“This,” Izo said, spreading his arms wide, “is my underwater domain.”
The pride in his voice was unmistakable, but to me, the sight was equal parts awe-inspiring and suffocating.
I felt like I was trapped in a dream—a nightmare. The surreal beauty of the scene around me blurred the lines between reality and illusion, and I struggled to remind myself that none of this was safe.
“It’s… too much,” I whispered.
Izo laughed softly. “That’s the point, Vivian. It’s meant to be too much.”
He swam closer, his silver eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of amusement and triumph. “You’ll grow used to it. You might even come to love it.”
“Never,” I shot back, though my voice shook.
He brushed my arm as he swam past me, leading us closer to the citadel. “We’ll see.”
I forced myself to keep moving. The bond between me and Raffaele grew fainter with every passing minute, but it reminded me that I wasn’t entirely alone. As I followed Izo into the glowing depths of his territory, I could only hope that Raffaele felt my fear, and that he was coming for me.
Izo dragged me deeper into his domain, my body weightless in the warm water. The glowing depths of the ocean around us seemed dreamlike, the bioluminescent light casting an eerie glow on Izo’s face.
He slowed his pace and turned toward me, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Before we head to my palace aboveground, we need to stop at the citadel. There are preparations to make.”
His gaze swept over me again, lingering in a way that made my skin crawl.
“Can you at least get me some fucking clothes?” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Not yet.” He winked at me. “I’m rather enjoying the view.”
I clenched my teeth. Bastard.
“Don’t glare at me like that,” he said, his voice lilting with mock innocence. “I’m not the one who came unprepared for a swim.”
Before I could retort, he grabbed my hands, his grip like iron.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, yanking my hands back.
“Don’t fight me,” he said smoothly, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. “I’m just making sure you’re a good little girl for the entirety of your stay here.”
I tried to pull away, but his magic wrapped around me like chains. A cold, invasive force seeped into my skin, clawing its way through every fiber of my being.
“No!” I screamed.
“Don’t resist,” he said. “It’ll only make this harder for you.”
It felt like his presence was burrowing into my brain, embedding itself into the deepest corners of my mind. My vision blurred as the compulsion took hold, weaving itself into my thoughts, my emotions, my very sense of self.
A wave of suffocating loyalty surged through me, twisting my perception of him into something I couldn’t entirely hate. The compulsion amplified everything—fear, guilt, and even a sickening twinge of affection that wasn’t mine.
“Stop,” I whispered.
“Almost done,” he murmured, his tone disturbingly gentle as the magic solidified its grip.
My body felt heavy, disconnected from my mind as he cemented his control. It dulled my emotions, warping them, making me question my loyalty to Raffaele, my identity, and everything I had fought for.
When the magic finally receded, I was left gasping, my limbs trembling. Izo smiled, his satisfaction evident as he studied me.
“There,” he said, releasing my hands. “Much better.”
I wanted to scream at him, to fight, but the compulsion was already at work, suppressing my instincts. My body felt foreign, like a puppet on invisible strings, and my thoughts spiraled in confusion.
