“Never did I imagine it would be you who found me.” Andrea’s laugh echoed, warm as freshly tilled earth. He waved his hand, and the Fae warriors surrounding us lowered their bronze swords one by one. I threaded my fingers through Leonardo’s fur without thinking, grounding myself in the cool, calming touch. His growling subsided, and his tense stance softened.
“A shifter with you? Haven’t seen one of those in nearly a century,” remarked one of the men nearby, his accent heavier than Andrea’s, but just as melodic.
This Fae warrior embodied the Earth Court: long, straight chestnut hair cascading down his shoulders, a bronze sword sheathed at his hip, and a bow strapped to his back. Yet, what struck me most was the thick scar that marred his otherwise flawless face-a rare sight among the Fae. They were almost always pristine, their features untouched by time or battle. This one looked young, yet his gaze held an ancient weight.
Leonardo’s eyes narrowed, but before he could growl, I spoke up. “I’m a shifter too,” I shot back, fixing the Fae man with a hard stare.
He lifted an eyebrow. “You were a shifter,” he replied, unfazed. “You’ve become something else now.”
“Don’t patronize her, Adriano,” Andrea interjected, rolling his eyes before turning back to me. “You’re safe here, at least for the time being. It seems we have much to discuss.”
I nodded, but remained wary. He looked like the Andrea I once knew, but I wouldn’t allow appearances to lull me into complacency. Andrea had either been Fae all along, or he had transformed as I had. We’d both changed, and I couldn’t afford to feel comfortable.
Andrea glanced toward Leonardo, hesitating. His moss-green eyes flicked between us before he spoke to Adriano. “Get the shifter a change of clothes. I imagine Isabella would prefer her true-mate in human form.”
Something about the way he said “true-mate” made me uneasy, like Leonardo was a vulnerability he’d identified. I’d never thought of the bond that way. Even with my conflicted feelings, I knew I’d do almost anything to keep Leonardo safe. The bond made me feel stronger, yet it also exposed a part of me I hadn’t recognized before-something precious and breakable.
Adriano, with a slight smirk, reached into the forest as if plucking something from the air, then shot skyward, propelled by an emerald cord camouflaged against the foliage. My jaw dropped as I looked up. The forest canopy was hundreds of feet above, and there, hidden within the trees, was a city-a labyrinth of platforms, bridges, and huts all woven from the trees themselves. It was beautiful and entirely hidden from the forest floor.
After a few minutes, Adriano descended with a bundle of earth-toned clothing. “If you thought that was impressive,” Andrea said with a chuckle, “you should see the Earth Court capital.”
“This isn’t it?” I asked, marveling at the sprawling village above.
He shook his head. “Consider it a retreat, one of the Earth Court’s many villages,” he explained, “with ancient catacombs beneath, some filled with gems, others fed by rivers that run through the core of our world.”
“A retreat,” I murmured, gazing at the city in awe.
Andrea’s tone darkened slightly. “Many of the houses are empty. The Earth Court has suffered losses…more than most.”
A weight fell over his words, hinting at centuries of hardship. “Who exactly are you, Andrea?”
He offered a small, sad smile. “I am who I’ve always been-a friend, a warrior, a protector. High Lord of the Earth Court.”
The Fae gazing down at us wore a similar look, of quiet strength, but also something raw-an underlying despair. In my mind, Blue stirred, her voice soft. *’We could change everything for these people, but at what cost? How can we choose who lives, who dies?’*
*’I don’t know, Blue,’* I thought, feeling the immense responsibility pressing down on me. *’I wish I did.’*
Andrea’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Once your true-mate shifts, we’ll go up. The people of the Earth Court have a long history with shifters…not all of it pleasant.”
I handed Leonardo the clothes. He took them in his jaws and, with a low growl, moved to the base of a tree, sending Andrea a cold stare. Andrea only smirked, unfazed.
“She will be safe with us, shifter,” he called. “To harm her would be to doom us all.”
Leonardo returned, human once more, looking exhausted. His dark hair was tousled, his piercing-grey eyes clouded and stormy. I felt a pang of guilt. I had dragged him here, into a world foreign to him, far from everything familiar.
As if sensing my regret, Leonardo’s gaze softened. He gave me a reassuring smile-a small gesture that seemed to drain me of all resistance. He held me close as we ascended, gripping one of the emerald ropes tightly, and soon, we shot up toward the treetops. The dizzying ascent blurred colors before my feet found solid ground.
“You can open your eyes now, kitten,” Leonardo murmured, amusement dancing in his tired voice.
I hadn’t realized I’d shut them, but as I opened my eyes, his face was the first thing I saw-his smirk soft, his eyes filled with some unspoken emotion.
Andrea gestured toward Adriano. “Adriano will show you to your quarters. Rest, eat, and we’ll talk once you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Andrea,” I said, but he only offered a thin smile, his eyes swirling with unreadable emotions.
“Wait to thank me,” he replied. “We have yet to speak of what lies ahead.”