Chapter 39
RAFFAELE
The crisp mountain air hit my face as I stepped outside, the familiar scent of pine and damp earth filling my lungs.
The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of forest creatures added to the peace of the place.
Inside, I could hear the water running from the bathroom where Vivian was showering.
I had at least thirty minutes before she’d be finished.
The wards shimmered faintly in the early morning light. It was strong—years of meticulous preparation had ensured that—but it wasn’t enough. Not anymore.
I couldn’t risk The Ashen—or worse, my father—finding us.
As I walked the perimeter, I extended my hand, summoning my shadows. They writhed at my fingertips, sluggish and unsteady, like smoke caught in an invisible wind. I pushed them forward, willing them to extend outward and strengthen the wards.
The shadows faltered.
“Come on,” I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists as I tried again. The bond between me and my magic felt thinner than ever, a thread unraveling by the day. My shadows lashed out one last time before dissipating entirely, fading into the air like a dying breath.
“Fuck.”
The siren’s kiss was sinking its claws deeper into me.
It was a parasite feeding on my power, stealing pieces of me I couldn’t afford to lose.
Anger flooded me at the thought of Izo manipulating Vivian into being his puppet.
I needed to be able to protect her now more than ever—and with my power waning, it was feeling more and more impossible.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady the panic clawing at the edges of my mind. My faltering magic wasn’t merely a personal inconvenience. It was a threat to Vivian. If I couldn’t protect her, and if I couldn’t protect my people, then what the fuck was I good for?
I pulled my phone from my pocket, turning it over in my hands as I moved farther from the cabin. The safehouse was designed to suppress all signals—magical, technological, anything that could be traced. But I’d built it with one small weakness: an outer edge where cell signals could still reach.
It was a risk I’d calculated years ago, one I had hoped would never matter. Now, it was a lifeline I couldn’t ignore.
I stopped just shy of the perimeter, my phone buzzing to life as it connected. I typed out a quick message to Jareth.
Raffaele: I’m out for a while. Hold down the fort.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, staring out at the dense forest that surrounded the cabin. It was unnervingly quiet, and made me feel like I was being watched.
I let out a slow breath, my mind racing with everything I couldn’t afford to ignore. The Ashen were circling like vultures, no doubt waiting for the first sign of weakness. My father was out there, plotting his next move. And I was here, my magic slipping through my fingers like sand.
I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening at my sides. No. I wouldn’t let this happen. Siren’s kiss or not, I would find a way to protect Vivian, to keep her safe. She was all that mattered now.
The sound of a twig snapping somewhere in the forest jolted me from my thoughts. My shadows flared instinctively, weak but present, coiling around me like a shield. My eyes scanned the tree line, searching for any sign of movement.
Nothing.
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to relax. My paranoia was getting the better of me. I turned and started back toward the cabin, my phone still clutched in my hand.
This wasn’t a call I wanted to make, but there was no other option.
I dialed Luca’s number, the connection buzzing against my ear. It barely rang once before his voice came through, sharp and alert.
“Shadow?” His surprise was clear. “What’s going on? Is everything all right?”
“No,” I said bluntly, wasting no time. “We have a situation. I’m going to need your help.”
The forest seemed to close in around me as I walked, the trees crowding together in shadowed clusters. My thoughts were as tangled as the undergrowth beneath my boots, but I forced myself to focus.
“It’s my father,” I began. “He’s gone rogue, completely unhinged. He got to Vivian—” My throat tightened, and I pushed the memory aside. “He’s out of control, Luca. And I don’t think my current power level is enough to stop him.”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. “Your power level? What do you mean?”
“I mean, it’s failing.” The words tasted bitter.
“My illusions, my shadows—everything is slipping. And I know why.” I hesitated, then continued.
“Izo. The bastard used Vivian as a tool to weaken me, to transfer his influence through her. The siren’s kiss is taking hold, and it’s cutting me off from my magic. ”
“Fuck,” Luca muttered. “Why the hell didn’t you call me sooner?”
“I couldn’t. I had to focus on keeping Vivian safe. She’s my priority. Everything else comes second.”
Luca sighed heavily, but there was no judgment in his tone, only frustration. “And now?”
“Now, I need you to talk to Vincenzo. See if he’s willing to lend some of his brute force.
The Ashen are circling, Luca. They’ve already tested the waters—literally.
They attacked my crops, using seawater to see if my wards would stop them.
It was a teaser, a fucking game to see how much ground they can gain while my magic is failing. ”
“Bastards,” Luca spat. “They’ve been looking for a way to expand for years. You know they won’t stop now.”
“Which is why we need to be ready. I don’t care what Vincenzo wants in return. If he’s willing to help, make it happen. We need brute force and numbers to hold them off while I figure out how to deal with Izo.”
“And Lord Thorne?” Luca asked carefully.
“I’ll handle him,” I said, my tone icy. “But not until I know Vivian is safe and The Ashen are dealt with. One war at a time.”
“You’re sure you’re safe now?”
“Yes,” I said. “We’re somewhere remote, somewhere warded. But it’s only a temporary solution. I don’t have time to sit here and hope for the best.”
“Of course,” Luca said with quiet conviction. “I’ll make it happen. And… take care of yourself. If you’re losing your magic, that makes you a target. The Shadow doesn’t get to show weakness—not even here.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I said grimly. “But I’ll find a way to deal with Izo. One way or another.”
“Good,” Luca said. “Touch base with me tomorrow. I’ll have more information by then.”
“I will,” I said, glancing up as the forest began to thin. “I need to go. I’ve arrived at my destination.”
“Understood,” Luca said. “Take care.”
“You too,” I said.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, my mind already racing with the next steps. The wheels were in motion now. There was no turning back.
The clearing was quiet, the thick forest muffling the world outside. The only sound was the soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots as I stepped into the open space. The air was cool, laced with the scent of pine and damp earth, and my shadows flickered faintly at my sides, restless as always.
Eldora was already at the agreed-upon location. She’d done as I asked her to yesterday when I’d stepped out of the safehouse while Vivian showered to call her and request books on anything she could find pertaining to the siren’s kiss and the Ashen faction.
A small satchel was slung over her shoulder, its weight pulling it low against her hip. She straightened as soon as she saw me, her face lighting up with relief.
“Raffaele!” she called, crossing the clearing in long strides.
Before I could say a word, she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.
The unexpected gesture startled me, but I found myself returning it, my arms circling her slender frame.
Eldora wasn’t one for displays of affection, but I could feel the tension in her body, the unspoken weight of everything she’d been holding together in my absence.
“It’s been awful without you,” she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder.
“The staff is on edge. Your father is making his presence known more and more every day. He’s—” She pulled back, her sharp green eyes meeting mine.
“He’s insisting you be brought to him immediately. He won’t listen to anything I say.”
I clenched my jaw, a wave of anger surging through me. “What did you tell him?”
“That you were away on business. But he wouldn’t hear of it. He said he knew fucking better.” She exhaled shakily, her frustration plain. “Raffaele, I’m doing everything I can to keep things running smoothly, but—”
“You’re doing fine. Better than fine. I knew I could trust you with this.”
She straightened, her lips pressing into a thin line, but I saw the hint of gratitude in her eyes.
“I need you to keep it up,” I continued. “Do whatever it takes to keep my father appeased. If that means feeding him fresh meat from the prisoners in the dungeons, then so be it. If he wants to be waited on hand and foot, indulge him. Just buy me time, Eldora. I’m working on a plan.”
She nodded, though her brows furrowed.
“To complicate matters, The Ashen are testing us,” I said, my voice darkening.
“They’ve already attacked the crops with seawater to see if my magic would stop them.
I need you to inform the first tier of guards to set up surveillance along the sea.
If there’s any sign of intrusion, I want to know immediately. ”
Eldora shifted her satchel, pulling it forward and opening the clasp. She pulled out several books. “These are the most comprehensive texts I could find on the siren’s kiss and the Ashen faction. It’s not much, but it’s a start.”
“Good.” I reached out, taking the books from her and tucking them under one arm.
She hesitated, her lips pressing together as if holding back more. “Raffaele,” she said carefully, “are you sure about this? About staying away?”
“Vivian is my priority,” I said simply. “As long as my father is out of control and the Ashen are circling, I can’t bring her back. She’s safest here.”
Eldora nodded, though the tension in her posture didn’t ease.
Before I could say more, a sudden wave of panic slammed into me through the bond, sharp and overwhelming.
Vivian.
I turned sharply, my eyes scanning the forest around us as the fight-or-flight response kicked in. My shadows flared instinctively, though they were weak and fleeting.
“What’s wrong?” Eldora asked in alarm.
“I’ve been gone too long. She’s panicking.”
Eldora stepped forward, her concern etched across her face. “Go. Now.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. Clutching the books tightly, I turned and bolted through the trees, my feet pounding against the forest floor. The bond thrummed with her fear, driving me forward with reckless urgency.
The forest blurred around me, my singular focus on reaching the safehouse as fast as possible. Each step felt like an eternity, the panic coursing through the bond only intensifying with every passing second.
“Hold on, Vivian,” I muttered under my breath, my voice a desperate whisper. “I’m coming.”