Gavriel did not turn around right away but his jaw tightened. The soft glow of the Tree of Life bathed Althea’s pale face in silver light, making her look as though she were merely sleeping, caught in a dream too deep to reach.

“My cousin will be in good hands here,” Zander added. “I will personally oversee everything. I’ll send you updates daily. Nothing will be hidden from you. You should return to Lunaris first and stabilize your kingdom.”

Still, Gavriel did not move.

For a ...