We met Graziana at our suite precisely an hour later. From there, she led us through a labyrinth of hallways, halfway across the castle. The summer sun bathed everything in warmth, and the sight of blooming flowers coupled with the soft rush of air against my skin was a welcome comfort. It was even more enchanting in the parts of the castle where there was no ceiling-just pillars adorned with flowing curtains lining the marble walkways. The sky above was a brilliant shade of blue, vibrant and alive.
“There are several libraries in this castle, but this one is my favorite,” Graziana said, flashing a grin over her shoulder as she guided us onward. “Noemi has her spying and foresight, but me? I have this.”
“The library?” I asked, eyeing an ornate set of doors adorned with intricate golden filigree.
“Knowledge,” she corrected, giving the heavy doors a firm push. They swung open with an effortless grace.
I expected the musty scent of old books to waft through the air, but instead, the space smelled of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and ink-a rich, inviting combination. Floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with books lined the walls. Tables, chairs, and cozy couches were scattered throughout, some tables piled high with books, while others had only a single open volume.
As I looked upward, I understood why this library was Graziana’s favorite. Like the hallway, the library had no ceiling. The sky stretched over us, dazzling and endless, yet the temperature inside was a perfect balance of warmth and gentle breezes. At the back of the room, nestled between two towering bookcases, was a desk where a young Fae woman sat writing in a worn journal.
“No one comes here,” Graziana explained. She gestured to the Fae at the desk. “That’s Teodora. She keeps the library in order and helps you find whatever you’re looking for. And she can’t reveal what you’ve been reading-magic binds her to silence.”
I followed her gaze to a single door at the far end of the room. “That’s a training room for using magic. It’s warded and protected, so you can practice freely. Though I wouldn’t suggest it for you just yet, Isabella. You never know what might happen.”
“Do you think there are any books on creating portals?” I asked, smirking at Leonardo, who raised an eyebrow at me. “I figure I can read up on them while you teach Leonardo about Water Court history.”
Graziana’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Our history is just as important to you, considering you’re his true mate and have the potential to wield water.”
“But I haven’t connected with water yet,” I admitted, my voice heavy with frustration. “The portals are our best hope of getting home. Once I manage to connect to water, Leonardo can teach me.”
“The elements are tied to who we are as Fae,” Graziana said, her tone thoughtful. “We form connections to them throughout our lives, but it all begins somewhere. For you, it’s that first moment you truly connected with water as a human.”
The memory of forging connections with fire and earth flitted through my mind. Fire had been tied to camping trips with my dad, weekends I had cherished. Earth had been different-evoked by the whisp, but still deeply familiar.
“My mother had a Fae cast a spell on me as a child,” I confessed. “It’s only recently that I’ve regained my memories, and some are still… unclear.”
“It’s normal for some memories to take longer to return after a spell like that,” Graziana said with a sympathetic grimace. “But being a true mate to a son of the Water Court, you should be able to connect with water. Your strong tie to fire might have slowed things, but you should feel something.”
“And if I don’t?” I asked, my voice tinged with doubt.
“Your abilities aren’t broken,” she reassured me. “It’s a matter of practice. With the power of all the High Lords within you, it’s impossible not to connect eventually.” Yet something in her expression betrayed her concern.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I pressed.
She hesitated, then sighed. “I’m worried this blockage might stop you from creating a portal. You’ve done it before, which means the problem is recent.”
“Could Noemi help?” I asked. “She can wield spirit magic, right? Maybe she could fix whatever’s wrong.”
“She can use spirit magic, but not in that way,” Graziana said gently. “Untrained spirit magic is dangerous, even more so than the other elements.”
“Great,” I muttered under my breath, “looks like ‘elemental blockages’ just made it to my reading list.”
With that, I approached Teodora, leaving Graziana and Leonardo to their lesson. The young Fae looked up from her work with a kind smile, tucking a strand of pale blonde hair behind her pointed ear.
“Hello, miss,” she greeted warmly. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for books on portals to other realms… and, um, elemental blockages,” I said awkwardly, feeling the absurdity of my request.
To my surprise, Teodora nodded as if it made perfect sense. She closed her eyes, and threads of shimmering blue and silver magic extended from her fingertips, reaching across the library. Books floated from the shelves in graceful arcs, arranging themselves into neat stacks on a nearby table. My amazement turned to dismay as the pile grew larger-twenty-three books in total.
“There’s no way I can get through all of these,” I laughed, though I grabbed an armful anyway and set to work.
By the fifteenth book, I finally found something useful.
Bridges Between Realms
_Bridges are created by blasts of raw, high-powered magic striking at the heart of both realms. These often require the use of all elements combined. While many have attempted such feats, only one has succeeded. The rest ended in death. Once a bridge is forged, it cannot be undone without risking severe damage to one or both realms. If one realm were to fade or be destroyed, the bridge would shatter. _
The words weighed heavily on me, the enormity of what I faced settling deep in my chest.