the quarters.
Outside, Gustav stood guard with Rudy, along with several mages, Trudis, Ben, and a handful of warriors posted at every corner. No intruder would make it through unnoticed.
“Sire, Lord Uriel and the others are waiting in the meeting hall,” Gustav reported.
Gavriel gave a short nod. “Anything strange, you contact me through the mindlink immediately.”
“Yes, Sire,” Gustav replied quickly.
When Gavriel entered the meeting chamber, the air felt heavy. Lady Candice and Uriel were in the middle of a heated discussion but stopped at once when he arrived.
“Your Majesty,” Candice greeted, lowering her head respectfully. “Your mate… there’s a possibility that she came from our continent. And I was hoping you’d allow me to take her back—”
Candice froze mid-sentence as Gavriel’s sharp glare cut her off. His eyes burned with warning, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Gavriel’s voice came out low but sharp, his control hanging by a thread. “You will not take my mate from me. Anyone who tries will have to go through me first.”
Candice sighed and rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to abduct her, Your Majesty,” she said, tone clipped. “If you insist, you can come with her. We can use Lord Uriel’s portal and make it a short visit. She doesn’t have to stay there long, but it’s important that the Elders see her. They might have answers you don’t.”
Gavriel’s brow furrowed. “And what makes you so sure she’s from your continent?”
Candice straightened, her tone growing more composed. “That portal she created, the Bondgate, it’s not something just anyone can do. My father once told me that only one lineage had the power to form such a connection. The Nikolav Clan, from the House of Aetherion. But their bloodline was believed to have been wiped out nearly two decades ago.”
Gavriel’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing dangerously. “And after what you said earlier, you still think I’d let you take her there?”
Candice met his glare without flinching. “You can’t keep her origins buried forever, Alpha King. Whether you like it or not, the truth will find her.”
“You two, that’s enough,” Uriel interjected firmly, his tone cutting through the tension. “I believe it should be Lady Althea who decides on this matter. Yes, discovering her origin is important but right now, our priority is dealing with that man, Zander. He’s too strange. I can’t tell whether he’s a real threat or if he simply desires Lady Althea.”
Gavriel’s jaw tightened, his aura flaring. “He’s a threat if he wants my mate,” he growled darkly. “My future Luna and the future Queen of this kingdom.”
“What?!” Candice, Uriel, Simon, and Osman exclaimed at the same time, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Uriel was the first to recover. “Your Majesty, did you just say, Queen?” he asked carefully, unsure if he’d heard correctly.
Gavriel didn’t waver. His expression was firm, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Yes. I did. Althea will be my Queen.”
Candice’s jaw nearly dropped. “You can’t be serious! Isn’t she the daughter of a traitor—well, allegedly! And now you’re saying you want to make her Luna and Queen?”
Gavriel’s gaze hardened. “Watch your words, Candice. Whether she’s a traitor’s daughter or not doesn’t matter to me. She’s mine, and that’s final.”
The room fell silent. No one dared to speak for a moment, the weight of Gavriel’s declaration settling over them like thunder in the air.
“Well, that’s sudden,” Uriel finally said, breaking the silence. “But it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. She is your fated mate, after all. Still, this is the Alpha King’s problem alone. Let’s focus on finding that man, Zander.”
He turned to Candice, his expression serious. “Judging from how he manipulates elements, I’d say he’s from your continent too.”
Candice’s brows furrowed slightly. “Yes, I noticed that as well. And like the Alpha King’s mate… that man is indeed from our continent.” Her voice grew heavier as she continued, “But my knowledge is limited. Much of what happened before I was born is lost to me. What I do remember is that among our kind, those who can command all the elemental magics are seen as cursed—an omen.”
Uriel’s eyes narrowed. “A curse?”
“Yes,” Candice replied softly. “They’re considered a threat. A being capable of wielding all the elements upsets the balance of magic itself. According to our records, the last time someone like that was born, the entire Ivanov Clan was wiped out… because of a prophecy.”
“A prophecy?” Gavriel repeated, his brows furrowing. “What prophecy?!”
Candice paused for a moment, her expression turning serious. “The prophecy said that when someone is born with the power to control all elements—light, dark, fire, water, earth, wind, and spirit—the world will bend to their will. They could either bring balance… or destroy everything.”
Uriel’s eyes narrowed. “So you’re saying this Zander could be that person? But…” Uriel’s words trailed off as realization struck him. His eyes widened, darting toward Gavriel. “Lady Althea… she can also manipulate elements, can’t she?” he finished in a low, uneasy tone.