“That’s incredible,” I said with a laugh, watching as Leonardo demonstrated what he’d learned.
The three of us-Graziana, Leonardo, and I-stood at the edge of a magnificent fountain, larger than any swimming pool I’d ever seen. The iridescent tiles at its base shimmered under the warm sunlight, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the water’s surface. Fish and aquatic creatures, expertly carved from stone, adorned the fountain’s structure. At its center, a stream of water arched high into the air, forming a crystalline dome above.
Leonardo knelt beside the fountain, dipping his fingers into the cool water. The stream at the top began to shift and take shape. First, it morphed into a horse, its delicate snout and piercing eyes startlingly lifelike even from where I stood. But in an instant, the form transformed, stretching and twisting into the sinuous body of a dragon.
“It looks just like the tattoo on your back,” I noted, reaching out to brush my fingers over the blue ink visible beneath his shirt.
Leonardo shivered at my touch, the dragon’s form wavering for a moment. When our eyes met, a lazy smirk tugged at his lips.
“Careful, kitten,” he teased, his voice low and warm. “You’re distracting me.”
I rolled my eyes, amused but unbothered.
Graziana, meanwhile, studied the dragon with keen interest. “Can you give it more power?” she asked, her sharp gaze focused on its thrashing tail. “I want to see the full extent of your abilities. Don’t hold back-but channel it into something harmless once the power breaks loose. It’s up to you to direct it.”
Her words made it sound deceptively simple, but I knew better. Magic had a way of turning on you if you weren’t careful. With fire, I’d learned to separate my emotions from the power, knowing they acted like fuel, volatile and unpredictable. Earth demanded strength and balance, a respectful give-and-take.
Leonardo’s expression darkened. “I won’t risk hurting you,” he said, glancing at me with a protective frown. But after a moment, he sighed in resignation. “You’re too stubborn to leave, aren’t you?”
“Obviously,” I replied with a grin. “Besides, you won’t hurt me. Who knows? This might even help me connect with water magic.”
His snort was soft but laced with affection. “We’ll see about that.”
Stepping back from the fountain, Leonardo rolled his shoulders and flexed his fingers. Graziana’s eyes lit up briefly, though she quickly masked her excitement. I, on the other hand, couldn’t contain my anticipation, practically bouncing on my toes as he took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes, I swore they shimmered-perhaps even glowed-but I couldn’t be certain. The sound of stone grinding against stone filled the air, followed by an explosive eruption of water from the ground.
The icy spray hit me full force, soaking my hair, clothes, and everything in between. I stumbled back, only to trip on a muddy patch of earth, landing unceremoniously on my backside. The ground, oddly, felt softer than it should have-perhaps the earth itself was cushioning my fall.
The water continued to surge, building into a deafening roar. A sharp crack rang out, echoing through the castle gardens like a landslide. Gradually, the geyser subsided, reducing to a gentle trickle.
Graziana stood untouched, her clothes and hair perfectly dry, a testament to her magic. She surveyed the drenched garden and the ruined fountain with a disapproving shake of her head. I envied her dry patch of grass and the effortless way she wielded her power.
Leonardo, though equally drenched, managed to remain upright. His shirt clung transparently to his chest, and his pants outlined every defined muscle. If there was a silver lining to this soggy mess, that was it.
The garden, however, hadn’t fared as well. The fountain lay split in half, its intricate carvings ruined. The surrounding flowers and plants were sodden, though thankfully unharmed.
“You have immense power,” Graziana remarked, her tone both impressed and critical. “But your control is severely lacking. Sure, you made a horse-and a dragon, as you’re eager to remind us-but there’s so much more to water magic than shapes and displays.”
Leonardo frowned but didn’t argue. “I know,” he muttered.
Graziana sighed. “If we had years, I could teach you the history of our magic and how to wield it properly. But we don’t. Days aren’t enough to master something this complex.”
“We can’t afford more time,” Leonardo replied firmly. “There are people in the human realm counting on us. After the ball, we have to return.”
“Have you figured out how to control the portals yet?” Graziana asked, her sharp gaze shifting to me.
“Not yet,” Leonardo admitted. “But I have a few theories.”
“This is a safe place to talk,” Graziana assured him. “Brigida is nearby, keeping watch.”
I perched on the edge of the broken fountain, wringing water from my long hair. It had grown faster than usual since I became Fae, an unwelcome reminder of how much my life had changed. As I twisted my hair into a messy knot, an idea struck me.
Closing my eyes, I reached for the sun’s warmth, feeling its power on my skin. I tried to control the magic surging within me, to harness it without letting it overwhelm me. But as always, it slipped through my fingers, a flood I couldn’t contain.
“Isabella,” Leonardo’s voice broke through my focus. I opened my eyes to find him standing close, his hand brushing mine. “Your clothes are dry. You can stop now.”
Smoke curled faintly around me, and I realized with a wince that the heat had singed my shirt.
“I still can’t control how much power I use,” I admitted with a frown. “It’s like trying to dam a river with my bare hands.”
“That ties into my theory about the portals,” Leonardo said, his smirk returning. He fingered the scorched edge of my shirt. “When we first came to this realm, running from the Air Court, the portal appeared out of nowhere-right when we needed it.”
“Some Fae can create portals,” Graziana interjected. “It’s rare and requires immense spiritual strength.”
“Do you think I made the portal?” I asked, startled.
Leonardo nodded. “I do. You’re stronger than you realize, Isabella. You just haven’t had the chance to fully tap into it.”
His words sent a thrill through me-one of fear and possibility intertwined. If he was right, then my connection to this world ran deeper than I ever imagined.