Chapter 187
Althea bit the inside of her cheek, trying to steady the wave rising in her chest. Seeing the familiar handwriting of her mother, warmth washed through her so suddenly it almost hurt.
Zander gently lifted another stack of manuscripts — thicker, older, bound in deep blue paper marked with the Ivanov sigil.
“These are the ancient records of our clan,” he said quietly. “Amon protected them his entire life. He said they would prove we were never the traitors the Cross Clan accused us of being p>
Althea tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Her heart felt too heavy while staring at her mother’s journal. She turned another page, eager to read more p>
‘Twenty-five years ago, everything began to fall apart inside House of Aetherion. None of us saw the betrayal coming. The Cross Clan turned the continent against us. They forced lies upon the people, branding us as wielders of forbidden magic.
Your father, Atlas, fought beside your uncle Salem and your grandfather until his last breath. They died protecting what little remained of our name p>
Althea blinked hard, her vision blurring as she whispered, “My father… Atlas Grant p>
Zander stiffened beside her. “My father… is Salem Ivanov,” he murmured. “I remember Atlas and Aunt Thea… but I was only five, so I don’t recall that much p>
“Lady Althea is truly not Cain’s daughter?” Osman gasped, but Uriel quickly signaled him to stay silent.
“Give them a moment,” Uriel murmured softly.
Althea turned to Gavriel. He offered her a reassuring smile and a gentle nod. Taking a steadying breath, she looked back down at the page. Her mother’s words continued, spilling onto the next page, waiting to reveal the truth she had longed to know.
‘We escaped and Amon guided us through the woods, but chaos swallowed us. I fell into the sea. The currents dragged me far from them. When I woke, I was on a ship from Sanguira Continent… sold as a slave before I could find my way back. It’s also then that I find out I was pregnant and Cain bought me and make me his mistress.
I wanted to tell you everything when you turned twelve. If fate stole that chance from me, then these journals will be your lantern in the dark p>
Althea pressed her lips together, but a tear broke free. Gavriel gently brushed it away with the pad of his thumb then he gently caressed her cheek. She closed the journal and held it tightly to her chest as if feeling the warmth of her mother’s embrace once more from it. Fresh chapters posted on
Zander swallowed hard. “Amon never told me much. Only that my parents died fighting… and that the Cross Clan destroyed our house from within.” His brows drew together. “He never said I had a cousin. He only said fate would lead me to someone who carried the same energy as mine p>
Althea jerked in surprise. “He didn’t tell you it was me p>
“No.” Zander shook his head firmly. “Not even a name. He kept saying the less I knew, the safer I would be. He said revealing too much might get both of us killed.” He let out a slow breath. “I had no idea you were family p>
Candice threw her hands up. “So let me get this straight—she’s your cousin, and yet you tried harming her by taking Riela and healing her yourself instead of letting her do it? Do you realize the covenant of binding will kill her p>
Zander’s face drained. “I didn’t know she’s my cousin. Though I thought she could be a part of my clan.” His voice dropped, sounding genuinely shaken. “I only did that because… because I needed the Alpha King to cooperate. It was the only way I could be sure he’d listen before making impulsive choices p>
Gavriel’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “We will deal with that later.” His tone was clipped but controlled. “Right now, Althea needs space to learn the truth about her mother and her origins p>
Zander dipped his head in grudging acceptance.
Althea lifted the lid of the stone box again. Inside, beneath the journals, something glowed softly.
A shard—small, crystalline, and warm—rested in her palm when she lifted it.
She gasped quietly. “It feels… alive p>
Althea held the shard carefully, its soft glow brushing against her fingertips like warm breath. She drew in a slow, steadying breath and closed her eyes and this time, something shifted.
Light blossomed behind her eyelids. Soft at first. Then clearer. Almost like… a ripple of someone else’s memory touching her own.
Everything around them faded. Suddenly, she stood in a sunlit clearing she didn’t recognize. And before her—
A woman knelt beside a man. Her breath caught and her heart stilled. “Mother p>
The woman turned, smiling the exact smile Althea remembered from childhood—tired but warm, fragile but strong. Her eyes shimmered, seeing her even though this was only a memory.
“Althea,” her mother whispered. “If you’re seeing this, then you’ve grown. And fate has brought you to the truth I couldn’t speak soon enough p>
Althea could barely breathe. She wanted to run to her, but she couldn’t move; she was only watching a memory meant for her. Her mother reached out and touched the air where Althea would stand. “This shard holds a part of me. A piece of my memories. I saved it so one day, you would know who you truly are p>
The man beside her mother turned. He had broad shoulders, warm brown eyes and a gentle but firm expression.
“This is Atlas Grant,” she said, her voice filled with pride and sorrow. “Your real father. My husband p>
Althea swallowed back tears she couldn’t stop. Her mother continued speaking, her tone shifting—gentle, heavier. “I wanted to tell you everything myself. I wanted to watch you grow older and tell you that Cain, kind as he was to us, was not your real father p>
The memory flickered with emotion.
“Cain treated you well and believed you were truly his,” her mother whispered. “I didn’t want to take that love from you. And I didn’t know what the future would bring. All I wanted was your safety. A simple life. A good life p>