“I—” Althea stammered, her heart thudding so loudly she thought it might give her away.

“Yes, Sire!” a voice called before she could say another word.

It was the mage from earlier. He stepped forward swiftly, hands moving as he began weaving the incantation to open the portal. The air rippled, the glow forming into a swirling gate of light and shadow.

Althea let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. For a terrifying moment, she had thought Gavriel was ordering her to ...