I glanced down at my own hands, watching as the delicate, golden threads pulsed, trembling slightly. With a tentative breath, I allowed the magic within me to flow freely. Slowly, I began weaving those shimmering threads together, wincing as they unraveled or fell short, slipping through my grasp. The more I focused on the threads, the harder it seemed to intertwine them, so I forced myself to clear my mind, letting the magic move through me unrestrained.
Threads of radiant color streamed from my fingertips, and somehow, my mind knew precisely how to weave them together. The glow was almost blinding, but I couldn’t look away; I was captivated by its beauty. A deep warmth bubbled up inside me, rekindling a long-lost joy.
Memories came rushing back-the crackling of the fireplace during long winters with my parents, the scent of burning wood curling into the open sky when Dad took me camping, the sweetness of marshmallows roasting over the fire. Even those scorching summer days beneath the blazing Sicily sun; I could feel it all, feel the sun against my skin like it was yesterday.
Then, the power surged, blinding and overwhelming, nearly knocking me off my feet. Heat poured through every cell, filling me with a sensation so intense that I felt like a living flame. I released it all, sending that blazing energy surging toward the house, toward the barrier that kept me out.
One moment, I was standing just a few steps from the porch, and in the next, I was lying flat on my back, the snow soaking through my clothes. Every bone ached as the taste of ash clung to my mouth.
“Trying to take out the whole town of Glacial Blu?” Emiliano’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and laced with fire.
I could only groan, struggling to lift myself from the ground. My limbs felt like lead, every muscle protesting the effort.
Before I could try again, a pair of familiar hands lifted me. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Heat radiated from him, easing every ache in my body, calming the storm within me. I felt safer in his arms than I ever had before, wrapped in a security I had never known.
Leonardo held me close, his steady presence grounding me as my head nestled into the crook of his neck. Part of me wanted to resist, to pull away, but I couldn’t make myself leave his embrace. Even through my soaked clothes, his warmth seeped into me, banishing the cold that had tried to settle.
His chest rumbled, his entire frame tense. I lifted my head, catching his gaze locked onto Emiliano, filled with a fierce, icy rage. If looks could kill, Emiliano would have been frozen solid.
“You can put me down,” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.
“No.” Leonardo’s tone was firm, resolute.
“Why not? I’m fine,” I argued, though my voice lacked conviction.
“No, you’re not.” His eyes softened, tinged with concern. “You almost blew the place sky-high, Isabella. The house-and most of the forest.”
I looked around, taking in the damage. The house’s protective dome of fire magic was gone, but its walls were charred, the porch coated in black ash. The smell of a campfire filled the air, faint wisps of smoke curling into the sky. Trees at the forest’s edge were scorched, some still glowing with embers. Emiliano was already tending to the flames, dousing the burning branches.
The sight left me breathless. I had done this-nearly destroyed everything around me. The power I held felt impossible to control, dangerous beyond reason. I could have leveled a small town. How did the Fae Realm even survive with magic like this in the hands of its rulers?
“Put me down,” I gasped, panic tightening in my chest. I needed to escape the suffocating scent of smoke, to breathe fresh air. I wriggled in Leonardo’s arms, desperate for distance.
“Breathe, kitten.” His voice softened, a gravelly warmth. I shuddered as his fingers traced gently along my back, the cold seeping away. “If I set you down now, I won’t be able to stop myself from tearing Emiliano apart. You probably want your trainer alive, so just relax.”
“I did this,” I mumbled, “I can’t believe I did this. How am I supposed to control something like this?”
“You’re strong; you’ll learn.” His confidence seeped into me, steadying the storm. His next words, soft and sure, stirred a depth of emotion I hadn’t felt in years. “You’re not alone in this, kitten. You’ll never be alone again.”
My heart twisted, and I swallowed hard. “I thought you were angry with me…because of last night. I didn’t mean-”
“I know.” His expression softened, his knuckles grazing my jaw. I felt the tension in his mouth as he frowned, and a shiver ran through me. “You feel it, same as I do. I could never stay mad at you, Isabella. Not even if I wanted to.”
Leonardo carried me inside, his arms steady around me. As we entered, I glanced back at the forest and the snow around the house. What I saw stopped me cold. Surrounding the cabin in a perfect ring was a circle of scorched earth and ash, the snow completely melted. The destruction lay all around us-a stark reminder of the power I had unleashed.