But my words were drowned out by the rush of water and the shouts of my companions as they, too, were restrained.
Camilla, still in her cougar form, growled and swiped at the bindings, her claws tearing through the air but finding no purchase against the magical constructs. Luca’s shadows flared briefly, but they, too, were overwhelmed by the sheer force of Izo’s control over the water.
One by one, we were forced to our knees, the guards pressing us down as the bindings tightened.
Izo stepped forward, his smile widening as he surveyed his handiwork. “Take them to the cells beneath the palace.”
The guards moved quickly, their efficiency almost mechanical. I fought against the restraints, my body screaming with the effort, but it was no use.
As they dragged us toward the exit, I craned my neck to look at Vivian one last time. She stood there, motionless, her gaze fixed on the ground.
“Vivian,” I shouted, my voice raw with desperation. “Please. Fight this. Fight him.”
Her eyes met mine.
And then she turned away.
That simple gesture crushed what little hope I had left.
The fight drained out of me as they hauled us away.
45
VIVIAN
Istood frozen as the guards dragged Raffaele and the others away. His voice echoed in the vast chamber, raw and desperate.
“Vivian! Please, remember me. This isn’t you.”
His voice sent a pang of warmth and familiarity to my heart, cutting through the icy haze that clouded my mind. For a fleeting moment, I felt the bond between us—fragile, like a thread worn thin. His face flashed in my mind, then his smile, his touch.
But then, like a tidal wave, the connection to Izo drowned out the warmth and replaced it with cold hostility. My focus shifted back to him—myIzo. He was the one who had cared for me, who had shown me my place. These people were intruders, threats to his safety.
They deserved to be taken away.
“Good,” I murmured, watching the guards restrain the prisoners, ensuring they wouldn’t try anything else. They couldn’t be allowed to hurt Izo again.
Izo’s hand brushed against mine. He smiled down at me, his silver eyes soft and warm. “Come,” he said gently, lacing his fingers through mine. “Let’s leave this mess behind.”
I nodded, letting him guide me away from the scene. We walked in silence, his presence a calming force that pushed away the chaos of the battle.
As we passed through the dining hall, my gaze drifted to the table. Silverware lay scattered across its surface, abandoned in the haste of the guards and servants. My eyes landed on a steak knife, and instinctively, I grabbed it, slipping it behind me and tucking it into the waistband of my pants. The cold metal pressed against my back, a small but tangible sense of security. I didn’t know why I took it—I wasn’t planning on using it—but a small voice deep inside me whispered that I might need it.
Izo glanced back at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
As we climbed the grand, winding stairs, more guards rushed past us, their armor glinting as they hurried toward the lower levels. I assumed they were reinforcing the cells, ensuring the prisoners couldn’t escape.
Good, I thought again, with a clarity that startled me.They deserved it.
Izo’s presence comforted me. He was so steady. How could I doubt him? He had taken care of me, protected me. He would never hurt me.
We reached the top of the staircase, and Izo led me down a dimly lit hallway to a set of ornate double doors. He pushed them open with a graceful flourish, revealing his private quarters.
The room was luxurious in a way that bordered on overwhelming. The walls shimmered with scales that cast shifting colors across the space. A massive bed sat at the center, its frame carved from what looked like a single, enormous seashell.
My eyes locked on the bed, and everything else faded away.
