Chapter 190. My Alliance

The projection wavered slightly, as if Althea’s mother knew her time in the message was running short.

“If I could have stayed,” she said, voice trembling, “I would have told you myself. But if something happened to me… I needed you to have the truth because you deserve to know it.”

Althea covered her mouth, trying to breathe. Her mother gave one last soft smile, the kind that lit up Althea’s earliest memories.

“I love you, Althea,” she whispered. “More than my own life.”

The light faded, dissolving into gentle sparkles that drifted away like dust on the wind. Althea gasped, the real world rushing back in. The shard lay warm in her trembling hand, glowing faintly as if still holding her mother's heartbeat.

This time, she wasn’t just crying. She was shaking.

Gavriel immediately moved closer, pulling her into his arms and gently stroked her hair. She opened her eyes—red, shining, full of grief and new truth.

“That was them…” she