Chapter 54 Vivian #2
He sighed and set his fork down. “If it’s what you want, then fine. But it’s going to feel weird.”
“Good weird or bad weird?” I teased.
“Somewhere in between,” he said, shaking his head. “But if it makes you happy, then it’s worth it.”
Before I could reply, the door burst open, and Will came barreling in like a whirlwind. His energy was infectious as always, his cheeks flushed with excitement. “Morning, boss man,” he said cheerily, clapping Raffaele on the back with a little too much force.
Raffaele shot me a long-suffering look as if to say, Really? This kid again?
I tried not to laugh. “Good morning, Will.”
Raffaele had hired him to be his intern, which was exactly what he’d wanted when he originally entered that stupid fucking contest that almost got us both killed. Now, Will splits his time between our old apartment in the city and Raffaele’s estate.
“What’s the latest?” Will asked, grabbing a slice of cake and swiping his finger through the icing of the piece Raffaele was about to eat.
Raffaele glared at him, fork halfway to his mouth. “Seriously?” he muttered, looking at me for confirmation that this wasn’t some elaborate joke.
“You wanted an intern,” I said, shrugging with mock innocence.
Will grinned unrepentantly. “I call it quality control.”
Raffaele groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is going to be a long day.”
Will plopped into a chair, kicking his feet up onto the bench. “So what’s the agenda, boss? World domination? Or just paperwork?”
Raffaele gave him a look that could have frozen fire, but Will was unfazed. Their dynamic was oddly perfect, and I grinned as I watched them.
His emotions poured over me through our bond. He was annoyed, but also amused.
While they discussed the day’s agenda, I made my way to the sink, where Eldora was scrubbing a cake pan. She looked up as I approached, her expression softening when I wrapped an arm around her.
“What was that for?” she asked in surprise.
“I just love you,” I said simply. “And thank you for coordinating all this. The cakes, the tasting—it’s perfect.”
Eldora smiled, a rare moment of unguarded emotion crossing her features. “It’s my pleasure, dear. It’s good to see this house filled with laughter.”
I squeezed her arm gently. “How are you feeling?”
Her eyes glistened, and she set the pan down, drying her hands on a towel. “Free,” she said. “For the first time in decades, I feel free.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You deserve it.”
Her smile widened, and she leaned in conspiratorially. “Next week, I’ll be visiting my son in the fae kingdom. I told Raffaele I’d come back, but he’ll have to fend for himself for a while.”
“You deserve that too,” I said, my heart swelling.
Now that Lord Thorne was out of the picture, Eldora was free to leave. She had insisted on staying at the estate, saying that Raffaele was family. And now, I was, too.
As I turned back to the table, I caught Raffaele’s eye. He watched me, his expression unreadable but warm. For a moment, everything else faded, and it was just us, grounded in the quiet joy of this new life we were building.
I sank back into my chair, picking up another slice of cake. “You’re right,” I said, smiling at Raffaele. “The chocolate’s growing on me.”
He laughed. “Told you.”
The future was wide open, and for the first time, it felt like ours.
The sun cast a warm, golden light over the estate, filtering through the trees and illuminating the carefully tended grounds. Without the illusions, the estate looked like something out of a dream—elegant, open, and alive. It was a stark contrast to the shadowed, veiled version it had been before.
I stood in the main hall, glancing out the massive windows that overlooked the rolling hills and gardens below.
Raffaele veilstepped to my side and began pacing, arms crossed and a dark scowl etched on his face.
He was every bit the brooding lord, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him.
Seeing him enjoy his gift of veilstepping after his father kept it from him for so many years filled me with joy.
“They’re late,” he muttered, glancing at the antique clock mounted on the far wall.
“They’ll be here,” I said, smoothing down my dress and adjusting the hairpin keeping my curls in place. “And you’ll be fine.”
“I’m not worried about me,” he grumbled. “I’m worried about you having to deal with one of those pompous assholes.”
I laughed, crossing the room to stand in front of him. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
His scowl softened slightly as he looked down at me, but he was still tense. “I don’t like them being here. They’ve meddled enough in our lives already.”
The sharp click of boots against the stone floor cut through the quiet of the estate, each step deliberate and echoing with authority. Raffaele and I turned toward the approaching figure, and my breath caught for a moment.
Magistrate Eldric.
He was the kind of man whose presence demanded silence.
The frost-colored streaks in his raven-black hair caught the light, tied back in a knot that somehow managed to look both elegant and effortless.
His pale eyes, somewhere between ice and starlight, swept over the hall, sharp and unyielding, as though cataloging every flaw in the space.
The scar bisecting his left eyebrow added an edge to his otherwise perfect features, a reminder of battles fought and survived.
“Shadow,” Eldric greeted, his low, measured voice carrying across the room like the toll of a bell. He inclined his head slightly toward Raffaele, but his gaze flickered to me briefly, softening by an almost imperceptible degree. “Lady Gallanti.”
I glanced at Raffaele. His jaw was tight, his arms crossed.
The cool detachment he projected was the result of years of mastering the art of intimidation.
Though his personal illusions remained cast—his true appearance hidden from nearly everyone—there was no denying the air of mystery and foreboding he exuded.
It was the mask he wore to keep everyone at arm’s length.
But I wasn’t everyone.
Placing a calming hand on his arm, I stepped forward, smiling warmly. “Magistrate Eldric, welcome to our estate. It’s a pleasure to host you today.”
Eldric’s pale eyes shifted to me, studying my face as though weighing the sincerity of my words. Then he gave a slight nod, the faintest hint of respect in his bearing. “The estate looks… different,” he said, his gaze sweeping across the room again.
“Yes,” I replied with practiced ease, gesturing for him to follow me. “We’ve made some changes. Let me show you.”
Raffaele gave me a look—half gratitude, half exasperation—but stayed silent, falling in step behind us as I led Eldric through the estate.
We began with the restored gardens, now vibrant and alive with color. Sunlight danced through the leaves, highlighting the flourishing plants and neatly tended pathways. Workers moved through the space, chatting and laughing as they harvested fresh vegetables from the fields beyond.
“Our people are flourishing,” I said, my tone bright yet tinged with subtle steel. “Even without constant government oversight.”
Eldric paused, his pale gaze lingering on a group of workers loading crates. His expression was unreadable, but the slight narrowing of his eyes suggested he was rethinking something. “It’s unusual to see such success without external support,” he said.
Of course, we would never admit that the only change was Raffaele removing the illusions from his territory.
If the magistrate wanted to think we’d gone above and beyond to turn a shithole into paradise, that was fine with us.
It showed we were committed to upholding whatever rules and regulations they expected from a mafia lord, which would result in us, hopefully, garnering their support.
Behind me, Raffaele let out a low, amused sound. I turned slightly and shot him a quick grin before continuing the tour.
We moved to the residential area, where children played in the courtyards, their laughter ringing out in the clear air. Eldric’s gaze swept over the scene, his usual cold detachment cracking just enough for me to notice. I took the opportunity to drive my point home.
“As you can see, Magistrate Eldric,” I said sweetly, “our people are more than content. They’re thriving. Raffaele has worked tirelessly to create a safe, prosperous territory.”
Eldric’s expression didn’t shift, but I could see the tension in his jaw. “It’s clear you’ve cultivated something remarkable here in the last few months,” he said slowly. “The council will undoubtedly be interested to see how this model holds up long-term.”
I tilted my head, my smile widening. “Oh, I have no doubt it will hold up beautifully.”
Eldric nodded, though his gaze lingered on Raffaele. “We’ll deploy Veil Guards to your territory for additional security and support. I expect routine updates on your commerce. We, of course, will need to be kept in the loop.”
Raffaele stiffened beside me, his body coiled with irritation. I quickly placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you,” I said, my tone measured. “We appreciate the council’s support.”
The magistrate inclined his head again, his expression giving nothing away, and made his way toward the exit. We stood there in silence, watching his sharp silhouette disappear down the long path leading away from the estate.
The moment he was gone, Raffaele let out a long, low breath. He turned to me, dark eyes filled with a mix of frustration and admiration. “How the hell do you do that?”
“Do what?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Charm the most insufferable people on the planet and make it look effortless.”
I laughed, stepping closer to him and wrapping my arms around his neck. “It’s a gift.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I don’t deserve you.”
I reached up, brushing my lips against his. The warmth of his emotions—love, contentment, joy—washed over me. “No, but you have me anyway.”
His arms tightened around me, and he kissed me deeply. In that moment, all the horrible moments we’d endured melted away, leaving only the two of us and the unshakable bond we shared.
When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his, my heart full. “How did I get so lucky?” I whispered.
He smiled, his voice soft and full of wonder. “I ask myself the same thing every day.”
We stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the future stretching out before us like a blank page, waiting for us to fill it together.