Chapter 191 Energies
Gavriel moved faster than anyone. He caught Althea in his arms before she hit the ground.
“Althea—!” His voice cracked with tension he didn’t show to anyone else.
Her head lolled weakly against his shoulder, her breath shallow.
Gavriel turned sharply toward Zander. “What’s happening?!”
Zander swallowed, his face tight with guilt and frustration. “Those two women… Ava and Nilda… they laced Princess Riela with a dark spell before I took her.”
Gavriel’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth nearly broke.
Zander continued, voice low. “They wanted to make sure her healing wouldn’t succeed unless it was done under their terms. And because I had already begun treating her with my energy—”
“Finish your sentence,” Gavriel snapped.
Zander grimaced. “My energy inside the dome is clashing with Riela’s own and with the spell they placed. When Althea tried to step in… all three energies collided.”
Gavriel’s expression turned deadly. He shifted Althea in his arms, holding her gently but with an unspoken warning that if her condition worsened, someone would pay for it.
“You made contact with Ava and Nilda?” he growled.
Zander looked away for a moment, shame flickering across his features. “I did.”
Candice gasped softly behind them, but Zander kept speaking, voice low and remorseful.
“I apologize. Truly. But I had no choice. I needed leverage… something that would force you to listen to me. You don’t care about politics. You don’t take part in other kingdoms’ wars unless there’s a reason tied directly to your throne—or your people.”
He met Gavriel’s eyes. “And I had nothing.”
Gavriel’s nostrils flared. “So you endangered the Princess.”
“At first,” Zander admitted, “I thought Princess Riela would be my only option. But then Althea appeared in your life… and she wasn’t just anyone. She was your mate.”
Gavriel stiffened, fingers tightening around Althea’s waist.
Zander kept going, voice rough with regret. “I needed you. I needed the Moon Kingdom’s forces. Velmora’s Houses weren’t allowed to interfere with mine. My clan was shattered. I’m short of men, surrounded by enemies, and if our clan were to rise again and take back the House of Aetherion… it could only be done with your help.”
Candice stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. “Still, using your own cousin...”
Zander closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Yes. And I regret it more than anything.”
Althea stirred weakly in Gavriel’s arms. Her voice was faint, disoriented. “I… I’m fine… I just need a moment.”
“No,” Gavriel said firmly. “You’re not fine.”
His arm tightened around her, as if shielding her from everything—including the truth being spoken. Althea’s gaze lifted slightly toward the dome still glowing faintly. Riela’s silhouette was barely visible inside, her breathing uneven.
“I can still try,” Althea whispered.
“No,” Gavriel said again, sharper this time.
Zander shook his head. “Althea, he’s right. You pushed too hard, too fast. My energy is too deeply embedded. You need to acclimate first.”
“But the covenant of binding—” she protested weakly.
“That’s precisely why we need you alive,” Zander said gently. “If you collapse again, the covenant might cling to you instead. Then everything becomes irreversible.”
Althea’s breath caught. “I… didn’t know.”
Zander stepped closer, but Gavriel subtly shifted, positioning himself between Zander and Althea without even thinking about it.
“Listen,” Zander said, keeping his voice calm. “You have the right energy to finish this. You’re her key. But you need to understand the balance first. My energy… Riela’s… the dark spell. If you merge with it too soon, your body will take the hit.”
Althea swallowed and nodded, fear and determination mixing in her eyes. “Then teach me. Guide me.”
“I will,” Zander promised. “But not now. You need to restore your inner energy first.”
Gavriel finally spoke again, voice controlled but laced with fury beneath. “She will rest.”
Althea looked up at him. “Gavriel—”
“No.” His tone brooked no argument. “You will recover first. There are still days left. You will attempt this again tomorrow, not a second earlier.”
Zander nodded in agreement. “He’s right. If you try again now… the clash of energies might burn you out internally.”
Althea hesitated. “But Riela—”
“Riela will live,” Zander assured her. “The dome stabilizes her. She’s not getting worse. Not getting better either, but she’s stable. That’s enough.”
Candice touched Althea’s arm gently. “Let your strength return first. You can’t save someone while you’re breaking.”
Gavriel adjusted his hold on her carefully, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. “We’re done for today.”
Althea rested her forehead weakly against his chest, exhaustion finally overtaking her.
“…Tomorrow,” she whispered.
Gavriel didn’t respond, but the tension in his body eased just slightly.
Zander watched them silently — guilt, relief, and something softer flickering behind his eyes. “I’ll prepare for tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll take it step by step. You’ll learn how to separate my energy from what Riela needs… and the covenant will acknowledge you as the true healer.”
Gavriel gave him a hard look. “If anything happens to her—”
Zander lifted both hands, surrendering. “Nothing will. I swear on my family’s name.”
Candice crossed her arms, muttering, “You don’t have much left of that.”
Zander winced but didn’t argue.
Gavriel turned sharply to Zander, a low growl rumbling deep in his chest. “I need a chamber for her to rest. I’ll leave her here to recuperate and then I’m going back to fix the mess you’ve caused in the palace.”
Zander didn’t argue. He simply nodded and gestured for them to follow. “This way.”
They moved to a small, secluded cottage. Gavriel laid Althea gently on the bed. She stirred slightly but remained weak. He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“You two stay with her,” he said to Candice and Osman. “I’m returning to the palace with Uriel.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Osman replied.
Candice checked Althea’s pulse. “She’ll be fine after some rest,” she said, worry in her voice.
Gavriel leaned close, cupping her cheek and pressing a light kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back soon. Let me deal with Ava and Nilda.”
Althea’s eyes fluttered open and she gave a small nod.
Outside, Zander hesitated and handed Gavriel a small bottle.
“What’s this?” Gavriel asked, frowning.