With the High Lady’s frost-bitten gaze fixed on me, I descended the staircase, my arm linked tightly through Leonardo’s. Each step felt treacherous, my only prayer being that I wouldn’t falter under the weight of so many eyes. The stairs curved elegantly as they spiraled down toward the bustling crowd below, their sheer length amplifying my unease.
Leonardo and I reached the ballroom floor simultaneously with Graziana and Noemi. The four of us stood at the base of the grand staircase, momentarily absorbing the dazzling scene. Around us, the air thrummed with life-the hauntingly beautiful melodies of the ball, shifting between playful and seductive, and the mouthwatering scent of spiced meats and ripe fruits wafting through the space. For a fleeting moment, I was tempted to abandon all restraint and lose myself in the magic of it all.
But Leonardo’s sharp frustration tugged at my senses, yanking me back to reality. The splendor of this realm was nothing more than a facade; danger lingered beneath its shimmering surface. The expansive ballroom stretched endlessly, complicating any hope of discreetly tailing Isotta. The crowd’s eyes, now keenly attuned to us after my earlier surge of power, made our task even more precarious.
Refusing to waver under their scrutiny, I raised my chin defiantly, meeting their curious stares with unwavering resolve. I felt Leonardo’s approval brush against my mind, warm and teasing, entwined with his signature humor.
“Those who don’t fear your power want you almost as much as I do,” he murmured through our bond, the thought tinged with a playful smirk that sent heat rushing to my cheeks, matching the vibrant crimson of my gown.
From her throne, now adorned with vines and blooming flowers, the High Lady rose. Her elegant appearance belied the winter that still ruled her heart. Her voice carried across the room, amplified by magic, cold and cutting despite its measured tone.
“How remarkable it is, the way magic bends the seasons to our will,” she began, addressing the crowd with an air of detached authority. “This display reflects the changes unfolding in our world-a testament to the strength within our realm. Allow me to introduce my esteemed guests: Isabella De Luca and my son, Alpha Leonardo Grimstone, whose artistry has transformed this night.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, approval and intrigue blending with suspicion and envy. Crimson petals, delicate as teardrops, began to spiral from the open ceiling, a seemingly gentle flourish masking the High Lady’s calculated intent.
Her announcement left us exposed, stripped of anonymity. While her words celebrated our presence, they also painted a target on our backs. Fae or human, their motivations could be equally deadly in a land as beautiful as it was treacherous.
Graziana’s worried glance met ours, confirming what we already knew: moving unseen through the crowd would be nearly impossible. With so many eyes fixed on us, every move would be noticed, scrutinized.
Leonardo’s posture stiffened, his gaze briefly locking with his mother’s. Her frosty veneer cracked, her lips twitching into a faint frown before smoothing back into an impassive mask.
I bit back the urge to confront her outright. Her two daughters, too young to bear such burdens, had been fighting for her protection longer than I could comprehend. Yet here she was, oblivious, allowing Isotta to poison everything she touched.
As the High Lady concluded her speech, the ball resumed in earnest.
“We’ll have to make do,” Graziana said quietly, her tone resolute as the four of us merged into the sea of fae. “Stay close if you can, but don’t get reckless. She’ll be aware of your presence now. I’ll handle Marinella.”
With that, Graziana melted into the crowd, leaving us to navigate the watchful eyes and whispered speculations. Some fae viewed me with unexpected sympathy, perceiving me as a victim of circumstance. Others, however, echoed Marinella’s disdain, regarding me as the corruption threatening their world.
Noemi, ever resourceful, leaned close. “As much as I’d like to stay, there are allies here I need to sway. Some remember the Water Court as it once was, before my mother’s transformation. If they see I’m aligned with you, they might change their stance.”
Her sapphire eyes sparkled mischievously as a crimson petal landed on her hair. “Oh, and one more thing-don’t drink the wine. It’s laced with magic. While your fae body can handle it, losing yourself would be far too easy.”
Following her advice, I avoided every tempting goblet of maroon liquid offered by passing servants. Its scent-a sweet blend of vanilla and strawberries with a faint hint of something otherworldly-was almost impossible to resist.
Leonardo’s voice broke through my musings, soft yet deliberate. “Would you care to dance, kitten?” He bowed with a theatrical flourish, his smirk widening as I snorted at his antics. The glint in his eyes, however, told me there was more to this request than charm.
*”Preferably near where Isotta is lingering,”* his thoughts added, cool and calculated.
I took his hand, allowing him to lead me onto the dance floor. The music swallowed us whole, a spellbinding symphony that sank into my veins. Every note carried a potent magic, leaving my body weightless and my mind clouded with euphoria. The fae moved with unrestrained sensuality, their joy palpable, their movements uninhibited.
Leonardo guided me through the throng, his hands firm yet gentle, pulling me close. I lost track of time as we danced, the pulsing rhythm binding us in a haze of magic and motion.
*”We need to get closer to Isotta,”* I thought, struggling to focus through the fog of enchantment.
Leonardo’s chuckle echoed in my mind. *”Right, nearly forgot. This music-it’s intoxicating, isn’t it?”*
Finally, we broke free from the dance floor, breathless and aching. The magic still lingered in my limbs as I scanned the crowd. Isotta, however, had vanished, leaving behind nothing but the faintest chill in the air.
“She’s gone. Where could she have gone?” I thought anxiously as a figure approached us.