Chapter 80 Eating
Once he finished dealing with Uriel, Gavriel hurried back to Althea’s side. The thought that she could open a portal made him uneasy. No matter how tightly he chained her, she could vanish from him in an instant.
Dawn was just beginning to stir. Before he went inside, he ordered the servants to prepare breakfast for both of them. Then he handed three small bottles to Rudy, Trudis, and Ben.
“Drink these, now,” he said flatly. Without hesitation, the three of them uncorked the potions and swallowed the contents.
“I chose the three of you because I know you fear me enough not to disobey,” he continued, his voice cold.
“You may not like my breeder, but your duty is simple: make sure she does not escape and that no one harms her, no matter who it is—even my mother. If anything happens to her while she is under your watch, you will answer for it. A single scratch and you will bear the consequences for failing to do your job.”
All three kept their expressions carefully neutral, but the tension in their shoulders betrayed them.
Gavriel let the warning settle, then turned and entered his bedchamber.
Inside, Althea was still fast asleep. Gavriel quietly lay beside her and pulled her into his arms, his gaze fixed on her face. Like she had said, her temperature was back to normal now. He let out a low sigh. “I wonder if you’ll remember what happened last night… or how you told me everything?”
She shifted slightly, her lashes fluttering as she stirred awake. Slowly, her eyes blinked open.
“You’re… here?” she whispered sluggishly.
Gavriel didn’t answer. His silence made her frown in confusion.
“Am I still dreaming?” she murmured, then suddenly raised her hand and gave his cheek a sharp pinch.
He didn’t move, keeping his expression unreadable, though the corners of his lips threatened to curve into a smile. Her reaction was unexpectedly hilarious.
“Ouch! It hurts!” she muttered, rubbing her own fingers as if she had felt the sting herself. Then, to his surprise, she gave him a sudden slap across the face.
Her hand went up again for a second strike, but this time Gavriel caught her wrist in midair, his grip firm but careful. “That’s enough.”
Althea’s eyes widened as she realized what she had just done. “Oh no… I’m sorry, My King! I really thought I was still dreaming!” she stammered, pulling her wrist back quickly.
Gavriel’s expression stayed unreadable, his eyes dark and steady on her. He didn’t speak. The silence weighed heavy, making her squirm under his gaze.
“You dare to slap me,” he finally murmured, his voice low and cold, sending a shiver down her spine.
Althea shook her head quickly. “I—I didn’t mean—”
Her protest was cut off when Gavriel suddenly leaned down, claiming her lips with a searing kiss. It wasn’t gentle. It was demanding, punishing, as if he wanted to devour every breath she had. His hand gripped the back of her neck, keeping her from pulling away, while his mouth moved against hers with hungry insistence.
Althea whimpered softly against his lips, caught between shock and the heat spiraling through her body. She tried to push at his chest, but her strength melted under the intensity of his kiss.
He pulled back only enough to speak against her mouth, his breath hot. “You thought you were dreaming? Then let me remind you this is real.”
Before she could respond, his lips crashed down on hers again, deeper, harsher. His tongue slid past her lips, claiming her mouth completely, leaving her breathless. Each kiss was like fire—ruthless, overwhelming—until she clutched his shoulders just to steady herself.
When he finally tore his lips from hers, she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Gavriel’s eyes burned into hers, sharp and unrelenting.
“Next time you think of striking me,” he whispered against her swollen lips, “remember how I’ll punish you.”
Althea’s face flushed crimson, her heart pounding wildly. She bit her lip, unable to meet his gaze, and realized she had no defense against the way he both infuriated and consumed her.
Then, in the silence, her stomach suddenly let out a loud grumble.
Althea’s face turned scarlet, and she quickly looked away in shame. Of course, she hadn’t eaten dinner last night, and now her stomach was protesting at the worst possible time.
Gavriel’s eyes flicked down to her, catching every twitch of her expression. He finally released her, pushing himself up from the bed. “Come and have an early breakfast with me before I leave for the south,” he said flatly, as though nothing unusual had happened.
Althea hesitated, then shyly reached for his hand. To her surprise, instead of simply helping her up, he scooped her effortlessly into his arms.
“Wha—!” she gasped, clinging to his shoulders as her eyes widened.
But he didn’t slow down. He carried her straight across the bed to the table, not bothering to set her down in a chair. Instead, he sat and kept her on his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Althea blinked rapidly, her cheeks burning hotter. “What are you doing?” she demanded, trying to wriggle free.
“I’m going to feed you,” Gavriel answered simply, his voice calm, certain—like there was no room for argument.
Her lips parted in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
But his arm only tightened around her waist, keeping her firmly in place, while his other hand reached for the food the servants had prepared. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes, steady and sharp, never failed to make her heart always pound.
“But… aren’t you going to eat too?” Althea asked hesitantly. Her brows knit together, the heat on her cheeks refusing to fade.
She felt strange, torn between his odd gentleness and that usual cold, unreadable air that always kept her guessing.
‘Why was he even bothering to feed her himself? What game is this beast trying to play this time?!’ she mused irritably, lips forming a slight pout.
Gavriel glanced at her, his face impassive, before answering in that flat, matter-of-fact tone of his. “I’ll eat after you’re done. Since you’re the one I’m eating, you need to be charged first.”