She startled, her head snapping around to look at me. Her gaze flicked to me briefly before landing on the figure beside me. Her eyes went wide, and her bright excitement thrummed through the bond like electricity. I had to clench my jaw to keep my own expression neutral.
Behind me, Camilla stood with her arms crossed.
“Raffaele,” Vivian said, her voice rising slightly as her gaze darted between the two of us. “What’s going on?”
I stepped aside, gesturing to Camilla. “Camilla is my newest staff member. She no longer works for Vincenzo.”
Vivian’s excitement exploded into pure joy, and it was damn near blinding. She leapt from her chair, closing the distance between her and Camilla in seconds.
“Camilla!” Vivian threw her arms around the shifter’s neck. The hug was unrestrained, genuine, and it hit me harder than it should have.
Camilla looked slightly taken aback for a moment before returning the embrace, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s good to see you, Viv.”
I cleared my throat. “Don’t get too attached. Camilla has her first assignment tonight. She won’t be here long.”
Vivian pulled back, her smile faltering for a moment before she schooled her features. “Well, then we’ll make the most of the time we have,” she said, her tone light but her emotions betraying a hint of disappointment.
“Fine,” I said. “Catch up. I’m not leaving.”
Her gaze flicked to me, and I could feel her irritation. I smirked, moving to a chair in the corner of the room and sitting down.
“Don’t mind me,” I said, gesturing for them to continue.
Vivian rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She turned back to Camilla, her earlier joy returning. “How are things in Vincenzo’s territory?” she asked, motioning for Camilla to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Same old,” Camilla said with a shrug. “Celeste is… Celeste. Managing the chaos as always.”
Vivian laughed softly, and I felt a flicker of affection thread through the bond. “How is she getting along with the men?”
“She’s got them wrapped around her finger, as usual,” Camilla said. “Alessandro included.”
At the mention of his name, Vivian’s expression softened. “How is Alessandro?”
“He’s fine,” Camilla said, though there was a flicker of unease in her tone that even I noticed. “He’s still Alessandro. Overprotective and a little reckless, but that’s nothing new.”
They continued talking, and I relaxed in the chair. Vivian’s laughter rang out occasionally, soft and genuine, and I found myself drawn to the sound despite myself. It was rare to see her so unguarded. So happy.
And damn if it didn’t make me want to protect it.
When Camilla and I finally stood to leave, Vivian’s emotions shifted—anticipation, nerves. “Wait,” she said, her gaze darting to me. “Raffaele, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Camilla glanced between us, her expression unreadable. “I’ll wait outside.”
When the door closed behind her, Vivian turned to me, her emotions swirling. “I need to ask you something.”
I raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.
“It’s about my vision,” she said hesitantly. “I don’t need my glasses anymore.”
That caught me off guard, and it was only then that I realized she wasn’t wearing her glasses. Her confidence had been so radiant that I hadn’t even noticed. “How long has it been like that?”
“Since this afternoon,” she said. “I thought maybe my glasses were just dirty, but then I realized…” She trailed off, her hand brushing against the diamond choker at her throat.
I let out a slow breath and leaned against her desk. “It’s the bond. My magic is repairing any flaws in your body. It’s not uncommon for this to happen after the binding ritual.”
“So, what? I’m just going to keep changing? Becoming less human?”
I didn’t have an answer for her, and the silence stretched between us. Finally, I pushed off the desk. “Don’t overthink it. Focus on staying healthy.
