Chapter 52
Wilma stopped abruptly, turning to Uriel with wide eyes. “She’s powerful p>
Uriel nodded slowly. “Earlier, she used her inner energy. Just a fragment of it—to shield her body from taking the worst of the lashes. And the light in her… it was pure. No darkness, only strength. Stronger than I expected p>
Wilma’s breath hitched. “Then… that means she can expel poisons from her body p>
“Of course,” Uriel replied firmly. “That would be child’s play for her. Mages can’t heal themselves, but they can fortify their bodies. And with the Alpha King’s mark on her, she gains faster recovery. His lycan essence strengthens her, just as it makes him immune to poison p>
Wilma clenched her fists, her face twisting in frustration. “So the poisons won’t work on her at all!” she snapped. She had been so focused on destroying Cain’s daughter that she never considered the possibility that Gavriel’s mark would shield her. Still, the thought of Althea’s hidden magic gnawed at her.
“Unless Gavriel rejects her, those poisons you’ve been so eager to use may never take effect.” Uriel sighed, his tone softening. “Aunt, why are you risking this? You saw how possessive Gavriel was. The lycan in him won’t let anyone harm her. Please, just wait until Cain is captured—then do whatever you want with him p>
His expression darkened as memories clawed their way back. “You know as well as I do what the lycan inside Gavriel is capable of. It kills without mercy, even those he once cherished. I barely survived that night. You saw me p>
Wilma’s face crumpled. Her voice shook, heavy with grief. “But that woman is Cain’s most treasured daughter, Uriel. And my poor Riela… Do you really expect me to stand by and do nothing? Every time I see your cousin like that, my heart breaks anew. It’s worse than death. Yes, Riela lives—but the state she’s in now is worse than visiting her grave p>
Her body trembled as tears welled in her eyes. Uriel quickly pulled her close, holding her tightly.
“I know… I know,” he whispered, his voice low and soothing. “I’ll never stop searching for a cure for Riela. I’ll do everything in my power to bring her back, Aunt. I promise you p>
He stroked her back gently, offering what little comfort he could.
“Come, let’s see Riela. I want to know her latest condition,” Uriel hummed, gently guiding the Queen Mother back toward her palace.
But even as he walked beside her, his mind was elsewhere… on Gavriel’s mate.
Before returning to the royal estate, Uriel had already dug into Althea Grayson’s background. He couldn’t shake the feeling he had when he first saw her. The way her energy flared faintly, the way she recoiled from being examined, her fear was palpable. Something about her unsettled him. Official source ıs.net
The more he investigated, the more curious he became. Cain’s favorite daughter, yet oddly hidden from the spotlight. She spent most of her time in her pack’s apothecary, surrounded by herbs, medicines, and poisons. Strangely enough, she concealed her true ability, even from her own people.
To them, she was nothing but a weak, worthless hybrid who had inherited only her mother’s fragile humanity.
‘So why reveal it now?’ Uriel wondered. ‘Or perhaps… she didn’t even know what she carried until that day Gavriel summoned me, when she collapsed unconscious p>
He glanced at his aunt and finally spoke, unable to keep it to himself. “I checked into her past, Aunt. Everyone believed her to be useless. She was mocked and mistreated constantly, even though Cain favored her. The moment her father left the pack, they turned on her. My source was there. He saw everything p>
Uriel’s voice softened with something he rarely allowed himself… pity.
“She was nothing but a pawn, used by both sides. Yet He trailed off, realizing he almost said too much.
Wilma abruptly pulled her hand from his grip. Her eyes blazed with raw hatred. “Enough. I don’t want to hear it.” Her tone was sharp, final. “Whatever she suffered doesn’t matter. She is still Cain’s most treasured daughter. And I will savor every chance I get to bring pain to him—through her p>
Uriel’s jaw tightened as memories flashed in his mind. He hated to admit it, but Cain had fooled even him. He’d spoken so eloquently of loyalty and service, woven lies with the ease of breathing. No one saw the venom until it was far too late.
His jaw clenched, recalling how he had once helped Riela whenever she sneak out of the royal estate just so she could spend stolen hours with Cain. He remembered standing guard in the shadows, thinking he was protecting a noble love story. How foolish he had been.
Back then, Riela’s laughter had been brighter than the moonlight, her cheeks flushed with a happiness that only Cain seemed able to draw out of her. Uriel had convinced himself that if she was smiling, then Cain must be worthy of her devotion. He had even defended Cain against whispers of doubt, silencing those who questioned his character.
And yet p>
Uriel’s stomach twisted. Those very meetings he had helped make possible had only given Cain more opportunities to weave his lies tighter around Riela’s heart. It was through those stolen nights and honeyed words that Cain secured her trust, and with it, the perfect weapon against the crown.
Uriel’s nails bit into his palms as he regretfully thought, ‘I should have seen it… I should have stopped her p>
It made Uriel wonder if fate itself was mocking them… or if Althea was the last remnant of Cain’s deception waiting to unravel.
“Now, I fear Gavriel will be wrapped under that whore’s hands!” Wilma grunted, her face twisting with bitterness.
Uriel exhaled slowly, refusing to mirror her outburst. “Gavriel never trusts easily, Aunt. When Cain played us all, Gavriel was the exception,” he pointed out firmly. “Cain may have fooled me, fooled you, fooled even Riela… but not him. Gavriel’s trust is earned through fire and blood, and Althea hasn’t even scratched the surface of it yet p>
Wilma’s lips pressed into a thin line, but Uriel pressed on. “If Gavriel keeps her by his side, it’s not because of blind affection. He’s weighing her, testing her, watching her every move. That’s how he’s always been p>
It was why the crown remained on Gavriel’s head today.