Chapter 193. Energies

Gavriel moved faster than anyone. He caught Althea in his arms before she hit the ground.

“Althea—!” His voice cracked with tension he didn’t show to anyone else.

Her head lolled weakly against his shoulder, her breath shallow.

Gavriel turned sharply toward Zander. “What’s happening?!”

Zander swallowed, his face tight with guilt and frustration. “Those two women… Ava and Nilda… they laced Princess Riela with a dark spell before I took her.”

Gavriel’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth nearly broke.

Zander continued, voice low. “They wanted to make sure her healing wouldn’t succeed unless it was done under their terms. And because I had already begun treating her with my energy—”

“Finish your sentence,” Gavriel snapped.

Zander grimaced. “My energy inside the dome is clashing with Riela’s own and with the spell they placed. When Althea tried to step in… all three energies collided.”

Gavriel’s expression turned deadly.