I waited in the shadows of the east wing hallway, breathing slowly, hyper-aware of the soft click of Serafino guards patrolling. The heir's symbol pressed against my skin—a constant reminder of what I was about to do. Midnight settled over the property like a spreading poison.
Gio came up beside me, his voice a bare whisper. "You sure about this?"
I looked him in the eye. "It's now or never."
He nodded once and disappeared back into the darkness. I straightened my shoulders and moved quietly toward the vault entrance. Valentina's enforcers—two guards in sharp black uniforms—stood just inside the door. They glanced at my symbol and motioned me through. Inside, six armed officers were casually standing around crates and scrolls. The locket's container sat on a low platform under a single light, its dark red surface shining.
I let the door close quietly behind me and lowered my head. They assumed any disturbance would trigger alarms. What they didn't know: I had Valentina's bypass key—a swipe I'd traded for, with promises I intended to break.
An officer in the corner yawned. I casually walked forward, hands loose at my sides. "Sorry for the hour, gentlemen," I said. "I came to check the vault contents. It'll only take a moment."
They looked at each other. One shrugged. "Serafino orders," he said.
I gave a quick smile. "Thank you." I circled the platform, watching for my chance.
The locket was beneath a glass case. I tapped the bypass key against the case's control panel. A soft click. The case opened. My heart was pounding in my ears.
A grunt came from behind me. An officer stood up. "What—?" He reached for his weapon.
I turned quickly and grabbed his wrist, twisting until his elbow popped. He cried out, dropping the baton. Before he could react, I kicked out, sending him sprawling. The other officers became alert, but it was too late. I quickly grabbed the locket in my hand.
The moment my fingers closed around the metal, a jolt of heat shot up my arm. My vision blurred. The symbol at my throat vibrated strongly, beating like a trapped bird. I stumbled, my mind racing.
Alarm bells cut through the silence. Red lights flashed. The vault doors slammed shut.
I pressed my free hand to the symbol, trying to steady my breathing. The officers were on their feet, weapons drawn. I backed into a corner, locket hidden in my palm.
"Stop right there!" one yelled.
I met his eyes, my voice calm but firm. "This is Serafino business." I tapped the symbol. "Tell them Ivy Rossi—the Neon Queen—has the family's future under control."
He hesitated, his eyes flicking to the seal on my chest. Confusion spread.
I raised my chin. "Or we'll see whose loyalty lasts."
Before he could answer, a figure rushed in: Valentina, dagger drawn. She crossed the room quickly and sliced the electronic locks on the doors. "Move!" she snapped.
The guards froze, shocked. I took my chance—slipped between them, sprinted past Valentina, out into the hallway. Red lights flashed behind me.
Iory half-carried me down the stairs; Gio met us at the bottom. "Hurry!" he hissed.
I gripped the locket tightly, my other hand braced against the wall as dizziness overwhelmed me. Every step felt like the betrayal had been etched into my bones.
We burst through the east courtyard. Moonlight hit my face. I looked up at the towers of the estate—silent witnesses to my wrongdoing. Gio and Valentina were on either side of me, avoiding guards moving toward us.
A trumpet call sounded from the main gate—an alert. We were out of time.
Valentina pushed me into a waiting SUV. I sank into the seat, the locket pulsing like a heartbeat in my palm. Gio slammed the door. The engine roared.
As we sped away, the estate faded behind us in darkness and torchlight. I pressed the locket to my chest. The symbol at my throat flared hot, as if warning of the magic already spreading through my veins.
A rush of triumph mixed with fear. I'd crossed the point of no return. There was no going back.
I opened the locket. Inside, the serpent's eye glowed faintly red. I felt it—his blood, my blood, the oath unraveling.
Gio glanced at me. "What now?"
I met his gaze, my voice steady. "Now we use it."
My heart pounded. The city lay ahead, secrets ready to be revealed. I slid the locket back into my jacket. This was my choice. My betrayal. And the real fight—against fate, magic, and the man I now was connected to—had just begun.