The song was a compulsion, demanding I go to the sea. I couldn’t fight it. I turned my head, my gaze falling on Raffaele’s sleeping form. His features were peaceful for once, devoid of the tension that so often marred his face. His breathing was steady and rhythmic, and he didn’t stir.
I couldn’t wake him. Couldn’t risk him knowing where I was going or who I was meeting. My heart ached to stay in bed even as I pushed back the covers and got out of bed. I had no choice but to follow the sound.
The cold wind pricked my skin, but I ignored it as I wrapped a robe tightly around my skin. My feet moved soundlessly across the floor as I slipped out of the room, careful not to let the door creak as it closed behind me.
The song grew louder as I walked through the silent halls. It was a magnetic pull, an eerie beauty that made my stomach churn. My rational mind screamed at me to stop, to turn around,to tell Raffaele everything. But the siren’s magic was stronger. My legs moved of their own accord, carrying me through the estate grounds and toward the sea. Though I instinctively knew it was wrong, that I should resist and panic should rise to the surface, the song comforted me and numbed my emotions.
Cool, briny air greeted me when I reached the edge of the water. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the waves. Izo Maren stood waist-deep in the water, like a statue carved from moonlight. His shimmering, ethereal form caught the light as he turned toward me, a slow smile curving his lips.
“Vivian,” he greeted in that smooth and melodic voice that was still laced with that irresistible magic. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come.”
“Like I had a choice,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. I was tired of being pulled around like a puppet—by Raffaele, by Izo, by everyone.
His smile widened as he took a step closer, the water rippling around him. “Ah, but you did. You could have ignored the song.”
I shot him a glare. “We both know that’s bullshit.”
Izo chuckled. The soft, lilting sound sent shivers down my spine. “Fair enough.” His gaze swept over me, lingering for a moment before he tilted his head. “How are things with The Shadow? Have you noticed anything... unusual?”
I stiffened. He was fishing for information, and I wasn’t about to give it to him freely. “Not really. He doesn’t use much magic around me, so I wouldn’t know if anything’s different.”
Izo’s sharp eyes studied me, and I forced myself to hold his gaze. My heart pounded as I remembered Raffaele lying broken and bloodied outside his room just days ago. His father’s attack had nearly killed him, and while he’d recovered quickly, I couldn’t shake the memory of how vulnerable he’d been. Nor could I shake the guilt that gnawed at me.
“Is that so?” Izo murmured. “No signs of weakness? No faltering in his power?”
I shrugged, feigning indifference. “Not that I’ve seen.”
Inside, my mind churned. I was sure the siren’s kiss was working—Raffaele told me his shadows had felt sluggish, and his control definitely wasn’t as sharp as it once was. I was supposed to be happy about that, right?
Then why did the thought of Izo succeeding make my stomach twist?
He stepped closer, his gaze piercing. “Vivian, this is important. If his power is faltering, I need to know. It’s the key to your freedom.”
Freedom. Freedom from this nightmare, from the collar around my neck, from the bond. From Raffaele. The reminder of what I was fighting for steadied me, even as doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind.
“I’ll let you know if I notice anything,” I said finally.
Izo smiled again, but this time it didn’t reach his eyes. He didn’t trust me, I realized. Just like I didn’t trust him. We were two pawns in a dangerous game, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
“Good,” he said softly.
I swallowed hard and gazed out at the horizon. The endless expanse of water felt as suffocating as the chain around my neck.
“What happens if this doesn’t work? What happens if I can’t weaken him enough?”
His expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—an emotion I couldn’t place. “Then we find another way,” he said simply. “But it will work, Vivian. Trust me.”
I wanted to laugh. Trust him? I didn’t trust anyone—not Izo, not Raffaele, not even myself anymore. I took a step back, putting more distance between us.
“This isn’t about him,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him. “It’s about getting home. About Will.”
Izo nodded, his expression unreadable. “Then focus on that. You’re doing what you have to do.”
But was I?
The briny tang of the sea clung to my skin as I stared at him. His shimmering form had an otherworldly glow under the moonlight. But the more I spoke with him, the less angelic he felt. There was a darkness beneath his charm that chilled the blood in my veins.
“I was hoping we could avoid this, but I don’t think there’s any other way. Time, as you know, is of the essence. You need to perform a blood ritual. It will amplify the effects of the siren’s kiss and accelerate his magical deterioration.”
