CHAPTER 132: THE NIGHT THAT REFUSED TO SLEEP

The silence after the Patron’s retreat felt unnatural. Not peaceful. Not safe. It was the kind of silence that pressed against the walls, heavy and waiting, like a predator shifting just out of sight.

Aria lay against Luca’s chest, her breathing slow and unsteady. The golden light from the oath had dimmed, settling beneath her skin like warm embers. Every rise and fall of her breath brushed heat across his collarbone.

She was exhausted.

He was terrified of the exhaustion.

Rosetta wiped her face with a shaking hand. Vescari sank into the nearest chair, his body sagging with the weight of knowledge older than all of them. Nico remained at the door, gun raised, watching the hall for movement that did not come.

No one spoke.

The quiet was oppressive enough that Aria finally whispered, "Why does it feel like he is still here?"

Vescari raised his head slowly. "Because he is."

Luca’s grip tightened around her. "Explain."

"The Patron’s essence does not travel the way mortal bodies do," Vescari said. "He can retreat without leaving. He can withdraw without vanishing. His presence may linger for hours."

Rosetta shuddered. "We are trapped in here."

"Not trapped," Vescari corrected gently. "Protected. The oath you spoke created a shield around her. Around both of you. He cannot pierce it. But he watches."

Aria closed her eyes, pressing her forehead to Luca’s chest. "I feel him watching."

Luca kissed the top of her head. "Ignore him."

"I cannot," she whispered. "He is not trying to pull me this time. He is trying to understand me."

"Let him fail," Luca murmured.

Another rumble shook the windows, softer than before. Not an attack. Not a strike. More like a growl of frustration.

Vescari rose. "We must strengthen the perimeter. The sentinels withdrew but not fully. They will test the walls again when the Patron commands it."

Nico nodded. "I will take the east wing."

"Go in pairs," Vescari instructed. "No one should walk the halls alone tonight."

Rosetta stood. "I will get more holy water."

Nico blinked. "We are using that now."

Vescari nodded. "We will use anything that keeps the boundary stable."

Rosetta hurried out.

Vescari followed Nico with the old book pressed to his chest, muttering words too soft for anyone to understand.

The door closed behind them.

Leaving Luca and Aria alone.

The room felt smaller now.

Too still.

Too quiet.

Aria shifted in his arms, her eyelids half-open, exhaustion dragging at every muscle. "Luca..."

"I am here."

"You cannot stay awake all night."

"Yes, I can."

"You should rest too."

"Not happening."

She gave him a weak smile. "You are human."

"I do not feel human right now."

Her smile faded slowly. "Luca... tell me the truth. How did I look during the ritual?"

He hesitated.

Her fingers slid up to touch his jaw. "Tell me."

Luca swallowed. "You looked like you were breaking."

Her breath caught.

"But you didn’t," he added softly. "You held on. You fought harder than I have ever seen you fight."

Aria blinked rapidly. "It felt like drowning."

"I know."

"And burning."

"I know."

"And like something inside me was trying to rip its way out."

Luca froze. "Aria..."

She looked down at her stomach. "Not her. Never her. The baby was calm. Still. Protected. But the lineage was not gentle. It was overwhelming. All those memories. All that history. All that agony."

Her voice broke.

Luca cupped her face. "It is done. You survived."

She leaned into his touch. "I survived because you held me here. I survived because you kept me grounded."

"You survived because of who you are."

She buried her face in his chest to hide the trembling in her shoulders.

Minutes passed like hours.

The candles flickered, though no wind touched them. The shadows crawled along the walls, stretching unnaturally long before settling again.

Aria whispered, "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"If the vow bound us... does it change how you see me?"

Luca frowned. "How I see you."

"Yes."

He tilted her chin up. "Aria, that vow did nothing but reveal the truth I already lived."

She blinked. "What truth?"

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "That my life has been tied to yours since long before tonight."

Her eyes softened. "Luca..."

"You are not more mine because of a vow. You were mine before the ritual. You were mine before Palermo. Before the chaos. Before the bloodline. Before I even understood what love meant."

Her lips parted. "Luca..."

"And I am yours," he whispered. "Not because of words, but because I chose you. I choose you every day."

Her eyes blurred with tears.

A sudden kick pressed sharply against her ribs.

Luca’s hand moved instantly to her stomach. "Hey. Easy, piccola. Your mother is tired."

Aria placed her hand over his. "She likes your voice."

"Good." He kissed Aria’s temple. "She will hear it every day."

Another kick. Softer. Like acknowledgment.

Aria closed her eyes. "She feels... lighter. Before the ritual she felt pulled. I could feel her reaching toward something she did not understand. Now she feels... safe."

He rested his forehead against hers. "That is all I want."

The lights flickered again.

Aria tensed. "He is still near."

Luca reached for her hand. "Let him watch. He cannot take you."

A deeper rumble echoed through the compound. Then stillness again.

"Luca," Aria whispered, "what happens when he comes back?"

He hesitated. "We fight."

Her voice trembled. "How do you fight something not human?"

Luca touched her cheek gently. "With whatever it takes."

Her eyes softened. "You are not afraid."

"I am terrified," he admitted quietly. "But I am more terrified of losing you."

Aria leaned in so their foreheads touched again. "We will face him together."

Luca nodded once. "Always."

A faint crack echoed above them.

Not thunder.

Not footsteps.

Something sliding across the ceiling.

Aria froze. "He is above us."

Luca’s pulse spiked. "He cannot get in."

"He is searching." Her eyes widened. "Luca... he is searching for an opening."

"There is none."

"Not to me," she whispered. "To you."

Luca stiffened. "Why would he reach for me?"

Aria swallowed hard. "Because you are the one I anchored to. If he cannot break me, he will try to break my anchor."

Luca rose sharply.

Aria reached for him. "Luca, do not move."

He stopped instantly.

She struggled to sit up straighter, gripping the blankets. "If he reaches for you, it is because he wants to weaken the vow. You need to stay close. Do not let him pull you away from me."

Luca sat back down slowly, reclaiming her hand. "He will not touch me."

The scratching above them grew louder.

Aria winced. "He is angry."

"He can be angry alone."

The baby kicked again, harder this time, almost sharp.

Aria gasped. "She feels him again."

Luca rubbed her belly, making soothing small circles. "It is alright, little one. No one is touching you."

Her kicks calmed.

Aria breathed out in relief.

Seconds passed.

A minute.

Two.

The scratching stopped.

Slowly, the quiet returned.

Aria sank back into Luca’s arms. "He left."

"For now," Luca murmured.

"You sound tired."

"I am."

"Rest with me."

He hesitated. "If I sleep, I will not feel him coming."

"You will," she whispered. "We are bound now. If he comes for me, you will feel it."

Luca exhaled, the truth sinking into him.

Aria lifted his hand and placed it over her heart. "Sleep beside me. Please."

Luca finally nodded.

He lay down beside her, pulling her carefully into his arms. She curled into him, her head tucked beneath his chin, her hand resting over his chest. The baby shifted between them, warm and safe.

For the first time in days, Luca closed his eyes.

Aria whispered, "I love you."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you more."

Outside, the storm slowed.

The Patron retreated.

But neither of them knew he had not left out of defeat.

He left because he had learned something new.

The vow made Aria stronger.

But it made Luca vulnerable.

And he would return to exploit it.