SPELLBOUND

Gavriel could feel his brother's body shaking so terribly as his head was heavy on his shoulder. Gideon was gripping his arm so tight, as if he was desperately holding onto some lifesaving trunk while dangling off a cliff, refusing to fall.

And not just that, Gideon's body was also so hot, Gavriel could feel the abnormal waves of heat oozing out. It was as though there was a furnace burning within him.

Gavriel had noticed that the moment Gideon's dark magic settled down, his body seemed to have lost all his strength. And that was why he went forward to catch him, knowing that he was definitely going to fall on the ground.

As he listened to Gideon's shaky breaths, as if he was desperately trying to get his breathing to stabilise again, Gav could only stand there, utterly puzzled. He did not expect this at all.

Since the moment he saw this person, he had felt a tremendous and dangerous power within him. No matter how he made himself appear like a normal dark fae, it was obvious to Gav that he was not the same as the rest of the folks here. There was just something different about him. When he was still on the surface, Gav had already sensed his trails. His dark magic was just too dark and too strong, for him not to notice. When he went over to Evie's castle, he had sensed this same abnormal presence that had lingered on there even though the owner was already long gone. And Gavriel thought that this person had purposely left his trail for him to follow after he had kidnapped Evie.

Though Gav was relieved when he received Evie's message, the dread had actually remained in his heart. And the reason was because of this person. Or more accurately, his darkness. This person's darkness was so deep and intense that it had bothered him very much. And now that he had found the source of that darkness and this man was actually his very own older brother, his interest in him just grew even larger.

Since the first moment he had met his brother, his instincts had been acting on their own. No, it was more apt to say that Gideon had unknowingly or knowingly made him raise his guard up to the highest level in his presence.

And it was not even that long that he had been here, and he had already seen what kind of danger Gideon was possessing. Gavriel thought that Gideon was going to hide it well and it would take him a long time for him to get any glimpses of what he was hiding. But… oh boy, was he wrong about that. He had blasted his powers out just like that… and Gav deduced that it was fully because of that lady. He had noticed how Gideon just halted when the red-headed girl had yelled out his name.

Now this man who had literally forced him, Evie and even their mother to react like that a while ago, was now trembling and as weak as a kitten left in the middle of a blizzard. It was something just incredibly shocking and Gavriel did not know how to react but just to stand there and act like the tree his brother was holding onto so as not to fall over.

He could tell he was not feigning this weakness at all. He was definitely not acting this time. What kind of man would reduce themselves into this state just for the sake of acting? Gavriel could not see this man doing that. He knew he was powerful and arrogant. His ego would never allow himself to fake something like this.

And his greatest question was… what had made him suddenly became this weak? Does he always turn like this after letting his magic out? No, that should not be the case. That would be one hell of a fatal weakness! Then what was the reason?

Gavriel wanted to speak but he held his tongue. He could not help but sympathize with him especially as he was hearing the way he breathes right now. It was as if he was trying to learn how to breath the right way again. It was truly unsettling, and Gav just feel that there was something terribly wrong with this person.

"You… what are you doing? What happened to your anger and hate? Don't tell me you've already forgotten about them too," Gideon finally spoke in a very low voice when his trembling settled down.

"Shut up," Gav said, "an unwell little furry black cat shouldn't be talking that way. Also, nobody's hating you. I just wanted to beat you into pulp until I'm satisfied. But I am not some idiot who takes advantage of a person when they are at their weakest." Gav retorted with a jab at his current weakened state.

Gideon chuckled. "You might have just let your only chance of beating me into said pulp slip away my dear little brother."

"Stop with your damned arrogance. What the hell is wrong with you? Suddenly becoming weak like this?" Gavriel asked with seriousness, but Gideon fell silent and did not reply to that.

And he finally lifted his face. Looking straight towards Vera.

"Are you okay, my dear?" Beatrice and Evie hovered over Vera, worried to death about her. They both saw how close it was for her. It was literally just a little more before Gideon's nails would have pierced her eyeballs.

"I am totally fine, thank you," Vera smiled brightly, causing Evie and Beatrice to glance at each other. They were awed that she did not even seem to be that shocked, at all.

Vera truly did not feel any fear. Maybe because in her heart, she knew that she would be alright. She believed he would never have hurt her, no matter how it seemed as though he would.

When she looked at Gideon again, her eyes met his. And her heart skipped a few beats. She wanted to go to him and… hug him, and to ask him if he was feeling alright. But… she could not help but root herself to her spot at the sight of those burning and intense blue eyes that were boring into hers now. Something was strange in that gaze of his on her. It was as though he was using magic to immobilize her through his eyes. Was this just her imagination?

Vera watched Gideon open his mouth saying something to his brother without taking his eyes off her. Then after seeing him pat his brother's shoulder, the next thing she knew, Gideon was right before her, and everything suddenly turned dark as the two of them disappeared inside the room.

HAPPY NEW YEAR SPELLBOUNDERS!! Thank you for all the love and support! Hope all of you will continue to be with me again this 2022. Love you guys! ♡