Chapter 165
Candice was about to approach Gavriel after Althea’s breathtaking performance when Osman quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“He must know this!” she hissed, her voice sharp with urgency as she tried to pull away from him.
“I know,” Osman muttered, gripping her arm before she could storm off. “But not now. Can’t you see? You’ll ruin the momentum. Just… breathe a little. Sit down. Eat and drink first. We both need it. Aren’t you even exhausted p>
Candice glared but reluctantly let him lead her toward a nearby table. Osman signaled a servant, ordering food and wine as she sat down, still fuming.
Her mind wouldn’t stop racing. The rhythm of Althea’s dance still echoed in her head—those movements, that control, that elemental fusion.
She clenched her jaw. ‘How is that even possible p>
The Ethereal Blood Dance wasn’t something anyone could perform. Even she, a princess of House Terravane, had only mastered it with her element—earth. Her Ethereal Blade was purely of stone and soil, as it was with every Terravane. But Althea? The woman had conjured wind, water, and fire.
That wasn’t possible… Unless p>
“She’s really from our continent,” Candice muttered under her breath, her brows furrowed in deep thought. “Possibly from the House of Aetherion… or the fallen Clan of Ivanov p>
She felt a chill run down her spine as realization dawned on her. If the Aetherion Council learned that someone like Althea existed, someone who could wield all elements, they would come for her.
At first, she didn’t give much attention when Uriel mentioned it, thinking it was just an exaggeration. But witnessing it with her own eyes, the way Althea effortlessly wielded those elements—left her utterly speechless.
It wasn’t just the control that stunned her; it was the harmony of it all.
Her voice dropped to a warning tone. “Her showing this is very dangerous,” she said, turning sharply to Osman.
He was halfway through his drink when she snapped, “Tell your Alpha King right now! Through the mindlink that he must not let his mate display her powers again. Especially her ability to wield all elemental magic p>
Osman blinked, startled by her sudden intensity. “Candice p>
“Now!” she barked, her glare fierce and unwavering.
Osman sighed and lifted a hand to his temple, then began the mindlink. “Alright, alright. I’m doing it now! But for the love of the moon, at least eat something first p>
He pushed a plate toward her, but Candice’s focus was elsewhere. Her expression hardened as old memories stirred, her mother’s stories about the alliances between the Terravane and the Ivanov Clan. About Archon Ahab Ivanov, the fallen head of his clan, and her grandfather, Randal Terravane, who had grieved his loss like that of a brother.
Her grandfather had always insisted that Archon Ahab was no traitor… ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ
The Alpha King turned toward her, and Candice swallowed hard when she saw how dark his expression was.
“What is he saying?” she whispered to Osman.
“He said he’ll take note of it and handle the rest,” Osman translated with a sigh. “He wants you to focus on your task here and not involve her mate in the chaos happening in your realm p>
“I told you,” Osman added, “our Alpha King doesn’t care about his mate’s ties to your kingdom. He’s furious right now, so if I were you, I wouldn’t push his buttons. Lady Althea is no longer part of Velmora—she now belongs to the Moon Kingdom p>
Candice clicked her tongue in frustration. “He never changes. Still as stubborn as ever! Whether Lady Althea is part of our realm or not, Aetherion will go after her sooner or later. I wouldn’t be surprised if that Zander who’s after her now is one of them p>
“Don’t you recognize the men from that House?” Osman asked curiously.
“I know a few, but not all,” Candice admitted. “Among the five Houses, Aetherion is the most secretive. They rarely attend gatherings, and when they do, they send only a handful of representatives. The only one we’re really familiar with is their Archon, Lemuel Cross. I heard he has two sons, but those two never appear in public p>
Osman leaned back slightly, frowning. “Then you think this Zander could be one of them p>
Candice nodded slowly, her gaze unfocused as she recalled every scrap of information she could. “It’s possible. If he’s not one of the sons, then he’s someone under their command. The House of Aetherion was always rumored to experiment with forbidden elemental rituals… and if what Althea did earlier truly mirrors Aetherion’s lost techniques, then that man won’t stop until he gets to her p>
Her voice dropped lower, almost a whisper. “Zander might even be sent to confirm it p>
Osman rubbed his neck, uneasy. “That doesn’t sound good. But our Alpha King—he won’t hand her over to anyone. You know that p>
“I know,” Candice admitted. “But that’s exactly what worries me. The Alpha King will protect her at all costs, even if it means starting another war. And if Aetherion or the other Houses move, Velmora will be caught in the crossfire p>
Her hand clenched into a fist as she continued, her tone bitter. “They’ll call her a curse. A blasphemy to the balance of the elements. They’ll say no one should wield that kind of power. They always fear what they can’t control p>
“Now you understand why our King doesn’t trust you to bring her before your elders,” Osman pointed out.
Candice rolled her eyes. “I told you already, House Terravane is different. We’ll protect her. We’re not against those who can wield that kind of power—as long as it’s used for the greater good p>
Osman frowned. “But not all four Houses share your way of thinking, Candice.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Or are you planning to use Lady Althea for your House’s benefit p>
“What? Of course not!” Candice shot back, clearly offended.
“Well,” Osman said, his tone calm but sharp, “the Houses of Velmora have always been fighting for authority over the kingdom. You have no king, unlike us. Each House has its own Archon, but none holds the highest rank. And from what my Alpha King gathers… all five Archons are secretly vying to become the first ruler of Velmora p>
Candice’s lips parted in disbelief before she clicked her tongue, clearly offended. “You really think I’d do something that low p>