Chapter 77 More Warmth
Gavriel had just finished some of his pending work when he decided to return to his bedchamber to check on Althea. Since it was already dinner, he thought it best to share the meal with her. Besides, he wanted to speak with her more about her abilities and see if she would reveal every detail.
Rising from his chancery, he told a servant, “Have dinner prepared for me and Althea, and bring it to my bedchamber.”
As he walked down the corridor, Lady Ava suddenly appeared before him. She bowed low. “Sire.”
Lifting her head, she asked softly, “May I please have a word with you, my King?”
Gavriel’s jaw tightened. Somehow, the words ‘My King’ grated on him when spoken by anyone else. Strangely, he only liked it when Althea called him that.
“Address me as Alpha King or Your Majesty—but not my King—from now on,” he commanded, his tone sharp. Only after the words left his mouth did he realize how revealing they sounded.
Ava blinked rapidly. “But I often call you—” She stopped when his expression darkened.
Irritated with himself for such pettiness, Gavriel growled at Chaos inside his head, but the lycan only laughed mockingly.
“What do you want, Ava?” Gavriel asked flatly.
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Please, allow me to visit my father more often. I tried entering the dungeon, but the guards
wouldn’t let me.”
“Stand up, Ava,” Gavriel ordered. “I’ll instruct the Captain of the Guards to give you a pass so you can visit your father every week.”
He had indeed ordered strict security measures against Thanos, but since Ava was someone close to him, he supposed she deserved a little more leniency.
Ava’s face lit up in relief. She moved to throw herself against him in gratitude, but Gavriel instinctively stepped back. “Watch your actions,” he growled, annoyance clear in his voice.
“But Gav—” She cut herself off when she saw how dark his expression had become.
“I’ve made myself clear,” he said coldly. “Do not expect anything from me.”
Ava had been the one to approach him when he was at his lowest. After Chaos killed Rizza, Ava never left his side. One drunken night, she had taken the initiative to be intimate with him, and he hadn’t stopped her.
From then on, he only used her body to ease his needs, especially during the blue moon when his heat was unbearable. He never once released his sexual essence inside her, and he never once showed her kindness.
From the start, he was cold and distant. He didn’t care if Ava clung to him, because he had told her outright—their relationship was nothing but sex.
“I am sorry,” Ava murmured, her tone apologetic. Gavriel didn’t bother to respond. He simply brushed past her and left.
Ava clenched her fists so tightly that blood trickled from her palms. His coldness was nothing new. For years, she had endured it just to catch the smallest flicker of his attention. After Rizza’s death, Gavriel had never let another woman near him. But Ava had managed to slip into his life at his weakest, lowest point.
She closed her eyes, forcing her trembling nerves to settle. If Cain’s daughter hadn’t appeared, things wouldn’t be this difficult. Gavriel would have no one else to turn to but her, and in time, she could have taken her place as Alpha Queen.
“The blue moon is nearing,” she hissed through gritted teeth. Her eyes burned with hatred. That traitor’s daughter had to be eliminated before then. And the best place for that was during the coming Hunting Season Event.
Meanwhile, Gavriel walked in long, purposeful strides toward his bedchamber. Outside, Trudis greeted him with a bow, and he gave a brief nod before pushing the door open.
The moment he stepped inside, his brows drew together. Althea was still asleep. Since dinner wasn’t ready yet, he decided to freshen up and changed into his usual sleepwear.
\[Alpha, I’ve already marked Melva. She’s staying in the cottage now. She asked if you could let Lady Althea know she’s safe, so she won’t worry.\]
Simon’s voice came through the mindlink. Those who belonged to his pack and pledged loyalty to Gavriel could communicate with him this way, though only within a certain range of distance with each other. It was different from the bond between mates, where mindlinking worked no matter the distance was.
That was exactly why Chaos insisted Gavriel should teach Althea how to use mindlink—so they could stay connected even when he wasn’t by her side.
A knock sounded at the door before several servants entered after hearing his voice, “Come in.” They started arranging dinner at the table. Once they were done, Gavriel dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Silence settled in the chamber as he walked toward the bed and sat on its edge.
Althea was still fast asleep, her breathing soft and even. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his expression unreadable.
Then he let out a low scoff. “Look at you. So comfortable, sleeping in my bed like it’s your own.”
It wasn’t really her fault. She was supposed to stay in the nearest guestroom with Melva while renovations on the adjacent chamber were underway. But he had decided Althea would remain here instead, at least while Melva was gone. It eased him somehow, knowing no one would dare enter his chamber, and that she was safer this way.
Althea stirred, her lashes fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes. A faint smile touched her lips before she let them fall shut again.
Gavriel’s frown deepened. “You should eat first before going back to sleep.”
“It’s cold,” she mumbled next, rolling back toward him. Without hesitation, she clutched his arm, hugging it tightly as her face brushed against him. “Mmm… warm,” she murmured in her half-sleep.
Gavriel stiffened at the sudden closeness, his jaw tightening. “You’re burning,” he muttered under his breath, realizing how hot her skin felt against his.
He was about to pull away and call for a healer, but Althea clung tighter to his arm. A soft, sluggish hum escaped her lips.
“I need more warmth… I’m cold. My King, just hug me,” she murmured faintly. “I’ll be fine tomorrow. I just need enough rest.”