Page 90 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

CELESTE

As I reflected on Luca’s words from the night before, I was surprised to find myself feeling safe even with all the darkness in our midst. Even if I didn’t fully understand what he’d meant—what he’d tried to tell me about the costs of loyalty and protection—I had no doubts about how far he’d go to keep me safe.

It was a truth he hadn’t dared voice, but I’d seen the promise in his gaze.

It sat with me now, like an ember I held close, fending off the cold reality creeping in around us.

Today, I felt more grounded, the mark’s relentless pull a low whisper rather than the gnawing ache it had been for days.

It seemed my body was finally adjusting to the parasite within, bending it to my will, if only temporarily.

I clung to that stability as I followed Vivian and the others into Vincenzo’s office, hoping today would be a good day, and that I’d stay in control.

Once we were all gathered, Vivian’s eyes narrowed on us like we were pieces of a puzzle she had to slot into the right place.

This heist was nothing like any other job we’d done.

Every detail was a potential danger, every decision a potential trigger.

Vivian’s mouth set in a grim line as she flipped the hologram on and pulled up a set of maps and blueprints.

“We have new intel.” She glanced at each of us in turn, pausing on Luca. “The security around the mirror is even tighter than we thought. Sentries around the clock, especially after dark, and the stray’s got sensory wards specifically tuned to detect magic that doesn’t align with his own.

“Luca, you’ll have to keep any magic veiled once we’re in,” she instructed, a warning clear in her words. “We’ll only have one shot to bypass his security.”

He nodded, his jaw tight, clearly less than thrilled. “Understood.”

Vivian turned to me. “Celeste, you’ll have to stay sharp. The mirror’s in the center of the compound, buried under layers of physical and magical defenses. Your intuition is key here. We’ll need every advantage.”

“I can handle it,” I said, surprised at the steadiness in my voice.

Vivian watched me with a mixture of expectation and resolve. She trusted me. She relied on me. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but it stirred something fierce in my chest.

Clearing her throat, Vivian glanced between the men.

“One more thing,” she began. “Remember, this isn’t The Below.

We’re operating in human territory, which means we’ll have to rely on Celeste far more than any of you are used to.

The security there—guards, alarms, dogs—won’t be fooled by magic alone.

They’re on alert, and any mistake we make will be amplified. ”

Dorian arched a brow and exchanged a look with Vincenzo, who nodded but appeared unfazed. “Dogs?” he scoffed, though there was a wariness behind his smirk. “I think I can handle that.”

“Don’t be so certain,” Vivian replied, giving him a look that cut straight through the bravado.

“If those dogs catch our scent or pick up on any unnatural energy, they’ll be on us faster than any of the wards will trigger.

We’re operating within the limits of human knowledge and technology, and that’s something magic can’t always counter. ”

A sudden, searing pain flared along my arm, a sharp, burning ache that yanked a gasp from my throat.

I looked down, horrified as the dark markings spiraled up my skin, twisting and pulsing like something alive.

Instinctively, I met Luca’s gaze across the table.

He was beside me in an instant, pulling me into his embrace as the pain intensified, each pulse sharper than the last.

“Luca—” I choked, gripping his arm as the sensation clawed its way through my bones. But before I could say another word, a sickening weight pulled me down, dragging me from reality and into a suffocating illusion. Straight from the monster himself.

The world around me darkened, familiar faces fading into shadows, the air thickening with a coldness that crawled into my veins.

My vision blurred until I was surrounded by a fog, a living, breathing mist that felt too aware, too present.

And then, he was there. The Shadow, his form hazy and indistinct, as though he were controlling exactly what I saw, letting me see only what he wanted.

The oppressive weight of his presence bore down on me, filling my lungs with dread his power a twisted, powerful thing that pressed into every corner of my mind. He didn’t need words to give me his message.

Stop, or else.

Images clawed at the edges of my vision, spilling into my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape.

Vincenzo’s territory, once bright and full of life, was decayed and barren.

The people were reduced to lifeless husks, their eyes empty, their movements mechanical like puppets under someone else’s control.

The streets were desolate, haunting shadows moving through them with unnatural fluidity.

A hollow ache spread through my chest as I watched, helpless, the vision shifting until I stood alone in the ruins, an unending darkness stretching out over the bleak and desolate expanse. Everything and everyone I’d fought for was gone, lost to The Shadow’s relentless control.

“No,” I sobbed.

The images sharpened, the destruction amplifying, becoming more visceral.

Blood stained the ground, its metallic scent thick in the air.

Horror twisted in my gut as I realized the blood was on my hands.

A silent accusation, a chilling reminder that every life taken, every hope crushed, was somehow tied back to me.

“No! No, please,” I screamed, struggling to pull myself from the vision, to claw my way back to reality. The images wouldn’t relent, wouldn’t release me. Pain, ruin, blood… So much blood . It felt as if everything around me was collapsing, my world crumbling under the weight of his threat.

Right as the darkness threatened to consume me, warmth broke through it, a steady presence wrapping around me. Luca. I breathed in his familiar scent as his voice cut through the chaos in my mind like a beacon guiding me home.

“Celeste,” he whispered, his voice steady and sure. “You’re here. You’re with me. This isn’t real.”

The images still clawed at me, filling every corner of my mind with destruction, pain, and the horrifying realization that I might be the cause of it all. I clung to him, my breath leaving me in shuddering gasps.

“He’s going to take everything,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’ll lose you. I’ll lose everything.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks onto my hands, mingling with the illusion of blood, a twisted metaphor that sank deep into my soul. The Shadow’s voice echoed in the back of my mind, chilling and relentless.

The blood is on your hands.

With an unwavering strength, Luca picked me up and cradled me in his arms. The terror slowly lost its grip on me, the vision finally beginning to fade. I buried my face against his shoulder, desperately trying to erase the images from my mind, to find solace in the arms that held me.

“You’re not alone, Celeste,” he promised. “He can’t take what’s ours. Not while we’re here with you.”

The world around me slowly settled as the darkness ebbed away, reality returning in soft hues of light and warmth. The haunting echo of the vision lingered, though, a reminder of The Shadow’s threat.

Luca’s low murmur reassured me, and slowly, the fear receded, ebbing away like waves pulling back from the shore.

A soft creak pulled my attention. I raised my head to see Vincenzo, Dorian, and Vivian standing close, their faces a mix of alarm and concern. Vincenzo touched my cheek, his eyes narrowing as they searched my face. There was no trace of his usual commanding expression, only worry.

“Are you all right, dolcezza ?” His voice was soft, as though any louder might shatter the fragile calm that had settled around us. The intensity of his gaze bordered on desperation, as if he were trying to piece together what I’d seen, to understand the hold The Shadow had over us.

“I…” My voice wavered, but I forced myself to look up, to meet his gaze head-on. “I saw… Everything was gone. Everyone had been taken. He wants to strip it all away.” The words felt hollow compared to the terror I’d experienced, but Vincenzo’s eyes darkened and the muscles in his jaw clenched.

“He’s just fucking with your mind,” he said, though his tone carried a deadly promise. “He’s using every trick he has to get under your skin, to make you feel responsible. But he can’t break us, dolcezza , not unless we let him. The blood he sheds is on him alone.”

Dorian sat cross-legged at my feet and stroked my thigh. “We’re not going anywhere, babe. We’re in this together, all of us. Whatever he throws our way, we’ll handle it.”

Vivian remained slightly apart, arms folded, brow furrowed in thought.

I could almost see the gears turning as she tried to make sense of what I’d experienced.

When our eyes met, her expression softened, and she gave a single nod—her way of saying she was with me, even if she didn’t have all the answers yet.

“You’re stronger than you think, Celeste” she said.

Their words, their unwavering presence, bolstered me. I could still feel the cold echo of the vision, but here, with them, the nightmare lost some of its power. Their love and loyalty dulled it. I tightened my hold on Luca, drawing strength from each of them in turn.

With them beside me, The Shadow’s threats became exactly that—threats. And I’d do everything in my power to prove him wrong.

All three men had insisted on staying with me while Dorian carried me to my bed.

As I lay on Luca’s chest, the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear, my exhaustion pressed down on me like a weighted blanket.

I wanted to open my eyes, to see him, to see the others, but my body resisted.

Every muscle ached, my limbs felt like lead, and the dark edges of sleep tugged at me with an undeniable force.

“Celeste…” Luca’s voice was a soft murmur, tinged with a deep worry I’d never heard from him before. He traced light circles along my back as I drifted further into the fog. I fought to keep my eyes open, to anchor myself to his presence, but my body refused to cooperate.

Then, from somewhere close, another voice broke through the haze—rich, deep, and familiar, cutting through the heaviness that threatened to pull me under entirely.

“ Dolcezza ,” Vincenzo said softly, his tone laced with an uncharacteristic gentleness. “Come back to us.”

The endearment stirred something within me, a flicker of awareness amid the fog.

I felt him brushing a stray strand of hair from my forehead, his fingers lingering for a moment as if his touch alone could draw me back.

I wanted to respond, to tell him I was trying, but the effort was too great, and the darkness was too close.

As sleep pulled me under, I tried to focus on his voice.

A part of me wanted to reach for him, to tell him I wasn’t going anywhere, that I would stay here with them.

I couldn’t. My exhaustion dragged me deeper and deeper.

Even the gentle murmurs and soft touches began to fade until only the memory of their warmth settled into my heart.

And with that, I surrendered to the darkness, trusting that when I opened my eyes again, they’d be there.