After dinner, Leonardo and I retreated to our suite, finding solace in the warmth of our bed. Hours later, sleep finally claimed me, dreamless yet heavy, my body aching from both training and those last intimate moments with Leonardo. The soreness was a familiar ache, reminiscent of early mornings spent training with Sofia, Enrico, and the other recruits.
Then, within that quiet, empty sleep, a strange sensation began. Colors danced around me, vibrant hues swirling and shifting-some warm and comforting, others cool and crisp, like a spring breeze. I had no understanding of these colors, yet I reached out instinctively. Some shied away, slipping just out of reach, while others continued to drift, indifferent to my touch.
One shade stood out among the rest, a brilliant sapphire blue that blazed with life. Drawn to it, I felt myself moving forward, not by my own will, but by some unseen force. My fingers grazed the light, and in an instant, I was pulled forward, tumbling into a new world.
The darkness shattered, replaced by a vivid room I had never seen but somehow recognized. It was within the castle-a grand hall filled with Fae, adorned in dazzling garments. Many of the women had ethereal blue or lavender skin, glowing softly in their glittering dresses, while the men wore tunics of white, blue, and silver, fitted and elegant.
The Fae danced differently than humans, with a grace that seemed to flow from the very air. There was no variation in style-only dancing, sensual and fluid, as natural as breathing. I watched a young Fae girl spin and laugh as her golden-haired partner chased after her, entranced by the beauty and ease of their movements.
The room itself was breathtaking. A painted mural of an icy kingdom sprawled across the domed ceiling, while delicate clouds hung at the height of the room, drifting down gentle puffs of snow. Tall, arched windows revealed rolling, snow-covered hills and distant mountains, and I could almost smell the biting winter air beyond.
Amidst the beauty, a familiar face caught my attention-a dark head, those unmistakable glacier eyes. Leonardo. He saw me and smiled, and I moved toward him, but a step forward brought a jarring realization. I looked down and gasped at the scarlet dress clinging to my body, adorned with tiny rubies shimmering under the ballroom lights.
I pushed forward, weaving through the crowd, intent on reaching Leonardo. Suddenly, a sharp, unbearable pain exploded in my chest, stopping me in my tracks. My hands flew to the source of the agony, but I was frozen, unable to go further. I saw my anguish mirrored in Leonardo’s eyes-alongside pure terror.
The ground beneath us shifted, and I watched, horrified, as Leonardo’s knees buckled. He fell to the floor, his glacier eyes staring blankly, life slipping away as crimson blood pooled around him, matching the hue of my dress. The pain in my chest intensified, spreading like fire, consuming me. His death was tearing me apart, hollowing me from within. With every heartbeat, I felt myself breaking, my will to live shattered.
Someone’s voice-mine, maybe, or my wolf Blue’s-kept repeating the words, “He’s gone.” The phrase twisted into a haunting refrain, mixing with the horrified murmurs of the Fae who finally noticed Leonardo’s lifeless form. Their sympathy enraged me; they mourned a man they didn’t know, a death that would never scar their lives. It filled me with a raw, searing hatred.
I felt fire’s power then, fierce and blistering. It wasn’t the warm, gentle flame of comfort; this was a blaze meant to devour, and I inhaled deeply, embracing its agony. Blue’s voice came, quiet but resolute, urging me to take it all. And I did, feeding off the pain, the fury. Tears streamed down my face, but even in this agony, I knew-I would not die alone. Neither of us would.
Panic overtook the crowd as they backed away from Leonardo and me, desperately seeking escape from the wrath I unleashed. Their fear seemed pathetic, meaningless. Leonardo was dead; he could harm them no longer. My heart twisted with a deep ache, yet I welcomed the pain. It was almost a relief.
“More, Isabella.” Blue’s voice rasped, pushing me forward. “They took him from us. They killed him.”
A voice broke through my haze-a shrill, pleading tone. I looked over, barely registering the figures through my blurred vision, until I saw Noemi. She stood by Leonardo’s body, her presence oddly shimmering, as if she didn’t fully belong in this place. She tried to speak again, but it was too late.
I stifled a sob and drew in more power, feeling it tear through my veins, cracking me open. Pain surged, fierce and unyielding, and I forced a grin, feeling blood trickle from my mouth as I glared at Isotta. The last thing I saw before my Fae body shattered into oblivion was the shock in her eyes.
My eyes flew open, yanked from the vision. I struggled to sit up, only to find something heavy pressing down on me, holding me in place. Panic gripped me, and I thrashed, desperate to break free.