Chapter 422: The Forgotten Past - XVI

After Lilith’s cryptic warning, when Gavriel’s men informed him of another beast breach in yet another region of Tartarus, he no longer felt at ease leaving Hera behind.

So, he did something no devil had ever done.

In their private chamber, he physically separated Bellarios from himself in his small dragon form and informed her, "Bellarios will stay here with you."

Hera stood shocked for a few seconds, her brows pulling together in disbelief. "No! You cannot go out there without him!"

He stepped forward, tenderly cupping her cheeks in his hands. "Hera, there are two people whose words you can never ignore in this realm, especially when they come as a warning. One is my mother when she receives her visions, and the second is the Oracle. I must leave to handle the breach, but I cannot rest knowing you are unguarded. Bellarios will protect you."

Hera’s fingers curled tightly into the front of his tunic. "No. Bellarios is a core part of your soul. You two cannot be separated like this! When the distance is short, it is fine, but even I know a devil can never be severed from his beast across vast distances for long! Not only will it leave you vulnerable, but it will also sever our mindlink while you are away! I cannot allow you to go battle those beasts when you are not at full strength!"

Worry gnawed at Hera’s heart.

Although Bellarios often took a physical form to interact with her when Gavriel was near, this was entirely different. This time, Gavriel intended to separate a significant portion of his soul from himself so that Bellarios could stay with her throughout his absence.

She hated the thought. She refused to let her husband face those beasts while weakened, especially when she knew how dangerous they could be.

"Hera..." Gavriel called gently, sensing her anxiety. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply before drawing back to meet her eyes. "My love... I’ll be fine. Have you forgotten who your husband is? Even without Bellarios, I can still take care of them."

"No..." Hera remained unconvinced.

Then, as an idea struck her, she lifted her hands to cup his cheeks. "Then... then... take me with you."

Gavriel’s brows furrowed at her unexpected suggestion. "What?"

"You know I can tame the beasts," Hera rushed out her words. "With my powers, clearing the breaches will be far easier for you! And then we will not have to separate at all. Problem solved!"

The crease between Gavriel’s brows deepened, his crimson eyes hardening instantly. "Absolutely not. I will not take you into a hostile zone."

"You can." Hera stood her ground, her eyes burning with fierce conviction. "Have you forgotten that I am the Crown Princess of this realm? Just like you, it is my duty to defend our people! What is the point of me possessing these extraordinary gifts if I cannot use them when our realm needs them most?"

Gavriel went silent, and Hera took his hesitation as her cue to push further. "Mother explicitly told us that we cannot be separated, so this is perfect. We can stand together, protect each other, and finish the task far quicker."

She gently caressed his cheek with her thumb. "Besides, I know you would never let anything happen to me while I am by your side. Bellarios can stay connected to you. Take me... please."

What Hera suggested made logical sense.

Gavriel knew in his heart that his wife was a fierce fighter.

Still, bringing her into an unpredictable, bloody battlefield made every instinct in him recoil.

"Please, Gav... just trust me," Hera pleaded softly. "I have been training my powers, and I can handle this."

Gavriel let out a defeated sigh. He studied her determined expression for a moment longer before finally relenting.

"Fine. Come with me, then."

"Thank you!" Hera beamed before kissing him passionately. She pulled back when they were both breathless and whispered, "I love you."

"You are so unfair," Gavriel let out a breathy chuckle. "I love you more."

However, his expression soon grew serious. "You must stay close to me at all times. If I feel the situation has become too dangerous, I’ll bring you back here. Promise me you won’t argue when that happens."

Hera pressed her lips together, clearly hesitant.

Gavriel narrowed his eyes. "Hera, answer me."

"Alright, I promise." Hera could only agree, knowing that if she pushed him too far, he might backtrack on his decision to take her along.

From that day forward, Gavriel and Hera confronted the beast breaches as a united force.

With her unique powers taming the chaos, they cleared the infested zones in record time, earning Hera boundless awe and respect from the public.

Tales of her bravery and fierce abilities spread fast throughout the realm, earning her the title of the She-Devil of the Underworld.

Just like that, a year passed by quickly.

Nothing significant occurred during this period, aside from the rapidly declining health of the current King and Queen. While Raizel was still able to move around, Queen Lilith eventually became bedridden.

Gavriel and Hera visited her frequently, and every single time they did, they were confronted with the grim reality that the King and Queen did not have much time left.

During this time, Lilith continued to experience her disturbing visions more frequently.

What was even more troubling was the growing tension between the King and Queen. It felt as though husband and wife were locked in a silent war with one another, yet neither of them disclosed a single thing to their children.

One day, as Gavriel and Hera were leaving for another mission together, they stopped in their tracks when Ceri let out a low, hostile growl.

They looked down at their companion in confusion before looking up to see a familiar figure materialize in front of them.

"Your Highnesses," Vorra greeted them with a respectful bow.

Hera’s face beamed instantly upon seeing her. She rushed forward and pulled her friend into a warm hug.

"Vorra! It’s been so long! Where have you been?" Hera asked excitedly.

A small smile touched Gavriel’s lips upon seeing Hera so happy to see her friend.

"I’ve been well, Your Highness," Vorra replied with a sweet smile. Her eyes flicked toward Gavriel, who had his gaze fixed lovingly on his wife, and she gritted her teeth in secret before turning back to Hera. "How have you been?"