Chapter 179 This Confirms It
This Confirms It
Candice threw her hands up. “A cursed little crystal that can pierce veils, hide in plain sight, and connect two beings across distances without leaving magical traces. No spell can’t intercept something like that.”
Osman’s eyes darkened. “Meaning Zander can talk to her whenever he wants through that.”
Candice eyed Althea suspiciously. “This is my first time seeing a Luminis Shard in real life. I’ve only seen sketches of it in ancient texts.” There was something in her expression, something that made Althea feel Candice wanted to say more but chose not to. Instead, she asked, her curiosity slipping through, “How did you manage to get that?”
Gavriel stiffened beside her, every muscle turning rigid as he kept his unblinking, questioning gaze locked on Althea.
Althea swallowed and quickly explained, “I… found it in Princess Riela’s cottage. It wasn’t visible at first, but I recognized its aura. My mother used a similar shard before to contact… someone she trusted.”
Candice’s eyes widened. “Your mother… used the same shard before?!”
Althea nodded. But before Candice could respond, Gavriel stepped closer, his gaze locked on the crystal now faintly glowing in Althea’s palm. He hissed, “So he used that damn thing to contact you?”
Althea nodded. “He said I should use it to contact him if I…” she hesitated, feeling the sharp weight of everyone’s attention, “if I decided to meet him willingly.”
Gavriel’s jaw flexed so hard the bone creaked.
Candice pressed her fingers to her temples. “Of course. A Luminis Shard can’t be tracked, can’t be intercepted, can’t even be detected unless someone knows the spell. Perfect for someone like him.”
A sharp growl rumbled in Gavriel’s chest.
Candice flinched at the sound. “Okay, okay, Alpha King, breathe. You’re about to bust a lung.”
But Gavriel didn’t calm. His eyes burned gold as he stared at Zander’s tool in Althea’s hand.
“You’re never using that again,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.
Althea’s breath caught. “Gavriel—”
“No.” His voice cracked like thunder. “He already reached you once. That is more than enough.”
Candice, surprisingly, nodded. “For once, I agree with the king. A Luminis Shard creates a two-way channel. If Althea keeps using it, this Zander will easily be able to track her aura. Or worse, link something dangerous to her.”
Gavriel’s glare sharpened. “Then we destroy it.”
Candice immediately paled again. “Destroy it?! Destroying a Luminis Shard? No! That thing could blow up this entire wing if smashed wrong!”
Uriel winced. “She’s right. They’re volatile. Too much ancient energy inside.”
Althea looked down at the faintly glowing shard, her throat tightening.
Zander’s last words echoed in her mind. ‘Once you’re ready… contact me, and I will fetch you.’
She closed her fingers around it. “We can’t destroy it,” she said quietly. All eyes snapped to her.
Gavriel’s face hardened. “Althea—”
“We can’t,” she repeated firmly, though fear fluttered in her chest. “Riela is with him. If we destroy it now… we may lose the only way to get her back safely. This shard is the only way we can contact and negotiate with Zander. I must keep this.”
A thick silence swallowed the chamber.
Gavriel looked torn between rage… and cold, biting logic. Finally, he spoke. “Fine.” His voice was tight, strained. “We keep it. But under one condition.”
Althea lifted her eyes. “What condition?”
Gavriel stepped closer, towering over Althea, his voice dropping into a deep, commanding growl. “You are never using that shard alone again. If you ever need it, you use it only when I’m with you. Now hand it over.”
Althea froze and she didn’t move one bit at all. She didn’t even breathe. And Gavriel felt her hesitation instantly through the bond. His eyes darkened, gold flashing through them in warning. It was like his lycan was so ready to surface.
“Althea.” His tone sharpened. “Give it to me.”
Before she could reply, Candice suddenly cut in.
“No,” she blurted out. “She can’t.”
Everyone turned to her in confusion.
Osman frowned. “What do you mean she can’t? Anyone can hold a crystal.”
Candice shook her head. “Not this one.”
Gavriel stiffened. “Explain. Now.”
Candice swallowed, eyes sliding back to Althea and the shard glowing faintly in her palm.
“No one can hold a Luminis Shard,” she said slowly, “except…” She paused, as if weighing whether she should say it.
Osman stepped forward impatiently. “Except what, Candice? Stop with the suspense and just spill everything now so we know how to continue further with this!”
Candice exhaled and finally voiced it. “Except someone from the House of Aetherion,” she said. “One of the ancient bloodlines… the bearers of the Fifth Essence. The Masters of Aether.”
The bedchamber went dead silent again.
Althea’s breath hitched, her fingers curling tighter around the shard. “Are you saying… that I’m from that House?”
Candice didn’t hesitate. She nodded firmly. “Yes. At first, it was just a suspicion, but now? This confirms it. And that Zander… he’s obviously from the House of Aetherion too.”
Candice began pacing, agitation clear on her face. “I need a moment. I have to check this with my father. He might know something, maybe he’s heard of a Zander tied to Aetherion. And if not, he can send someone to quietly dig into it.”
Gavriel’s jaw clenched, but he stayed silent as Candice spoke, his attention fixed entirely on Althea, on the way her hands trembled, on the way her eyes had gone distant with shock.
Candice glanced at the two of them, then let out a heavy sigh. “Give me a little time. I’ll contact him now.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried from the room, the others following close behind.
Althea was left alone with Gavriel. The silence was thick, almost suffocating. For a long moment, neither spoke. Althea could feel Gavriel’s stare burning into her skin. And for the first time… she wasn’t sure what scared her more… Zander’s warning, or the truth about herself she never expected to face.
Then, without warning, Gavriel’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close until her face pressed against his chest. His warmth, solid and unyielding, pressed against her, and the sound of his steady heartbeat filled her ears.
“Gavriel…” Her voice trembled as she clutched at him. “I’m scared.”