“Are you talking about the humming?” Leonardo asked, tilting his head in thought. His question only deepened my confusion, leaving me adrift as both Emiliano and Leonardo fixed their gazes on me. The attention of the others didn’t go unnoticed either, their curiosity palpable as they watched this peculiar exchange.
“Since I became Fae, it’s always been like that whenever I touch her,” Leonardo explained. “But now, it feels… weaker.”
“Weaker?” Emiliano’s eyes lit up with a spark of understanding, the kind that made it clear he was piecing together a puzzle I couldn’t even see. “Are you sure?”
Leonardo pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. His fingers slipped beneath my shirt, tracing soothing patterns along my back and hips. The sudden intimacy stole the air from my lungs, replacing it with a swarm of butterflies that chased away the guilt gnawing at me. “I’m certain,” he murmured, his voice steady. “It’s not as strong as before.”
Emiliano’s sharp gaze shifted to me. “By any chance, did you encounter the source of our magic while you were in the Fae realm?”
“Actually, yes.” I nodded, matching Leonardo’s perplexed expression. “The oasis-it’s how Leonardo became Fae. We believe it activated the dormant magic in his bloodline.”
Emiliano’s lips pressed into a thin line, as though he already suspected the answer to his next question. “How did you find this oasis?”
“An old friend of mine, Andrea,” I replied, choosing honesty. “He’s the High Lord of the Earth Court.”
Emiliano grunted, his tone laden with a mix of disdain and understanding. “Of course. That does sound like something Andrea would do-sending an inexperienced Fae and her shifter mate to the very heart of our wild magic. Well, that explains it.” He studied me intently. “The hum beneath her skin is faint now because she’s used up most of the magic she absorbed.”
Graziana, who had been sitting quietly, shot to her feet. She strode over to me, her hand pressing against my face with an urgency that made my pulse quicken. Her crystal-grey eyes, so similar to Leonardo’s, widened as she assessed me. “It’s so faint,” she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. “How is she even alive? The power should’ve burned through her immortal body.”
Emiliano nodded thoughtfully, his gaze still locked on me. “That’s the real mystery, isn’t it? Did you consciously try to draw power from the oasis?”
“No!” I protested, shaking my head. “Leonardo was weak after coming through the portal, and I… I just wanted to help him. I wasn’t thinking about taking anything.”
“You did it instinctively,” Emiliano said, a note of awe softening his features. “Even among Fae, there’s nothing like you, Isabella. You’ve done what no one else has, not even the old gods of the Fae realm.”
Though his words unsettled me, they awakened a burning curiosity I couldn’t ignore. The magic coursing through me was untamed, erupting whenever it was summoned, and I needed to understand why. But there was something more urgent than uncovering the truth.
“As much as I want answers, our priority has to be saving both realms,” I said firmly, pushing my thoughts aside. “Once that’s done, we can focus on the rest.”
Emiliano inclined his head in agreement, then turned his attention to Enrico. “As for your earlier question, I do believe you and the others will have a connection to an element. My affinity is with Fire, and I can sense your Alpha has a bond with it as well. However, you and Chiara are tied to something different.”
“Me?” Carlo’s voice broke through, his shock evident. His once-dark hair now gleamed like spun gold, and his tanned skin seemed even richer. “I’m connected to Fire?”
Emiliano’s lips twitched in a faint smile. “The sun belongs to no one, just as the moon belongs to no Alpha. But yes, you have a connection to Fire. How strong it might be remains to be seen.”
“This could be an advantage,” Enrico said, his tone resolute. His characteristic playfulness was replaced by a rare seriousness, and his steady smile eased some of the tension in my chest. “We know you didn’t mean for this to happen, Ella, but there’s no turning back now. If we have magic, we need to use it.”
Chiara glanced down at her hands, her expression contemplative. “I wonder what my element could be,” she mused, a flicker of warmth in her chestnut eyes. “I’ve never liked the ocean, so I’m hoping it’s not Water.”
“Isabella, your connection to Fire is strong,” Emiliano said, his gaze penetrating. “But what’s the next element you feel most drawn to?”
“Earth,” I answered without hesitation. “It’s steady and resilient, the foundation of everything I’ve ever known. Fire is my breath, but Earth is my core.”
“Good,” Emiliano said. “Leonardo and you will sense the others’ connections. Trust your instincts-they won’t lead you astray.”
With tentative resolve, I took Chiara’s hands. Her skin was smooth and cool, devoid of the warmth I associated with Fire. Closing my eyes, I focused inward, letting the magic in my blood rise to the surface. Darkness surrounded me, broken only by the crackle of flames and the hiss of steam. Each element came to life in vivid bursts-Fire, Water, Air, and finally, Earth. Its scent, rich and grounding, filled my senses, and I opened my eyes.
“Earth,” I whispered, as Leonardo’s voice joined mine, “Water.”