Her grip on the whip faltered, her gaze flicking to mine. For a brief, flickering second, I saw the real her.
“I love you.”
Her face twisted with a mixture of pain and rage. “Stop,” she hissed, her voice trembling. “Don’t say that. Don’t?—”
The bond was faint but still alive, and I felt the war raging inside her. The real Vivian was there, clawing at the walls of her mind, fighting to break free.
But the bond wasn’t enough.
The whip cracked again, this time grazing my shoulder, and I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. My magic was gone, drained to near nothing by Izo’s siren’s kiss, and I felt every blow with a rawness I hadn’t experienced in years.
I glanced to the side, where Vincenzo gripped the bars of his cell so tightly his knuckles turned white. His face was a mask of rage, his muscles taut as if he could break the bars with sheer force of will.
Our magic didn’t work in the fucking dungeon
“She’s not doing this,” I said, my voice low enough for him to hear but not Vivian. “It’s him. He’s got her trapped.”
Vincenzo’s jaw clenched, his dark eyes burning with fury. “I know,” he growled. “I swear to the gods, I’ll tear that bastard limb from limb.”
His rage mirrored my own, but it was useless here. The runes etched into the walls stripped us of our magic, leaving us as little more than men. No shadows, no strength, nothing.
The whip struck again, and my knees finally buckled. I hit the ground hard, the coral cuffs scraping my wrists as I sagged against the chains.
Vivian took a step back, her chest heaving, her hands shaking violently. The whip dangled from her fingers, its glow fading slightly as if it, too, were tiring.
I could see it in her face—she was breaking.
I had to reach her.
“Vivian,” I said again. “Look at me.”
Her eyes darted to mine, wide and filled with tears.
“This isn’t you,” I said, forcing myself to sit upright despite the agony racking my body. “You’re stronger than him. I know you are.”
She shook her head, her lips trembling as she whispered, “I can’t... I can’t stop.”
“Yes, you can,” I said, my voice firmer now. “You’re still in there. I can feel it.”
“Vivian, that’s enough,” Izo said, his tone laced with amusement. “Stop having so much fun, my dear.”
The whip finally fell from Vivian’s hand, landing with a muted splash in the water. My body screamed in relief, though the stinging wounds across my skin told a different story. Every lash she’d delivered burned, physically and emotionally, the ache searing deep into my soul.
Her shoulders stiffened, and she turned away from me slowly, her gaze shifting to Izo like a moth drawn to flame. I tried to focus on her face, to catch a glimmer of recognition, but all I saw was the same hollow obedience.
He smirked as he stepped toward her and brushed his fingers over her cheek in a mockery of tenderness. “We’ve had our fun, but there’s much more to do. You’re going to follow me around today, little pet, and assist me while we test the limits of this delightful bond.”
The coral cuffs biting into my wrists as I struggled against them. “You’re a fucking coward,” I rasped. “Hiding behind magic and manipulation. Let her go, and fight me like a man.”
Izo turned his silver gaze to me, a cocky smile on his face. “Oh, but this is so much more entertaining, don’t you think? Watching you break while she thrives in her new role by my side?”
Vivian remained silent as he took her hand.
“Come along, my dear,” he said, tugging her gently toward the exit. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”
She glanced at me over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of defiance, of recognition. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Vivian,” I called.
