Chapter 359: When The Truth Slips

As the revelations kept coming, Aliana’s mind moved just as fast.

One possibility led to another, and countless what-ifs began taking shape in her mind, just as an entirely new world seemed to be unfolding before her.

So she asked, "What if people from Ivan and Evelyn’s world have been used in the experiments as well?"

Gavriel looked at his wife intently before answering. "It is a strong possibility, considering they were experimenting on various species. However, the materials I recovered were far from enough to confirm anything, especially since the laboratory had been recently abandoned."

"Recently abandoned?" Aliana met his gaze directly. "That brings me to another question... how did you even learn about this laboratory?"

Gavriel’s eyes flickered towards Cillian for a brief second before turning back to Aliana. "I have been hunting a notorious demon named Mord ever since our trip to Karden."

"You mean when we went for the World Business Conference?" Aliana’s brows rose in surprise.

Gavriel’s gaze intensified. "That’s where Mord dared to attack what’s mine."

Aliana blinked, momentarily confused. "Which attack are you talking about?"

"Have you forgotten the last full moon, when those spirits attacked you in the hotel?" Gavriel tilted his head slightly, his eyes tracing every feature of her face.

Aliana’s heart suddenly fluttered at the possessive way he spoke of her.

But even more than that, what stunned her was the timeline.

Karden, Spain was where they had officially met for the very first time. Back then, they hardly knew each other... certainly not well enough for Gavriel to hunt someone down out of vengeance for her sake.

Granted, she had boldly declared back then that they were in a relationship, practically throwing herself at him out of sheer desperation to stop the ghosts from hunting her. But realising that Gavriel had gone after a demon for targeting her when she had been little more than a stranger to him sent a flutter of butterflies through her chest.

A warm flush crept up her cheeks as her lips parted. "You... we didn’t even know each other properly back then," she said softly. "I mean... was that really the only reason you went looking for this demon?"

"What else could it be?" Gavriel asked, his brows furrowing slightly as if she had just asked something silly.

Aliana’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times as she tried to find a retort.

In the end, slightly flustered, she looked down and forced her mind back to the matter at hand.

"So... this Mord," she scowled, looking up again. "Why would he come after me?"

"Demons love to pursue souls that are special in nature, Aliana, and as you know, yours is one of a kind," Cillian answered this time. "Targeting a prey with maximum difficulty is like hitting a jackpot for a twisted demon like Mord, who thrives on the thrill of the hunt."

"How did he know I had any special powers? As far as I remember, I didn’t use any of my powers at that time," Aliana asked.

"The spirits could sense that you possessed the power to release them from this world, so they talked. Word must have reached Mord’s ears while you were in Karden," Gavriel replied. "When I found out, I searched for him, but that slippery vermin went into hiding. Even so, he still managed to pull strings behind the scenes to cause chaos."

A cold coil of dread tightened inside Aliana as she looked at Gavriel. "What other kind of chaos?"

At her question, a storm of fury flared in Gavriel’s icy blue eyes. The tendons in his neck strained as he forced his rising temper back under control.

Noticing this, Cillian answered on his behalf. "Diana confessed that it was she and Mord who helped Jacob kidnap you. We also suspect the assassin sent after Jade during your wedding was his doing."

"So that’s why you think today’s accident at the site might be his doing as well?" Aliana breathed out.

"It wouldn’t be a surprise if that turns out to be the case," Cillian said, nodding faintly.

"Why... why would he go to such lengths?" Aliana murmured, more to herself than anyone else, before turning her eyes towards Cillian. "Does he not know that I’m married to Gav?"

Cillian’s face twisted in disgust. "If anything, being married to the devil makes you the ultimate trophy."

"That is utterly deranged," Aliana breathed.

"That’s how some demons find excitement in their otherwise boring existence." Cillian shrugged.

Aliana pressed her lips into a thin line before asking, "But... how could he hide from Gavriel for so long?" Her eyes darted between the two of them. "I mean... is that even possible? To hide from the devil himself?"

Cillian scoffed as he answered, "Well, he never would have evaded Gavriel for this long if he had his full pow-"

Cillian suddenly bit his tongue, freezing as Gavriel shot him a hard glare. Meanwhile, Aliana went motionless at what had just slipped out of Cillian’s mouth.

Slowly, her wide eyes drifted from Cillian back to her husband.

"What did you just say?" she whispered, her breath catching in her throat. "If he... had his full power?"

Gavriel released a heavy sigh. "That’s not important, Aliana-"

"Not important?" Aliana’s voice suddenly rose, making both men stiffen.

Anger began to bleed into her eyes as she glared at Gavriel. "Why would you think this isn’t important to me? Were you just planning to sweep this under the rug as well until Cillian, or someone else, inevitably broke the news to me?"

Gavriel was taken aback by her sudden outburst. He could feel the anger she had kept tightly contained, finally breaking through those beguiling eyes, demanding answers from him.

In a rare moment, he found himself at a complete loss for words.

"Ana..." He uttered her name softly and raised his hand to cup her cheek, only for her to lightly swat it away.

The gesture stunned both Gavriel and Cillian.

Aliana leaned back against the sofa cushions, turning her head away as she refused to look at him any longer.

"Cillian," her cold voice rang out, making Cillian’s back straighten instantly.

"Yes?" Cillian answered carefully.

"Explain what you just said," Aliana demanded, her tone deceptively calm.

Cillian glanced at Gavriel, who was still staring in stunned silence at the hand his wife had just swatted away. He then looked back at Aliana, whose expression suggested she might actually murder him if he refused to answer.

’Good grief! When did she learn to give the exact same death glare as her husband?’ Cillian grumbled in his mind before clearing his throat.

"Well... when Gavriel was sent to this world, my parents told me that he could only wield half of his true power. That is all I know."