But she didn’t even flinch. She stopped in front of him, standing between us like a barrier, her posture rigid, her shoulders tense.
This wasn’t her. I felt it in my heart, in the bond that seemed to have been tainted with something foreign. The woman I loved wouldn’t stand so perfectly still or avoid my eyes.
“Vivian!” Vincenzo’s deep voice boomed across the room, his expression a mixture of confusion and anger. “What the hell is going on? Talk to us!”
Dorian chimed in, his tone sharp with disbelief. “Viv, are you seriously—what the fuck is this?”
Even Luca, ever the calm one, stepped forward slightly, his gaze locked on her. “Vivian, look at us. Whatever he’s done, we’ll fix it. Just come back to us.”
She didn’t look at any of them. Not a single glance. Izo, standing behind her with his infuriating smirk, stroked her hair like she was some prized pet. “That’s my good girl,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
The fury inside me exploded.
With a roar, I charged at him, the bond with Vivian surging painfully as I moved. I didn’t care about the water bindings, the guards, or the fact that my magic was almost entirely drained. All I cared about was Vivian.
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I bellowed.
But just as my fist shot forward, Vivian moved. She stepped directly into my path, hands outstretched, shielding his body.
I skidded to a halt, barely stopping in time. My fist hovered inches from her face, trembling with the force of the momentum I’d just halted.
Her eyes met mine, and the bond between us twisted painfully.
I searched her gaze, desperate to find any hint of the woman I knew. But what stared back at me wasn’t Vivian. Her eyes were cold, filled with a hatred that cracked my heart.
“Vivian,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “It’s me. It’s Raffaele.”
She didn’t move, didn’t speak.
I dropped my hand slowly, my shoulders sagging under the force of her silence.
“This isn’t you,” I said, my voice barely audible. “This isn’t who you are.”
Izo laughed behind her, the sound grating and triumphant. “Oh, but it is. You just don’t like what you see.”
“You did this to her,” I snarled. “You twisted her. Whatever hold you have on her, I’ll break it. I swear to the gods, I’ll tear you apart.”
Izo leaned forward, resting his chin on Vivian’s shoulder as if to taunt me further. “You’re welcome to try, Shadow. But I think you’ll find she’s quite…loyalto me now.”
“Loyal?” I spat. “You’ve poisoned her mind.”
He chuckled. “Call it what you want. The result is the same. She stands with me now.”
My legs felt like they might give out under me. I couldn’t attack him without hurting her. I couldn’t risk her life, not when I’d come this far to save her.
“Vivian,” Luca said. “You don’t have to do this. Whatever he’s done, you can fight it. We’ll help you.”
Vincenzo took a step forward, his massive frame tense and ready to act. “Viv, just give us a sign. Anything. We’re here for you.”
Dorian, uncharacteristically somber, added, “Don’t let this bastard win. You’re stronger than this.”
She didn’t react to any of them.
Izo smiled, resting his hand possessively on her shoulder. “Your friends are quite persistent. It’s almost endearing. But I think it’s time to end this little reunion, don’t you?”
He snapped his fingers, and the guards surged forward. Streams of enchanted water rose from the ground, swirling around each of us in fluid, unbreakable bindings.
I struggled against the water as it wrapped around my arms and legs. “No! Let her go, you son of a bitch!”
