Married To The Villain
Chapter 62: Gabriel Is Getting Arrested

Chapter 62: Gabriel Is Getting Arrested

The cavern fell into a silence after the king’s body hit the ground.

Gabriel wiped his sword, cleaning it calmly with slow motions. Lirian was beside him, her heart was pounding so fast, she thought she was going to collapse.

Then, as if on cue, the energy around them changed.

The monsters that had swarmed the cavern began to retreat, fading into the air.

The snakes slithered away, vanishing into cracks in the stone as if summoned by an invisible force.

The oppressive atmosphere lightened, leaving behind only the faint sound of the wind.

"What’s happening?" Lirian asked in a small whisper.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightened around his sword.

"Something’s not right."

Before either of them could move, Daria came from the shadows, her dark robes flowed behind her.

Her staff was in hand, its green glow pulsed faintly as she looked around the scene.

She looked at the king’s lifeless body, and her eyes widened in shock.

"You killed him," Daria said, accusing Gabriel.

Gabriel didn’t flinch. "I did what needed to be done."

Daria’s eyebrows lifted and she covered her mouth, gasping.

What Gabriel did, even the crown prince couldn’t be able to help him.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’ve just declared war on the entire kingdom!"

"I don’t need a lecture from you," Gabriel said coldly. "Stand aside, Daria."

But Daria ignored him.

Raising her staff, she closed her eyes, and the wind around her began to swirl.

A moment later, a gust of air carried her voice upward, out of the cavern and into the night.

"Raphael," she called, her voice was covered with magic. "The king is dead. Gabriel has betrayed us!"

"Daria!" Gabriel roared, stepping toward her, but it was too late.

The message was sent, carried on the wind to whoever was listening.

Lirian grabbed his arm, urgently. "Gabriel, leave her. We need to go. Now."

His jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Fine. She’s not worth it."

They turned away from Daria and moved deeper into the cavern, following the strange path where the monsters had retreated.

The glowing runes on the walls pulsed faintly, guiding their way.

"What do you think is back there?" Stretched her arm a little.

"Answers," Gabriel said simply in a grim tone.

But before they could take another step, the air changed again.

This time, it was colder, sharper.

A sudden gust of wind tore through the cavern, and glowing chains of air shot out, wrapping around Gabriel’s arms and legs.

"What the—?!" Gabriel growled, straining against the restraints.

The wind chains glimmered as they tightened, pulling him back.

Gabriel’s muscles bulged as he fought against them, his teeth gritted in fury.

"Gabriel!" Lirian cried, reaching for him.

"I’m fine," he snapped at her in a strained voice.

With a roar, he pulled his arms free, the chains shattered into wisps of air.

"They’re trying to restrain me," he spat. "It won’t work."

But no sooner had he spoken than more chains shot out, this time wrapping around Lirian.

She gasped as the wind tightened around her arms and legs, pinning her in place.

The pressure was suffocating, and every move sent sharp pain through her body.

"Gabriel!" she screamed, desperately.

Gabriel’s eyes widened, and something inside him snapped.

His entire body seemed to radiate heat, and flames erupted around him, licking at the cavern walls.

"Let. Her. Go!" he roared in a voice that started shaking the very ground.

The fire spread rapidly, consuming everything in its path.

The glowing runes on the walls flickered and faded as the heat intensified.

"Gabriel, stop!" a voice called from above.

Raphael descended into the cavern, flanked by several wind wielders, their robes fluttered in the turbulent air.

"Gabriel," Raphael called out his name. "This ends now. Surrender, and I’ll make sure Lirian isn’t harmed."

Gabriel turned to him, his eyes blazed with fire.

"You think I’ll trust you after everything your family has done?!"

Raphael’s jaw tightened. "You don’t have a choice. Look at her!"

Gabriel glanced at Lirian, her face was pale and twisted in pain as the wind chains held her tighter.

The sight only fueled his rage.

"Let her go," Gabriel growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"I can’t do that," Raphael said, motioning to his wind wielders. "Restrain him."

The wind wielders raised their hands, and more chains shot toward Gabriel.

But this time, they didn’t reach him.

With another roar, Gabriel unleashed a wave of fire that burnt the chains mid-air and sent the wielders stumbling back.

The flames spread quickly, forcing Raphael to summon a barrier of wind to protect himself and his men.

"Gabriel, stop this madness!" Raphael shouted.

But Gabriel was beyond reason.

His focus was entirely on Lirian, who was now gasping for breath as the chains constricted around her.

"Hold on, Lirian!" Gabriel called.

He raised his sword, flames dances along the blade as he slashed through the air. The wind chains around Lirian dissolved instantly, and she collapsed to the ground, coughing and trembling.

Gabriel was at her side in an instant, pulling her into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked urgently.

Lirian nodded weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "I’m fine... just—"

Before she could finish, Raphael and his men closed in again, their wind magic surging toward Gabriel.

But Gabriel was ready.

"Agh!"

With a scream, he unleashed a torrent of fire that engulfed the wind wielders, their screams went through the cavern as the flames consumed them.

"Gabriel!" Raphael shouted, his voice filled with shock and fury. "What are you doing?!"

"What I should have done a long time ago," Gabriel replied coldly, his eyes locked on Raphael.

He moved toward the prince, his sword ablaze and his expression murderous.

"Gabriel, don’t!" Lirian cried, grabbing his arm.

He paused, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at her. "Stay back," he said quietly. "I won’t let them hurt you again."

Lirian’s heart ached as she watched him turn back to Raphael.

"You’ve always been a pawn, Raphael," Gabriel said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But now, it’s time to end this game."

Raphael raised his hand, summoning a powerful gust of wind that whipped through the cavern.

But Gabriel’s flames only burned brighter, pushing back the attack with ease.

The two clashed in a storm of fire and wind, their powers colliding in a chaotic dance of destruction.

But Gabriel’s anger was unmatched.

With a final, devastating strike, he sent a wave of fire hurtling toward Raphael, forcing the prince to retreat.

Before Gabriel could deliver the finishing blow, reinforcements arrived—soldiers and wielders from the kingdom, their combined magic forming a barrier around Gabriel.

He struggled against the restraints, his flames flickered but refused to die.

"Gabriel!" Lirian cried, rushing to his side.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with both fury and desperation. "Lirian, I—"

Before he could finish, the soldiers overwhelmed him, their magic binding him in place.

Lirian fell to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face.

"Gabriel, please... don’t do this. Don’t let them win."

His eyes softened, and for a moment, the fire in his eyes dimmed.

"I’ll protect you," he whispered. "No matter what."

As the soldiers dragged him away, Lirian’s heart shattered.

She knew this wasn’t the end—but it was the beginning of something far more dangerous.

The heat from Gabriel’s flames still remained in the cavern even as he was dragged away.

Lirian sat on her knees, her heart ached as she watched him disappear into the shadows of the soldiers.

"Touching, really," came a voice, cold and sounding with mockery.

Lirian turned to see Daria coming from the dim light, her staff in hand and a smug smile plastered across her face.

"You just had to make it worse, didn’t you?" Daria sneered, her tone mocked her again.

"All this drama, all this destruction... and for what? Because you couldn’t keep Gabriel under control?"

Lirian’s fists clenched, but she didn’t respond.

"Oh, what’s the matter?" Daria continued, tilting her head. "Feeling guilty? You should. If it weren’t for you, maybe Gabriel wouldn’t have lost his mind. Maybe none of this would have happened."

"That’s enough," Lirian said through gritted teeth, rising slowly to her feet.

Daria smirked, stepping closer.

"You think you’re some tragic heroine, don’t you? But you’re nothing, Lirian. Nothing but a liability. You’re the reason Gabriel’s in chains. You’re the reason he’ll—"

The sharp sound of a slap cut her off.

Lirian’s hand stung, but she didn’t care.

Her palm had connected squarely with Daria’s cheek, sending the other woman stumbling back in shock.

Daria’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her reddening face. "You... you slapped me?"

"Damn right I did," Lirian snapped, her voice trembling with anger.

"I’ve had enough of your games, Daria. You think you can manipulate everyone around you, but not this time. Not with me."

Daria glared at her, her composure faltering. "You’ll regret this."

"No," Lirian replied confidently. "You will."

For the first time, Daria hesitated, her smug slipped as Lirian stared her down.

"No more Gabriel to protect you...you can die now."