20
VIVIAN
The room was bathed in shadows, the silver light from the moon slanting through the heavy curtains. It barely reached the edges of the bed where Raffaele sprawled, a figure carved from dark stone. Not a monster, if only in sleep.
But that was a lie, wasn’t it? Raffaele Gallantiwasa monster, wasn’t he?
The urge to run was like a live wire beneath my skin.
I could reach out to Celeste. She would burn the world to ash for me. Hell, she’d reshape the Earth itself if that’s what it took. But the moment I started to form a plan and really think it through, my brain slipped. It was like the thought had been plucked from my mind mid-sentence, leaving behind a haze I couldn’t push through.
Panic bloomed in my chest.
What the hell was happening to me?
I didn’t belong here. Not in this place. Not in his world.
I had to get out before it consumed me entirely.
I’d do what Izo had asked, and then I’d disappear. Far away from Raffaele Gallanti and the twisted empire he ruled with blood and shadows. Before it was too late. Before I lost myself completely.
I stood at the edge of the bed and stared down at Raffaele. I should have felt disgust, fear, or even hatred. I didn’t. Whatever it was that I did feel, I knew it was dangerous. My hands shook at my sides, my fingers curling and uncurling as though even my body couldn’t decide what it wanted.
I was riddled with anxiety, but I told myself this was the way I could wrest back some semblance of control. If I kissed him, the siren’s kiss would transfer. Slowly, insidiously, it would work its way through his system, sapping his powers. The man who had placed this damned necklace around my throat, the man who loomed over every waking thought, would finally be vulnerable. It was my chance to escape. To breathe. Tobe free.
And yet, as I watched him sleep, all my resolve crumbled.
Raffaele looked different like this, bathed in the pale glow of the moon. The usual hard lines of his face, the sharpness that spoke of danger and ruthlessness, had softened. His hair fell in unruly waves, and his long, dark lashes brushed his cheekbones. He looked… human. And that terrified me more than the monster ever had.
I shouldn’t have come to his bedroom. I should go to my room and spend the night working on my computer. That would give myself some distance and some time to think everything through.
But I couldn’t leave, couldn’t force myself to turn around and walk out of Raffaele’s bedroom. It’s what I should have done. But I didn’t.
I slowly got into bed, careful not to disturb Raffaele. The sheets were cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the heat that radiated from him. My pulse thundered in my ears as I settled beside him, perched on the edge of his world, unsure if I wanted to dive in or flee from it.
My gaze lingered on his face. He looked… peaceful. Almost innocent. But I knew better. I’d seen what lay beneath that calmfaçade—the darkness, the cruelty. And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out, my hand hovering over his chest.
His body heat teased my fingertips, the steady rhythm of his heart pulling me closer. My lips parted, my breath shaky as I leaned down, every nerve in my body screaming at me to stop. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
Don’t think. Just act.
The kiss was barely a whisper, a brush of lips that sent a shockwave through my body. For a moment, nothing happened. Relief and disappointment collided, leaving me reeling. But then, a low sound rumbled in his chest, and he shifted. His eyes fluttered open, dark and piercing even in the dim light.
Before I could pull away, he had his hand tangled in my hair and was pulling me down, his lips capturing mine with a heat and hunger that stole the breath from my lungs. It wasn’t a kiss, it was a consuming fire, one that burned away every ounce of rational thought. A startled gasp tore from my throat, and he swallowed it greedily, his mouth moving over mine with a possessiveness that made my heart race.
His other hand gripped my waist, his touch almost desperate as he drew me closer. My body melted against him, betraying every ounce of logic that screamed at me to stop. But I couldn’t. His touch ignited something primal and raw that I couldn’t ignore.
Our bond flared to life, his emotions crashing into mine with the force of a tidal wave. They were chaotic, overwhelming—desire, frustration, and more emotions I couldn’t easily identify. It wasn’t the cold calculation I’d expected. It was need. It washim.
And it fucking terrified me.
I tried to pull back, but he didn’t let me go. His hands roamed over my back before settling on my hips. Without thinking, I straddled him, my knees sinking into the mattress on eitherside of his hips. His hands slid lower, gripping my ass with a desperation that mirrored my own.
“Vivian,” he murmured against my mouth, his voice rough and raw, as though the very act of speaking was a struggle. “What are you doing to me?”
I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t speak. Gods, I could barely think. All I could do was kiss him, the need consuming me as much as it consumed him. His fingers dug into my flesh, holding me in place as he took control of the kiss, his tongue sweeping into my mouth with a heat that left me dizzy.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. This was supposed to be my moment of power, my chance to escape. But as his lips moved over mine, as his hands gripped me like he’d never let go, I realized I’d already lost.
