My heart raced as I hurried through the Servant Wing corridor. The light from the torches flickered on the moist stone walls, and every shadow seemed to move. Behind me, Mateo's voice echoed down the hallway. "Ivy, wait!"
I didn't slow down. Every step emphasized the urgency I felt: if they caught me with the necklace, Lena would be in danger. I allowed the Serafino pendant to warm against my skin—its pulse alive with his blood, my blood, something darker.
A slight opening in the floor revealed the entrance to the secret passages. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and leaned against the cold iron door. It opened on creaky hinges before I even knocked.
Complete darkness consumed me. I pressed a finger against the wall and found a torch holder. Sparks flew, and I pulled the torch free, illuminating the narrow tunnel ahead. The stale air smelled of dust and something faintly sweet—old magic, I thought.
I jumped at a howl behind me. The door groaned, then slammed shut. I held the torch tighter. "Mateo!" I whispered. "I'm not safe here!"
No response. Only the sound of dripping water and my own uneven breathing. I stumbled forward. The walls narrowed until I had to turn sideways to pass. My shoulder scraped against the stone. Pain shot through me, grounding me.
A soft light pulsed at my fingertips—warm, insistent. I froze. The Serafino necklace under my shirt vibrated in time with my heartbeat, and suddenly I felt Mateo's presence: steady, urgent, like a warning. My chest tightened.
I pressed my palm to the wall, and the symbols Lena drew in her diary glowed—ghostly shapes tracing along the stone. My heart pounded. I didn't know how, but I recognized the shapes: protection spells.
I sighed. A small amount of magic flickered in my fingers—enough to reveal the hidden path. I followed the glowing symbols until the tunnel opened into a small room. The floor crunched under my boots.
I turned around quickly. Two guards appeared from the dark, weapons raised. My torchlight reflected off their steel. "Stop right there!" one shouted.
I suppressed the panic. The spells glowed brighter at my touch. I slid my hand along the wall and let the magic flow—sending a wave of warmth into the guards. Their eyes narrowed, confusion flashing. They stumbled back.
I didn't hesitate. I ran past them and into the next corridor. The torch went out, plunging me back into darkness. I felt along the wall until I found another holder. Flame burst back to life.
Footsteps echoed behind me. I sprinted through the winding passages—each turn taking me further from the estate's center. Sweat ran into my eyes. My lungs ached. But the spells pulsed under my palm, guiding me toward freedom.
A rush of cold air hit my face. I came out into a ruined wing—sunrise shining through broken roofs. Debris lay across fallen pillars, plants growing through cracks. I crouched behind a fallen beam.
"Stop!" a guard called. His voice was closer now.
I pressed my back against the broken wall, chest rising and falling rapidly. My fingers touched the necklace. It glowed, and I felt Mateo's pulse: urgent, intense. I swallowed hard. I could feel his presence—he was close.
I saw a narrow opening in the outer wall—just wide enough to slip through. I ran for it, torch held high. Guards yelled behind me. I dove through the gap and tumbled down a slope into the grass beyond the estate.
The morning light burned my eyes. I rolled onto my back and took a deep breath. The pendant at my throat warmed, his pulse slowing. I pressed both hands to my chest.
"Mateo?" I whispered.
A voice—calm, controlled—answered in my mind: **You're safe.**
Relief washed over me. The bond wasn't just a restriction. It was a lifeline.
I stood up and brushed dirt from my clothes. The estate towers rose behind me, silent and menacing. I let the necklace's glow fade, then tucked it back under my shirt. Lena's diary—hidden in my jacket—felt heavy.
I turned and ran toward the city streets, every step fueled by the knowledge that I wasn't alone. I had this power—unnatural, dangerous—and him, connected to me by blood.
Behind me, the Serafino walls faded into the morning mist. Ahead, the city stretched wide with dark alleys and secret allies.
I clenched my fist. I'm free.
And with this bond, I would change fate itself to save my sister—and the man I never intended to trust.