He nodded, but his grip on my hand tightened as if he were physically restraining himself from saying something he’d regret. “You’re right,” he admitted after a pause. “I should have told you about my father. Lord Thorne. He’s still pulling the strings, more than I’d like to admit.”
The mention of Lord Thorne sent a shiver down my spine. “Do you think you can stop him?”
Raffaele’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “He’s… powerful. I’ve been trying for decades. He’s more powerful than me, somehow. That beating he gave me the other day…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It shouldn’t have been possible. It’s like he’s getting stronger. Or perhaps I’m getting weaker.”
I knew why his magic was faltering. It wasn’t his father. It was me. The siren’s kiss was doing its job, draining him little by little. And yet, knowing that didn’t make me feel any better. If anything, it made me feel worse.
I swallowed hard, trying to focus. “Maybe I can help. I’ve been working on something. A way to combine NexusCore with the Mirror of Truths. If I can get it to work, maybe it could help us figure out what object your father’s soul is tied to.”
He stilled, his brows drawing together. “And if we find it?” he asked carefully. “What then?”
I tilted my head, studying him. “Would you destroy it?”
“In a heartbeat.”
His resolve was evident, but doubt lingered in the back of my mind. Destroying his father’s tether would be the ultimate act of rebellion. Was Raffaele truly ready for that? Could he sever the only remaining tie to the man who had shaped him into what he was today?
I forced a weak smile, trying to hide my doubts. “Then I guess I’d better get to work.”
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
I shook my head. “Don’t thank me yet. I don’t even know if it’ll work.”
He leaned back slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a sardonic smile. “If anyone can make it work, it’s you.”
His confidence should have empowered me, but all I felt was a gnawing uncertainty. I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t ignore the unease twisting in my gut. If I succeeded in syncingthe Mirror and NexusCore, what secrets would it reveal? Would I be able to handle them?
“Should I be worried about your father?” I blurted before I could stop it.
Raffaele pressed his lips together in a thin line. “I’ve taken precautions,” he said finally. “Both my room and yours are warded and illusioned. He won’t find you, Vivian.”
“But what if he does? What then?”
His shadows rippled at the edges of the room, reflecting his unease. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, though the edge in his tone betrayed his own doubts. “I’ll keep you safe.”
I wanted to believe him, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t as certain as he wanted me to think. I couldn’t afford to wait for his father to make a move. Raffaele’s loss of power would most certainly affect his ability to keep me safe. If only I hadn’t fucking allowed Izo to kiss me… if I could’ve somehow stopped myself from being drawn to his song, then I wouldn’t be in this position. If Lord Thorne was as powerful and sadistic as Raffaele claimed, I needed to figure out a way to protect myself—and fast.
I forced a smile and squeezed his hand again. “Then I guess I’ll focus on figuring out this NexusCore-slash-mirror thing. The sooner we figure out how to stop your father, the better.”
He nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Agreed.”
My thoughts were a tangled mess as I left his office. I could still feel Raffaele’s grief, his fear, his anger. But beneath it was a softness that terrified me.
Because the longer I stayed here, the harder it was becoming to tell where his feelings ended and mine began.
32
VIVIAN
This place was suffocating me. Every moment spent in The Below, every shadow-laden hallway, every flicker of power that I couldn’t comprehend or control was too much.
I’d spent two days straight trying to integrate NexusCore with the Mirror of Truths. Each time I thought I’d made progress, something failed, and I had to troubleshoot all over again.
Finally reaching my boiling point, I left my room-turned-office in a huff, hoping to track down Raffaele. Something had to fucking give.
I found him in his office and stood in front of him, the tension between us thick and electric, as always. He was lounging in one of the leather armchairs, one hand resting against the armrest, his shadows curling around his fingers like they had a life of their own. His sharp features were unreadable, but I could feel the undercurrent of his emotions through the bond. He was curious.
“I need to get out of here,” I blurted, the words tumbling out before I could overthink them. “I can’t stay here anymore. Takeme back to your apartment in New York. Please. I’m fucking begging you.”
