Chapter 214
Father
Cain strained against his chains. “Rett, stop!”
But Rett only laughed, the sound broken and unhinged, echoing harshly against the stone walls of the dungeon.
“If you had just listened and used her when you had the chance,” Rett barked, his voice rising with every word, “none of this would be happening! We would have power. We would have ruled!”
His eyes burned as he glared at Althea.
“The plan was simple,” Rett continued. “She was meant to be used. Toyed with. You knew the Alpha King was already smitten with her. We could have controlled him through her, but you kept delaying! You kept protecting her instead of giving her the damn instructions!”
Cain shook his head violently. “She was never meant to be a weapon!”
Rett let out a sharp, mocking laugh and turned on his father. “You act high and mighty, but you always let emotions cloud your judgment! Hah! To think you’re protecting a woman who isn’t even your blood.”
His lips curled into a cruel grin. “You’re pathetic.”
The air in the dungeon shifted.
At first, it was subtle. A faint pressure, like the stone itself was holding its breath. Then the torches along the walls flickered violently, their flames bending inward as if pulled by an unseen force.
Gavriel stiffened instantly. His instincts screamed danger.
Zander’s expression darkened. “That energy… it’s ancient.”
Rett’s laughter twisted into a low growl as black smoke began to seep from his skin. It coiled around his arms and chest, crawling like something alive. The iron chains binding him rattled violently, glowing faintly as dark symbols bled across the metal.
“All of you are useless!” Rett roared, his voice no longer entirely his own. “All of you must die!”
The force exploded outward. With a deafening crack, one of the chains snapped. Stone shattered as Rett wrenched himself forward, the dark magic wrapping around his limbs like armor. His eyes were no longer human. They were pitch black, void of reason or restraint.
“Rett!” Cain shouted.
But the dark energy did not stop there.
It surged outward and slammed into Cain like a living thing. His body convulsed violently as the magic latched onto him, crawling beneath his skin. The runes carved into the dungeon walls flared in protest.
Cain cried out in pain as his chains strained, then snapped one by one.
“No,” Zander muttered sharply. “It’s forcing itself into him.”
Cain’s breathing grew ragged. Slowly, his head lifted. His eyes had darkened.
Not fully black like Rett’s, but clouded. Possessed.
Althea gasped. “Father?”
Cain took a step forward, his movements were stiff and unnatural. His jaw clenched as if he were fighting something inside him.
“Althea… run,” he rasped, his voice fractured.
But it was too late. Rett lunged first.
Gavriel moved instantly, stepping in front of Althea as a massive shield of golden energy erupted around her. Zander was already beside him, weaving complex runes into the barrier, reinforcing it with his own magic.
Rett slammed into the shield with monstrous force, the impact sending shockwaves through the dungeon.
The ground trembled.
But Cain moved next.
With a sudden burst of strength, he broke through the remaining restraints and lunged toward Althea, slipping past the barrier in a moment of chaos.
“Father!” Althea screamed.
Cain grabbed her. His arm locked around her neck, pulling her against his chest as his other hand crackled with dark energy pressed dangerously close to her heart.
“Stop!” Cain shouted, his voice breaking. “Do not come any closer or I will kill her!”
Gavriel froze.
The air around him vibrated with barely restrained fury, his claws threatening to emerge, his eyes glowing. Zander lifted his hand instinctively, then stopped himself.
“Cain,” Gavriel said slowly, his voice deadly calm, “let her go.”
Althea’s tears streamed freely now. She clutched Cain’s arm, her body trembling.
“Father, please,” she sobbed. “This isn’t you. Stop. Please stop.”
Cain’s entire body shook. The dark magic around him writhed violently, as if enraged by her voice. He gritted his teeth, his breathing uneven.
“I never wanted this,” he whispered hoarsely. “I only wanted to protect you, and to do that, I had to become more powerful than anyone else… the one who would sit on the throne. I failed your mother because I wasn’t powerful enough…”
“You did,” Althea cried. “You were a good father to me. You raised me. You loved me. That matters. Please don’t let this end like this.”
She looked straight into her father’s eyes, and in that moment, she read all of his thoughts.
She saw how he believed her mother had died because of his weakness. Everything laid itself bare, and she finally understood him. From the moment her mother died, he had become obsessed with power and driven by greed.
Her voice broke completely. “Please… I’m still your daughter. And I love you, Father. You will always be my father.”
Something inside Cain cracked.
The dark energy recoiled violently as if burned. Cain let out a pained roar and staggered back, releasing her.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his head. “Get away from me!” he screamed. “Before I lose myself again!”
Gavriel moved instantly, pulling Althea back into his arms. His grip was tight, protective, his body trembling with barely restrained rage.
Cain collapsed forward, coughing violently as the dark magic peeled away from him, retreating like smoke blown by the wind. His eyes slowly cleared, horror replacing possession.
“I almost…” Cain choked. “I almost killed her.”
Zander exhaled sharply. “You fought it. That alone means something.”
But Rett was laughing, loud and unhinged.
“You see?” Rett howled, his body now fully consumed by darkness. “Even now, you choose her over everything else!”
He raised his hand, the air around him warping dangerously.
“I should have killed her during the ambush!” Rett screamed. “Just like Mother wanted! She should have died with Thea!”
“No!” Cain roared, forcing himself upright.
Rett’s magic surged violently, forming jagged blades of shadow aimed straight at Althea.
Gavriel’s aura exploded outward. Zander’s magic flared. And Althea screamed as the dungeon erupted into chaos