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 ...