“Get off me!” Rett shouted. His other hand flailed, trying to pry Ash away and in that moment, his grip on Althea loosened.
Althea didn’t hesitate. She jerked free, twisting out of his reach and slammed her palm against his chest. A burst of golden light flared from her hand, blasting him backward several feet.
Rett hit the ground hard, his arm bleeding where Ash had torn into him.
“Ash, back!” she called, and the wolf quickly obeyed, leaping to her side and baring its fangs.
Now, Althea stood frozen between them—between Rett and Gavriel.
Behind Rett, the swirling portal flickered violently, its edges crackling with unstable dark energy. Jener’s voice rose in panic, “The portal is ready! But I won’t be able to hold it for long!”
Rett’s hand shot toward her. “Come with me, sister! The bastard doesn’t care about you!” he shouted over the roar of clashing magic between Uriel and his warlock. “Don’t be a fool! Come before it’s too late!”
His voice trembled, but his eyes burned with obsession... not a brotherly love. Althea could see the madness in his stare, the selfish hunger for her that made her skin utterly disgusted.
Behind her, Gavriel’s voice cut through the noise, deep and commanding. “Althea! Come here!”
Then the ground suddenly trembled, the shockwave rippling through the clearing. Trees swayed, dust burst upward, and the air crackled with raw magic between Uriel and Rett’s warlock.
Althea’s heart leapt into her throat when she saw Gavriel sprinting toward her through the chaos, his eyes locked on her as if nothing else existed.
“Althea!” he roared.
Without thinking, she ran toward him too. The world blurred, the fading portal behind Rett, the shouting men, the glow of clashing spells, everything disappeared except him.
But before she could reach him, a sharp tug yanked her back. Rett’s hand had closed around her wrist, his grip desperate and shaking.
“Don’t you dare!” he snarled, his face twisted with rage and fear. “You’ll regret it if you go back to him!”
“Let me go, Rett!” she cried, struggling to free herself, the pendant clutched tightly in her other hand. Light began to pulse from her palm again, reacting to her racing heartbeat.
Rett’s hold tightened, his nails digging into her skin. “No! You belong with me—not with him!”
But before he could drag her back, Gavriel’s shadow loomed behind him, his aura flaring like lightning before a storm. The moment Rett looked over his shoulder, it was already too late. Gavriel was already there. He moved so fast that Althea barely saw him coming.
In one swift motion, Gavriel grabbed Rett’s arm and wrenched it away from her.
Rett shouted in pain, stumbling back but Gavriel didn’t stop. His eyes were cold and furious, glowing faintly as power pulsed around him. “You made a mistake touching her,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“Bastard!” Rett cursed, his breathing ragged as he tried to lunge his claw at Gavriel.
But Gavriel struck first. A surge of energy exploded from him, throwing Rett several feet away. Rett hit the ground hard.
Meanwhile, Ash growled beside Althea, fur bristling as it stood protectively in front of her.
“Are you hurt?” Gavriel asked, turning to her.
Althea shook her head, still catching her breath. “I’m fine,” she said quietly, though her voice wavered.
Behind them, the dark portal flickered and began to collapse. Jener’s strained voice shouted in panic, “My lord, we must go now!”
Rett’s eyes widened in fear as the portal started to pull in everything around it. “This isn’t over!” he yelled before Jener grabbed him with his black tendrils of mists, and both of them disappeared into the collapsing shadows.
Gavriel exhaled heavily, then looked down at Althea. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
His hand reached up, brushing a smear of blood from her neck where Rett’s knife had cut her earlier.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said quietly, his tone both angry and worried.
Althea lowered her gaze, clutching the necklace tightly in her hand. “I had to,” she whispered. “It’s the only thing left from my mother.”
Althea lifted her head, still trying to steady her breath. “How come you’re here?” she asked softly.
Gavriel didn’t respond. Instead, he moved forward and suddenly scooped her into his arms.
She let out a small gasp, startled by the gesture. His arms were strong and steady, yet there was a tightness in the way he held her, as if making sure she wouldn’t slip away again.
It was only then that she noticed Uriel nearby, kneeling on the ground and panting heavily. His white robes were torn, and faint traces of dark energy still clung to the air around him.
Gavriel approached, his eyes sharp with concern.
“Are you alright?” Gavriel asked.
Uriel nodded weakly. “Yes, I just need a minute. Damn that warlock—he was strong. Stronger than most I’ve fought.” He straightened, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “He almost had me.”
Then his brows furrowed, and he looked toward the spot where the portal had been moments ago. “Something’s off, though...”
Gavriel’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”
Uriel frowned, still watching the faint ripples in the air. “That warlock, he shouldn’t have been able to hold a stable portal while fighting me. Not alone. It’s nearly impossible to do both at once unless...”
“Unless he had help,” Gavriel finished grimly.
Uriel nodded. “Exactly. Someone else was boosting his power from somewhere nearby.”
Althea’s grip on Gavriel’s tunic tightened as a chill ran through her. She remembered the silver-haired man she’d seen earlier, the one who had smirked at her before vanishing. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Gavriel noticed her sudden stillness and glanced down at her. “What is it?” he asked quietly, his tone sharp but controlled.
Althea hesitated, her pulse racing. “I... I think I saw someone. He wasn’t part of the fight, but...”
“What do you mean?” Gavriel asked, frowning.