Chapter 53 Don’t Forget Who You Are
Althea tried to get up, but Gavriel was already at her side. Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms.
“Can you heal yourself quickly with magic?” His cold tone made her throat tighten.
“I can’t,” she admitted softly.
“Get me Lakan, now!” Gavriel barked, striding in long steps back toward the North Palace.
“I’m not that wounded,” Althea tried to argue, her voice faint. “Medicinal herbs will be enough. I cast a barrier so the lashes wouldn’t cut too deep.”
“I don’t want any scars on my breeder!” he snapped, pushing open the doors to his
chambers with force.
The moment he set her down on a chair, his expression shifted. “Why do you reek of dung? Blood I can understand, but horse dung?”
Despite her weakness, Althea let out a small laugh at his complaint.
“You think this is funny? You could’ve been dead if I hadn’t arrived in time,” he growled.
Just then, Lakan entered with Melva.
“Heal her, now,” Gavriel ordered, then turned sharply to Melva. “Prepare a bath. And explain to me why she smells like a stable!”
Melva bowed quickly. “Your Majesty, High Stewardess Dorothy ordered her to clean the stables. That’s why. Then on the way back, we saw Elsa collapse, and she stopped to help her.”
Althea stayed quiet, closing her eyes as she felt Lakan’s energy seeping into her back, mending her wounds.
“This…” Lakan suddenly gasped.
Althea opened her eyes. “It’s my inner energy. The chain holding it back broke when I regained the memories I lost at ten.”
“You… you’re a mage too?” Lakan whispered, stunned, as he finished the healing.
“Yes,” she confirmed. “And I can heal as well.” Color slowly returned to her cheeks.
“Are you done?” Gavriel asked Lakan.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Lakan said, bowing. “Her wounds weren’t too deep, and her protective spell kept them from worsening.”
“The bath is ready, Your Majesty,” Melva announced.
Gavriel gave a single nod. “Leave us.”
The two obeyed, slipping out of the room. Gavriel’s gaze returned to Althea.
“Undress,” Gavriel commanded casually, making Althea frown. “I want to see if you’re fully healed and that Lakan left no marks,” he added, his tone flat.
Althea stood up slowly. There was nothing to hide from this man anymore; he had already seen every inch of her body.
Turning away, she slipped out of her clothes. The moment she did, she felt his warmth draw closer. Her skin prickled as his hand brushed lightly against her back. She stiffened when his lips grazed her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
“I should wash first… I smell, don’t I?” she stammered.
“Yes. Like horse dung,” he muttered against her shoulder.
Before she could protest, Gavriel swept her off her feet. He carried her straight into the bathing chamber and lowered her gently into the tub. Warm water, scattered petals, and soothing scents surrounded her.
Althea blinked rapidly when Gavriel began removing his own clothes.
‘Seriously?’ she thought, lips parting in disbelief. ‘Was he truly this shameless? Or was he simply that determined to see her with child?’
Her breath caught as her eyes dropped to him. The hard truth of his desire was impossible to ignore, and she suddenly felt like prey cornered by a hungry predator.
“Do you really need to bathe with me?” she asked, her voice uneven. “I can manage on my own.”
His brow lifted slightly, though his expression stayed stoic. “I need to be certain there isn’t a single trace of that stench on you. I won’t have my breeder smelling like a stable.”
Gavriel moved closer and pulled her toward him. He dipped the sponge into the water and began running it over her skin.
“So,” he said evenly, “tell me. Did you read their thoughts, Althea? You said you can read minds. What did you find in theirs?”
Althea swallowed hard. It was the first time Gavriel had ever shown real interest in her ability. She had honestly believed he either didn’t care or never believed she could read minds.
“I did,” she admitted quietly. “Every one of them hates me. They want me dead, out of their way. They think I’m dangerous because the mate bond is affecting you… swaying you.”
Her voice dropped lower. That was what most of them believed, especially the Queen Mother.
Gavriel smirked, his hand suddenly gripping her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. His dark eyes bore into hers. “Are you certain I’m the only one whose mind you can’t read?” he asked, his tone low, as though testing her.
Althea froze under his stare, the weight of it pressing against her chest. It felt as if he were staring straight into her soul, peeling away every defense she had.
“Yes… and I don’t know why that is,” she admitted with a frown. “Maybe it’s because you’re too powerful?” She tried once more to reach into his mind, but again, there was nothing.
“And do you think the mate bond is swaying me like what they all believe?” Gavriel pressed, his voice low and sharp. “That I’m showing you affection because of it?” His expression darkened, shadows hardening his face as he spoke.
“I don’t know… only you can answer that, My King,” she whispered, refusing to break away from his piercing stare. Then, with a rush of courage, she added softly, “Am I swaying you?”
Gavriel leaned closer, his lips brushing her cheek as he spoke, his voice low and rough.
“Don’t forget who you are, Althea. You’re Cain’s daughter… tainted by his blood. To me, you’re nothing more than a breeder.”
His words were cruel, deliberate, each one meant to wound. But his mouth lingered against her skin longer than it should have, his breath warm on her cheek as though he couldn’t pull himself away.
Althea’s heart pounded, her body stiff under his touch. She could feel the strength in his hold, the command in his voice, yet there was a hesitation in the way his thumb brushed against her jaw.
His hand slid from her jaw down to her waist, his grip tightening until she was forced to move with him. In one swift pull, he drew her onto his lap, her knees pressing against his thighs as he made her straddle him.