She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, clearly unimpressed by my plan—or lack thereof.
Vincenzo stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the rest of us. “What exactly is the plan, Shadow?”
I turned to him, meeting his unwavering stare. “It’s simple. Find Vivian. Take her back. If Izo gets in the way, he dies.”
Dorian let out a low whistle. “That’s not much of a plan. I love it.”
“It’s not well thought out,” I admitted, ignoring his sarcasm. “But I’m done playing Izo’s game. He’s been a thorn in my side for too long. If this is how it ends, so be it.”
“Straightforward and violent.” Vincenzo nodded. “I can work with that.”
“Let’s just hope your illusions hold up long enough to get us inside,” Camilla said.
The effort of maintaining the illusion was already taking its toll. The shimmering armor felt like it might dissolve at any moment. I hated feeling like this. Powerless. Weak. And at the one time in my life when I needed my strength the most.
As we approached the palace grounds, the true scope of its defenses came into view. Guards in shimmering, iridescent armor patrolled in synchronized movements, wielding enchanted blades and spears.
Even though my every instinct screamed at me to attack, to storm the palace and tear through anyone who dared stand in my way, I kept my head down. My magic was almost gone, and brute force wasn’t an option.
The bond with Vivian flared, her fear reaching me through the oppressive haze. It was enough to remind me that I couldn’t afford to lose control. Not yet.
“Keep moving,” Luca murmured beside me.
I nodded. Each step felt like a gamble, every glance from a patrolling soldier a risk that the illusion would fail.
Camilla paused at the base of a narrow staircase carved into the cliffside, gesturing for us to follow. “Based on the schematics I found online, this will take us to a side entrance. Less guarded, but still a risk.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Online?”
She shrugged. “You can find a lot of fucked-up shit on the dark web. You just have to know where to look and how to access it. Vivian taught me that.”
“Every inch of this place is a risk,” Dorian muttered.
“No shit,” Camilla shot back.
We moved in single file, the waves crashing below masking our footsteps. My grip on the illusion was slipping, the edges of the magic fraying with each passing moment. Sweat dripped down my back, my breath coming in short, strained bursts.
As we reached the top of the stairs, we found ourselves on a terrace overlooking the palace grounds. The main entrance was a hive of activity, guards and servants moving in a well-orchestrated dance.
“This way,” Camilla said, motioning toward a smaller doorway partially concealed behind a cluster of bioluminescent coral.
We crossed the terrace as quickly and quietly as we could, slipping past the outer perimeter of guards. When we reached the door, Camilla paused, pressing her ear against it. “No movement inside,” she whispered.
She pushed it open, and we stepped into the palace.
The cool, damp air inside was a stark contrast to the briny breeze outside. The walls were alive with the same bioluminescence that lit the Tide Market. Streams of enchanted water ran along the floors and walls, casting rippling shadows across the space.
I clenched my fists, forcing my breathing to steady as I scanned our surroundings. “We made it in. Now we find her.”
Dorian grinned. “And then?”
“And then,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “we end this.”
Vivian was here. I could feel it.
And I would tear this place apart to get her back.
Every step forward was an exercise in restraint. My thoughts were entirely on Vivian—on finding her, on making sure she was safe.
