Chapter 20 #2
“You’re perfect,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion as he placed another tender kiss on my skin. “And you’re mine.”
I didn’t know what to say. My chest ached, but I didn’t dare examine the feeling. I couldn’t look at him without feeling exposed. Without feeling as though he’d seen more of me than just my body.
And as I lay there, breathless and trembling, one thought lingered at the edges of my mind. What have I done?
I woke up with a start, disoriented as I tried to piece together where I was and why my chest felt so damn heavy. And then it hit me.
The kiss.
Memories from the night before came crashing down like a tidal wave. The sensation of Raffaele’s lips on mine, his hands holding me, the intensity of emotions that weren’t entirely my own. I groaned, throwing an arm over my face to shield myself from the daylight and the guilt.
Why do you feel guilty, Vivian? You’re a prisoner. This is survival. You’re taking your power back.
It didn’t feel like power, though. Not when I could still feel the phantom heat of his touch on my skin. I sat up, raking a hand through my tangled hair as I forced myself to think logically. How quickly does the siren’s spell kick in? Will he notice it today? Tonight? Will he even feel it?
Shaking my head, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Raffaele was already gone, off doing the gods only knew what. That was a relief. His absence meant I could focus. I needed to distract myself, to funnel this chaotic, maddening energy into something productive. Something I could control.
I dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and a loose shirt before padding barefoot down the hall.
My old bedroom felt like a time capsule—untouched since I’d moved into Raffaele’s room.
It had only been a couple of days, but time had slowed and stretched in my new reality.
I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath.
My workstation still sat against the far wall, cluttered with half-finished schematics and wires that snaked across the desk like spiderwebs.
Had Celeste and Will emailed me back? I’d been so caught up in my forced marriage and horrific bonding ritual that I hadn’t thought to check.
I quickly opened my email account and, sure enough, there was an email from each of them. I opened Will’s first.
Viv,
Gods, it’s so good to hear from you. You’re right, I’ve been worrying myself sick over what that fucking asshole might have done to you. Knowing you’re safe means everything.
Yes, The Shadow’s brutes woke me up one day. They practically kicked the door down. I told them if they’d knocked like civilized beings, I could have made their entrance much less dramatic.
I’ll do what you’ve asked by staying put and not doing anything “stupid”, but I’m not happy about it.
If it were up to me and I had an actual plan, I’d come in, guns blazing, to rescue you.
But as you know, I have no brilliant ideas and certainly no pull in The Below.
I’m assuming you’re keeping in touch with Celeste.
If she has a solution for you, please take it.
I love you, Viv.
Will
I stared at the screen for a moment before realizing my cheeks were soaked with tears. Sniffling, I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve.
I missed Will so much. As much as I hated this place, hated The Shadow, I was certain I’d made the right decision when I’d interfered at the lunar convention. Will had come so close to losing his life. There had been no other option.
Next, I opened the email from Celeste.
Viv,
If I had the means, I would’ve fucking gutted The Shadow when he burst into your bedroom. He had almost redeemed himself over the past few months, but now, he’s shown his true colors.
Who the fuck does he think he is? Trapping you against your will. Luca told me he planned on marrying you. Please tell me that isn’t true.
I know you said for me to leave it alone, to not start a war, but I’d burn the whole world down for the people I love. And in case you haven’t noticed, I love the fuck out of you, Vivian.
You just say the word, and Vincenzo will intervene.
Love,
Celeste
I sat back in my chair, rubbing my temples in a circular motion. I wasn’t desperate enough to seek Vincenzo’s assistance. Perhaps I’d already solved all of my problems with the siren’s kiss. Only time would tell, but for now, I needed a distraction.
NexusCore. My baby. My salvation. If there was ever a time to lose myself in my work, it was now.
For the first time that morning, my mind began to quiet. Fingers flying across the keyboard, I dived headfirst into the complexities of the program.
I loved a challenge. The idea of bridging the gap between human technology and magic wasn’t just a passion project, it was my rebellion against the chaos that had consumed my life.
If I could make this work, if I could create something that broke the boundaries of both worlds, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so powerless.
Hours passed in a blur as the lines of code and intricate diagrams consumed every ounce of my focus. The bond tugged in the background, a persistent reminder of Raffaele’s presence even when he wasn’t near. I pushed it aside, pouring my frustration and guilt into every keystroke.
Eventually, when the screen blurred and the ache in my shoulders became impossible to ignore, I leaned back with a sigh. My gaze drifted to the pile of books I’d stolen from Raffaele’s private library. I took the top one and flipped it open to the section where I’d last stopped.
The deeper I delved into the Gallanti family’s history, the darker it became.
I knew Raffaele came from a twisted lineage, but the details were worse than I could’ve imagined.
His family had built their empire on death and deception, wielding magic so forbidden that even the supernatural world whispered about it in hushed tones.
I paused, staring at a passage that described the ritualistic killing of entire bloodlines to secure magical dominance. Bile crept up my throat, and I dropped the book onto my lap.
Is this the legacy Raffaele is fighting so hard to preserve? Is this why he married me? To tie me to this monstrous lineage?
The words on the page began to blur. I blinked a few times, but my vision refused to clear. Had I been staring at the text for too long? I took off my glasses to clean them, then froze.
The page was crystal clear.
Frowning, I stared down at the book, then looked around the room. Everything was crisp, sharp—every edge, every detail. I put my glasses on again. Blurry. I took them off again. Perfect.
“What the fuck?”
Panic prickled at the edges of my thoughts. My vision had been terrible my entire life. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t possible.
Was it the bond? The ritual? Something Raffaele had done to me without my knowledge?
A bitter taste filled my mouth as I put my glasses on the desk. The necklace around my throat seemed to tighten until it felt like I was suffocating. I needed answers, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask Raffaele for them. Not yet.
I glanced out the window, surprised at how much time had passed. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky. Tonight. I’d take the books back to the library tonight and see if I could find anything else that might explain what was happening to me.
Right now, though, I needed air. Distance. I needed to clear my head. I stood and crossed to the window on shaky legs. The bond thrummed, reminding me of the man who loomed over every facet of my life.
I pressed my hand to the glass, staring out at the sprawling grounds of the estate. This wasn’t freedom. It never would be.