“Are you certain about this, kitten?” Leonardo murmured, his voice heavy with concern, while a flicker of fear, too raw to hide, crossed his gaze before he managed to suppress it. But I had already seen it.
“I… I don’t know, Leonardo.” I exhaled shakily. “If I don’t do this, death will follow. If I do, the Fae will come for me, putting everyone in your pack at risk. And if I return to Carlo’s pack, they’ll still come after me. No matter what I choose, innocent people will be in danger.”
Silence descended upon us, wrapping us in its weight. When we were finally left alone to discuss our options, the choice seemed no less daunting. Putting myself in harm’s way was one thing-I could bear it, knowing the risks-but risking the lives of others, of innocents… that was different. Either way, someone would suffer. The only difference was that, with my memories restored, I might be able to defend myself. How, exactly, I didn’t know, but Emiliano had hinted enough: those lost memories would unlock something deep within me, a power to protect myself and the people I loved.
“No matter what you decide, Isabella,” Leonardo said softly, his voice a pledge, “I’m with you. If you choose to regain your memories, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
I let him gently brush a stray strand of hair from my face, feeling the pulse of our bond-a silver thread between us-before I stepped back from his touch.
“I know what I have to do.”
My fingers trembled as Emiliano wheeled a tall table into the living room, each corner equipped with thick black straps. A queasy feeling churned in my stomach, but I knew I was making the right choice. The empty space in my mind pulsed, aching to be filled. My hands shook, not from fear but from the pull of anticipation. Emiliano explained what to expect: the table was for me to lie on, the straps to keep me from injuring myself-or anyone else.
“I won’t sugarcoat this, Isabella. It’s going to hurt,” he warned. “Part of you will resist. Don’t fight it, or you’ll only worsen the pain. Open your mind to me; let me in.”
Leonardo lifted me onto the table and fastened the restraints, his steady gaze never leaving mine. The hard wood beneath me seemed to radiate a quiet warmth, like the rest of the cabin. Even as he stepped back, his presence was a steady force beside me. I wasn’t afraid of the pain; I knew that pain was life. It could break you or sharpen you. I refused to let pain cripple me again.
As I settled back, I exhaled a heavy breath, feeling Blue stir in my mind, lending her strength. Between her and Leonardo, I knew I’d get through this.
Emiliano placed his hands on my temples, fingers weaving into my hair. His touch was warmer than I expected, and I jolted slightly.
“She’s only feeling my power,” Emiliano assured Leonardo, who remained wary at my side. “No matter what happens, you mustn’t touch her. She may scream or cry, but if you touch her, it could shatter her mind.”
Leonardo looked at me, his gaze holding all the things he couldn’t say. Even with the silver thread of our bond shimmering between us, forgiveness remained just out of reach. He seemed to understand, and with a stiff nod, he clenched his fists at his sides, determined to keep his distance.
“Let’s begin,” Emiliano murmured, satisfied that Leonardo would comply.
I closed my eyes, letting the warmth from Emiliano’s fingers seep over my skin, a gentle heat that colored the darkness behind my eyelids in shades of red, orange, and gold. The light ebbed and flowed, like molten sunlight filling every inch of me until I could feel nothing but that warmth. I could almost imagine myself on some distant, sunlit shore.
The heat deepened, yet the sensation stayed on the edge of discomfort. I pictured two heavy doors in my mind, etched with swirling designs of wind, fire, water, and earth. I saw Emiliano’s power brushing against those doors, a subtle warmth urging me to open them. Taking a shaky mental breath, I let those doors swing open.
The second Emiliano entered my mind, a blaze of pain tore through me, turning that gentle warmth into a consuming fire. My back arched involuntarily as the heat surged, scorching through every thought, every fragment of memory, every hidden corner of myself.
A strangled hiss escaped my lips-a sound I barely recognized as my own. My limbs were weighted, keeping me anchored as wave after wave of molten fire burned through me. Every nerve, every sense, felt submerged in flame, stripped bare by this violent heat.
“She’s resisting,” Emiliano said, his voice muffled by the roar of flames and my silent screams. “You need to calm her. Speak to her, Leonardo.”
“Isabella, I’m here. I know it hurts, kitten. Just let him in-don’t fight it.” His voice was cool water against the inferno, soothing as a balm, a breeze easing the blaze. Each word was filled with quiet strength, grounding me, pushing back against the fire.
His words mingled with other murmurs of comfort, words that I held onto as each burst of pain receded. Then, something else glimmered within me-a fiery thread binding us, red and gold, pulsating as it tied us together in pain and something dangerously close to love.
As that bond pulled taut, the barrier in my mind gave way. Colors and emotions flooded in, a torrent of memories surging forward, filling that emptiness, completing what I had lost.