Vincenzo, floating in his own sphere beside me, grunted. “You’re going to burn a hole in the floor with that glare, Shadow.”
I ignored him, focusing on the bonder. Under Vivian’s fear, I picked up a tangled knot of uncertainty that made my stomach churn. What had Izo done to her?
The palace was a masterpiece of twisted elegance. Every inch of the walls shimmered with bioluminescence, the glow of enchanted coral and streams of water casting moving patterns across the floor. The haunting melody that permeated the air seemed to grow louder, pressing against my thoughts like an unwelcome intruder.
“We’re getting close,” Luca muttered.
I didn’t need him to tell me. The bond was stronger now, her presence a steady beat in my chest. She was near, just beyond the next corner. My pulse quickened, the raw need to see her overriding every other thought.
We turned the corner, and there she was.
The air left my lungs in a sharp, painful exhale. Vivian stood in the center of the room, the shimmering glow of the palace’s magic illuminating her. She was alive—whole—but something was wrong.
She lookeddifferent.
Her stance was rigid, her shoulders squared as though bracing for a fight. Her gaze was distant, her eyes clouded. But the worst part was the hesitation.
She saw me. I knew she did.
Our bond surged, and for a fleeting moment, I saw recognition in her eyes. But then it was gone.
“Vivian,” I breathed. I pressed my hands against the inside of the sphere, the translucent surface rippling beneath my touch. “Vivian, it’s me.”
Her gaze wavered, her lips parting slightly. But she didn’t move toward me.
Izo stood at the far end of the room, lounging on his iridescent throne like he owned the world. His silver hair gleamed under the shifting light, his smirk as sharp and venomous as a dagger.
And then Vivian did the unthinkable.
She walked toward him.
“No,” I growled, my fists pounding uselessly against the binding. “No, Vivian, don’t?—”
But she didn’t stop. Step by step, she closed the distance between them, her bare feet silent on the polished floor. Every step was a blow to my heart.
When she reached his side, she turned and stood beside him. Her stance could only be described as protective.
My heart clenched as the bond thrummed with her confusion, her fear, her… loyalty.
“What the fuck is going on?” I snarled.
Izo laughed softly, the sound cold and mocking. “What’s wrong, Shadow? Don’t like the new arrangement?”
“She’s not yours,” I spat, my hands pressing harder against the barrier. “Let her go.”
Izo tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Oh, but she is mine. Isn’t that right, my dear?”
Vivian hesitated, her eyes darting to me for a fraction of a second. And in that instant, I saw the war raging inside her.
But she didn’t move.
Izo brushed his hand along her arm, and my blood boiled. “You see,” he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction, “humans are so wonderfully pliable. It’s almost too easy to make them see things my way.”
“You bastard!”
Vivian flinched, guilt crossing her face before she schooled her expression into one of cold detachment.
“Vivian,” I said, my voice softer now, desperate. “It’s me. I’m here. You don’t have to do this.”
