The Husband With many Identities

Ch 15 - To Leave

The matter was not finished.

Danaya glanced toward the staircase.

“There is one problem.”

Akeel followed her gaze.

“My grandmother.”

His expression hardened.

Seraphine Valcrest had survived the energy collapse only hours earlier. Her energy core had been badly weakened. A normal person's core could recover after a severe loss of energy, but Seraphine was already old. Another major emotional shock could force her core into another dangerous fluctuation.

“She believes you are still her grandson-in-law,” Danaya said. “If you leave tonight, she may wake up and discover that you are gone.”

Akeel said nothing.

“She could become distressed,” Danaya continued. “If her core becomes unstable again, I don't know if she will survive another collapse.”

Akeel's eyes narrowed.

He hated the situation.

He hated the marriage.

He hated being dragged into the Valcrest family's problems.

But he had also been the one who stabilized Seraphine's damaged core.

He knew exactly how fragile she was.

Akeel finally exhaled.

“One night.”

Danaya looked at him.

“I'll stay until morning,” he said. “After that, we go to the Council's Court.”

“I agree.”

“And this does not change anything between us.”

Danaya nodded. “I understand.”

“We leave for the Court at dawn.”

Danaya nodded.

Akeel turned toward the stairs.

For tonight, he would remain in the Valcrest estate.

Tomorrow, he would end the marriage.

At least, that was what he believed.

Akeel had barely reached his room when a maid knocked.

She entered carrying fresh clothes and a small tray of medicine.

Akeel looked at the supplies.

“What is that?”

“The lady of the house ordered them for you,” the maid replied respectfully. “She said your injuries should be treated again before morning.”

Akeel glanced at the medicine.

The bottle contained a concentrated healing solution. It had enough stored energy to accelerate the body's natural recovery, but it would not restore a damaged energy core.

Akeel understood the distinction immediately.

Most people needed a trained healer to use such medicine properly.

He did not.

His fingers brushed the bottle.

A faint current of energy moved through the liquid.

He could sense exactly how it had been prepared.

He also knew the technique behind it.

That knowledge should not have come naturally to him.

Akeel had never studied under the healer who prepared the medicine.

He simply possessed the ability.

Long ago, he had copied a healer's power.

He had kept it.

He had done the same with other abilities.

One power could control heat. Another could strengthen the body. Another could manipulate water. Akeel had learned to copy powers permanently, then hide them beneath different identities.

Nobody could know.

If the wrong people discovered what he could do, they would not see him as a person.

They would see him as a weapon.

Akeel placed the medicine on the table.

“I'll use it.”

The maid bowed and left.

He closed the door.

For a moment, he stood alone in the quiet room.

His bruised neck still hurt. His arms were sore from the previous night's struggle.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

This marriage had lasted barely a day.

Tomorrow, he would end it.

Then he would return to Havenrock.

He would find Lyra, his fiancee.

Akeel reached for the medicine.

The healing energy spread through his body.

Within moments, the worst of the pain faded.

He sat beside the window.

Outside, the storm continued through the night.

The estate's lamps remained lit despite the rain. Each one drew power from small Energy Vials installed inside the walls. That was how most wealthy households operated. Stored energy kept the lights burning, heated water, powered security systems, and ran the machinery that ordinary people used every day.

Akeel watched the rain.

He had no interest in the Valcrest fortune.

He wanted only one thing.

To leave.