“I haven’t set foot in the Fae Realm for decades now, but I was once among the High Lords,” Emiliano confirmed, his expression tightening with a blend of agitation and something that looked almost like pain.
“So, you weren’t one of the Fae who surrendered their power?” Leonardo asked, his voice edged with distrust.
“No, he wasn’t.” I shook my head. “But the High Lord looked just like him.”
“My son, Edoardo,” Emiliano murmured, casting a glance toward the fire. In the glow of the flames, the golden and orange tones in Emiliano’s eyes and hair seemed to catch fire themselves, giving him an almost otherworldly presence. The weight in his voice held me silent, drawing an unspoken question to the surface: why was Emiliano here, in this world, and not in the Fae Realm with all its magic and beauty? The only answer that made sense was one that hinted at no choice.
“Why are you here, Emiliano?” I asked softly, my voice carrying a gentle but steady demand. “Why aren’t you in the Fae Realm?”
For a moment, his gaze settled on me, his eyes bright and intense, like flames barely restrained. Despite the clear burden of his story, of the pain he’d endured, I could see in him a strength that hadn’t faltered-and likely never would.
“The Fae are neither kind nor forgiving,” Emiliano said at last, shifting his gaze to Leonardo. “We take what we want and only consider consequences later. Still, while we’re flawed, we’re seldom hungry for power or vulnerable to corruption. My son, Edoardo… he is the exception to that.”
“He overthrew you.” Leonardo’s voice cut in first, filling the silence left in Emiliano’s downcast eyes.
The weight in Emiliano’s gaze was confirmation enough. His son had taken everything from him-his crown, his kingdom, his home. But a nagging thought unsettled me, hinting that Emiliano’s innocence was not the entire story.
“You need to understand,” he said, looking more exhausted than his young face suggested, “as a High Lord, your children aren’t always the heirs to your kingdom. The Court’s magic can choose anyone, at any time. Sometimes, it stays within the family, other times it passes to a distant cousin or even leaves the bloodline entirely. Edoardo wasn’t my heir-none of my sons were. From what whispers reach me, the Fire Court has yet to find its true heir.”
Emiliano’s gaze drifted back to the fire, and a sense of foreboding churned in my stomach. The fire’s crackling felt strangely familiar, almost alive, as if it were speaking a language only Emiliano could understand.
“The Fire Court?” I asked, surprised. “I thought there were only four Courts-one for each season.”
“No, that’s merely a legend in your world,” he replied, shaking his head. The flames cast a shimmering red glow over his hair, spilling warmth across the room. “The Courts are tied to the elements. Besides Day and Night, there are six Fae Courts in all.”
“You can teach me to control their power?” I asked, my voice barely hiding the urgency. “So I can protect myself-and my friends?”
“I can best guide you in the Fire Court’s abilities,” Emiliano shrugged, “but I can at least help you understand your other Fae powers. My own Court’s power remains with me.”
“How long do we have? Until the Fae find me?” My voice trembled despite my resolve. The thought of facing the Fae Lords unsettled me. I knew I would need power, more power than I had, if I ever hoped to stand against them. Just a year ago, I might have run from it all without looking back. Now, the idea of running was unthinkable.
“It’s hard to tell,” he admitted, his voice resigned. “We won’t know until they arrive.”
Leonardo folded his arms across his chest, watching Emiliano closely. “And you’re willing to let us stay here, knowing we might lead the Fae straight to your doorstep?”
Something stirred in my chest at his words, a feeling both foreign and grounding. Leonardo hadn’t said I would lead them to Emiliano, but that “we” would. Whatever dangers came, whatever threats hunted us, he saw it as our problem now.
“Only Edoardo cares about my survival,” Emiliano grunted, “the rest will be after you.”
“When do we start?” I asked.
“Now.”
Two hours later, sweat trickled down my temple, collecting on my chin as the oppressive heat bore down on us. Emiliano hadn’t waited; he wanted me to control my abilities as soon as possible, given we didn’t know when the Fae would arrive. The room sweltered, heavy with a scorching heat that choked the air from my lungs. Leonardo slumped in a nearby armchair, his brows knitted as sweat traced down his forehead. It felt like the worst Sicilian summer compressed into a single, oppressive moment. With Emiliano’s affinity for heat, he’d have fit right in there.
Irritation clawed at me as sweat coated my skin, making every moment uncomfortable. My eyes drifted longingly to the snow falling outside, a tauntingly cool contrast to the stifling warmth in the room. I yearned for just one breath, one touch of that cold air.
“Fire Court members are brave, impulsive, and passionate,” Emiliano instructed, as Leonardo and I quietly endured the heat. “But the greatest mistake is drawing power from emotion. It’s the easiest way, often the most natural. But the truest power comes from the sun, the source of heat and light. In the Fae Realm, we have three moons, each waxing and waning on its own cycle, making the Water Court’s strength greater than the Fire’s in raw power. But while they may be stronger, the Fire Court is more driven.”
Despite his guidance, I struggled to concentrate, my focus drowned out by the rising temperature and the uncomfortable stickiness of my clothes. Living in the heat all my life had taught me to bear it, though seldom gracefully. Too much heat was suffocating, stirring discomfort that seeped beneath my skin. The salty tang of sweat clung to my tongue as I took a frustrated gulp of water.
“Feel the sun’s heat,” Emiliano coaxed. “It’s different from the warmth in this room-pure and untamed.”
Scarlet threads of magic wove around the room, intertwining to form a heated barrier that pressed against every inch of space. Each word Emiliano spoke only stoked my irritation, rising with the temperature. My fingers twitched, frustration creeping into my bones as I fought to find the sun’s heat. But all I felt was the suffocating warmth around me.
“I don’t feel anything,” I snapped, unable to hide the frustration in my voice. “Just hot, sticky, and miserable.”
“Patience, Isabella,” Emiliano replied calmly, though his look was pointed. “Fire doesn’t yield instantly. If patience isn’t your strength, learning the Earth Court’s abilities will be a challenge. Earth requires relentless patience and brute strength. Now, close your eyes and separate the room’s heat from the sun’s warmth. Feel the difference.”
Frustration bubbled over, hotter than the red threads coiling around the room. I mentally lashed out at them, silently cursing their stifling magic. To my surprise, one of the threads snapped, and with a grin of satisfaction, I unraveled each one, savoring every ‘snap’ as they broke. As the last thread vanished, the oppressive heat dissipated, and I inhaled deep, shivering as the cool air touched my sweat-dampened skin.
Emiliano turned sharply, surprise flaring in his golden eyes. “You broke my spell,” he murmured, his mouth slightly open in awe. “You unraveled the whole thing.”