We stumbled into Leonardo’s living room, hurtling through the portal so quickly that I nearly knocked over the lamp perched on the oak end table. The room was cloaked in shadows, with the curtains drawn back to reveal the dimly lit street outside. It was late, yet the neighborhood exuded a haunting stillness.
No toys cluttered the front yards anymore, and several homes had boarded-up windows. A sickening unease coiled in my stomach, one that Leonardo sensed immediately.
I flipped on the lights, casting the room in a soft glow. It struck me how little time I’d spent here since returning. Everything had moved so quickly after coming back, yet this place, unsafe as it was, allowed me to take a fuller breath.
“We’re here… in the human realm,” Graziana murmured. Her wide eyes flitted around the room, a mix of awe and trepidation painting her features. The living room’s modest charm paled compared to the grandeur of the castle.
“Our mother is… dead, and our half-brother is the new High Lord,” she continued, her voice trembling. “Did you foresee this, Noemi? Did you see any of this coming?”
Noemi rubbed her eyes, her composure faltering. “I didn’t,” she admitted, her voice wavering. “But the future can shift-new paths can emerge at any moment.”
The tension between them was palpable, grief and frustration radiating from their heated words. Graziana’s gaze darkened as she pressed, “What went wrong? Tell me everything.”
Though Leonardo had shielded Noemi from witnessing their mother’s death firsthand, Noemi still pieced together a vivid account of what had happened. I filled in the gaps, careful not to overwhelm them.
Graziana had left the ball after noticing Marinella’s suspicious retreat. She followed her discreetly, trying to navigate the tunnels but failing to find an entrance. Graziana had remained undetected until she stumbled upon a line of dark-haired guards standing at attention. Marinella’s sharp voice echoed as she barked orders, commanding absolute obedience.
It had all been a cruel game-cat and mouse, with Graziana nearly losing. Marinella had left her bleeding in the hall, declaring her unworthy of survival. The blade’s poison had been intended to ensure her demise.
Hearing this, Graziana fell silent. The light in her eyes dimmed, fracturing into something icy and unyielding. She sank into the crimson couch by the fireplace, her hand clutching her wound. The bottom of her mud-soaked blush gown clung to her trembling frame.
“Did something go wrong, Noemi?” she asked, her tone cold and distant. “From Isabella’s blast, Marinella is likely dead. Leonardo is High Lord now, which is a relief compared to Isotta ruling. We lost Mother, yes-but in some ways, we lost her long ago.”
“You don’t mean that, Gia,” Noemi choked out, her sapphire eyes shimmering with tears. “You wanted to save her just as much as I did. That doesn’t change just because she’s gone.”
Before Graziana could snap back, a heavy thud sounded from upstairs. The four of us instinctively leaped to our feet, adopting what I hoped looked like defensive stances.
Dante stormed down the stairs, dressed in nothing but an old band t-shirt and red boxers. His wavy hair now reached past his ears, and his narrowed eyes were locked on us. A silver Glock gleamed in his hand, aimed directly at our heads.
“What the-” His voice trailed off as his wide eyes flickered between Leonardo and me, then shifted to something-or someone-else.
Seeing fae for the first time could be jarring. Their skin seemed to glow faintly, in hues ranging from icy pale to the deep browns of fertile earth. Perfection radiated from them, unmarred by scars or the passage of time.
Dante’s confusion only fueled Graziana’s impatience. She stepped forward, chin raised defiantly. “Spare me the theatrics,” she snapped. “I’ve had a long night and have no interest in following my mother to the grave just yet.”
With a flick of her wrist, frost crept over Dante’s gun, forcing him to drop it. His suspicious gaze turned to Leonardo as the pieces began falling into place.
Leonardo’s voice was firm but respectful as he addressed his friend. “Dante, let them rest. There are spare bedrooms upstairs. Graziana and Noemi, head to the end of the hall on your left.”
Noemi hesitated. “I don’t want to be alone… not yet. And sleep is the last thing I need right now.”
Graziana said nothing, brushing past Dante on her way upstairs. The tension in her rigid posture lingered even after the sound of her footsteps faded.
Dante descended the stairs slowly, his wary eyes flickering between us. The silence grew unbearable until he finally spoke.
“It’s been three months,” he said, his voice thick with exhaustion. “Things have gone to hell without you.”
It took several attempts for Dante to rouse everyone, his calls and texts sent out with the hope of a response before dawn. Sleep felt like a distant dream, one I craved desperately. The rush of adrenaline had long since faded, leaving behind a biting chill and a bone-deep exhaustion. But waiting until morning wasn’t an option-not with the looming threat of Isotta’s plan to attack the pack hanging over us.
As I glanced out the window at the quiet neighborhood, unease coiled in my stomach. The world outside looked familiar yet subtly altered, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted in our absence.
Dante sat heavily in the armchair by the fireplace, his expression as grim as the shadows dancing across the room. We gave him a condensed version of the events since we left-our encounter with Emiliano, the harrowing ordeal at the Water Court’s ball-because the others were on their way, and there wasn’t time for every detail.