Chapter 69
Gavriel walked back to his bedchamber in a foul mood, though he forced himself to stay composed. What irritated him most was not Althea’s words, but the sting of her actions—she had asked for Simon instead of him. The thought gnawed at his pride, and he hated how much it affected him.
Just before reaching the door, he stopped and motioned for Simon to step forward.
Simon nodded, approached the door, and knocked. When Althea opened it, he slipped inside, leaving the door ajar as Gavriel had ordered.
Quietly, Gavriel shifted to where he could see into the room. Althea’s back was to him, so she had no idea he was watching.
His jaw tightened when he saw her suddenly drop to her knees before Simon.
“Lady Althea, what are you doing?” Simon burst out in disbelief. “Please, get back up p>
He moved closer to help her, but halted when Gavriel’s glare fell on him. The look was enough—Simon froze. Gavriel’s expression made it clear: do not touch his mate.
“Please, I beg you. Get Melva out of the dungeon. Only you can do it, since you are her mate,” Althea pleaded.
“Melva is Simon’s mate?” Ben muttered in disbelief. Gavriel turned; the warrior quickly pressed his lips together. Three other guards hovered behind him, watching in silence.
“But you already let her be taken. You could have stopped them from taking Melva—she’s your servant. Or you could have asked the Alpha King for help instead of me. One word from him and they would release her in a snap.” Simon’s voice sharpened.
“I know, but that’s not the best solution,” Althea said, steadying herself. “I can’t involve the Alpha King. He’ll be implicated. He’s shown me generosity, and I won’t let his enemies use me to strike at him. If I ask for his help, they’ll come after Melva when they learn how much I care for her. They’ll use her against me and put her life in greater danger p>
Gavriel’s face twitched at the words. He hadn’t expected to feel anything, yet Althea’s plea warmed him. She bowed her head more, and he hated the sight of it.
“Please, Gamma Simon,” Althea begged, lifting her face. “If Melva is truly your mate, ask the Queen Mother to release her and place her under your protection. Her life won’t be at risk anymore. I will do anything. Please—save her p>
“You’re her only hope,” Althea said, voice shaking but steady. “If you claim Melva, she won’t be used as a pawn because of me. Please, she’s your fated mate. She told me so, and I’m sure you felt it when you entered p>
Althea had already read Simon’s thoughts the moment he entered. He was furious with her for allowing Melva to be beaten and dragged into the dungeon. The depth of his anger only confirmed what Althea already knew: he had felt the matebond.
“That’s enough!” Gavriel’s command cut through the room. Althea froze.
“Get back on your knees,” he ordered, his voice low and dangerous. “How dare you kneel before others? You may only kneel before me p>
Gavriel’s hand grabbed Althea and hauled her upright. He turned to Simon, his face shadowed. “Do it. Claim Melva as your mate. And do not tell anyone my breeder begged you for this p>
Simon bowed quickly and left the chamber without another word.
Gavriel faced the three guards behind him. His tone left no room for mistake. “If any of what happened here is spoken of, you three will pay with your lives p>
“Yes, Alpha King!” they answered in unison.
Gavriel closed the door.
The three guards returned to their posts.
“I guess I got her all wrong,” Ben muttered under his breath.
“Yes, indeed. She purposely acted like she didn’t care, but it was to protect Melva in the long run,” Rudy said firmly.
He had grown to admire Lady Althea in many ways. She was strong despite everything, and there was a sincerity in her he couldn’t ignore. Still, being Cain’s daughter placed a heavy mark on her, one that made most people quick to judge her unfairly.
“Well, she’s good at acting,” Trudis scoffed, always skeptical. “We don’t really know what’s real and what’s just a performance p>
“But the fact remains, we owe her our lives,” Rudy snapped, cutting off the doubt. “If she hadn’t stepped in last night, the three of us might already be dead, just like those six royal guards Princess Riela slaughtered in her killing spree p>
Silence followed. None of them dared to argue with him after that.
“She’s not just an ordinary hybrid,” Ben said at last, frowning. “But I heard her mother was nothing more than a human slave. So where did she learn to wield magic like that? You all saw it. She cast a protective barrier and subdued Princess Riela—something only the Alpha King and Archmage Uriel are known to do. Does that mean… she’s as strong as him p>
[You three, leave for now. I’ll summon you when you’re needed back at your posts p>
The Alpha King’s voice struck their minds through the mindlink. Without hesitation, the three dispersed.
Back inside the Alpha King’s bedchamber, Gavriel stared at Althea for a long moment. Then he raised his hand and brushed his fingers against her cheek. Both their faces were still warm with the marks left by the Queen Mother’s slaps.
“I will talk to my mother,” he muttered, turning away, then stopped when Althea caught his wrist.
“No, please don’t do that,” she said quickly. She sounded certain, and for a moment, he wondered why he had even suggested it. Seeing the red on her soft cheeks made something coil hot and fierce inside him.
‘This is not me,’ he inwardly growled, half-angry at Chaos and half at the pull of the matebond. The rıghtful source is.net
“Why not?” he hissed.
“Because she’ll only grow angrier if you try to protect me,” Althea said softly, meeting his gaze. “The more you interfere, the more she’ll continue her punishments. She has her reasons for hating me p>
Gavriel’s brow arched. He was battling himself, struggling not to let her see the weakness clawing at him. In that struggle, his control slipped. His hand closed around her throat, not to choke her, but to anchor himself.
“And why do you think I’d bother?” he spat, voice low and edged with fury. “To warn her not to harm you? Do you truly believe I care if you’re hurt, Cain’s precious daughter p>