Chapter 213. Read Me

Althea felt it then. The loud, relentless thumping of her heart echoed in her ears, heavy and suffocating. She knew. Deep inside, she had always known how this would end.

The man who raised her. The father she grew up calling her own. He would die.

“I need to go,” she said suddenly, pushing herself up from the bed.

Candice reacted instantly, rushing to her side before she could even steady herself. “Althea, stop. Where are you going?” she demanded, gripping her arm. “You’re still weak. You nearly drained yourself healing Princess Riela. You need to rest.”

But Althea shook her head, panic flashing across her face. “Gavriel already left. He’s going to kill my father,” she gasped, her steps unsteady as she headed for the door. “I… I need to see him. I need to see my father, Cain.”

Candice froze. Her grip loosened slightly as realization struck her. “Wait,” she said slowly. “How did you even know about Cain being captured—”

She stopped mid