There was no more time to waste. We had no way of knowing whether the Fae attackers had come through a portal or had been trapped in this realm all along. Portals, aside from mine, required immense power to create and were notoriously difficult, especially when transporting multiple beings or crossing great distances.
It was clear Marinella had traveled here via a portal, but the troubling question remained: had she brought others with her? Worse yet, had she somehow transported an entire army?
That same night, Leonardo, Graziana, Noemi, and Enrico trained under the moon’s glow. Leonardo was refining his skills, while Enrico was starting from scratch. The guilt weighed heavy on me-guilt for making this choice for my friends, for changing their lives without their full consent. Even if they seemed to embrace their new reality, I wasn’t sure I’d ever fully forgive myself.
“Do we really have to wait until morning for my training?” Chiara asked about an hour after the others had left. There was an unfamiliar spark in her eyes-a determination that surprised me.
“No, we don’t.” I shook my head, raising a curious eyebrow as Sofia grinned at Chiara. “Do you want to start now?”
“Could we?” Chiara’s excitement matched Sofia’s, their expressions lighting up in unison. “It’s better to get a head start, right?”
The three of us stepped into the backyard, and I couldn’t help but recall the first time I had stumbled out here, eavesdropping on Leonardo and Bianca’s conversation. Everything had changed since then, even though it felt like no time had passed. Those three months had flown by like fleeting moments. I was no longer the girl desperate to resist the bond with Leonardo, blissfully unaware of the storm ahead.
“I’m no expert,” I admitted with a chuckle as Sofia absorbed every word. “But I know enough to help. Magic is as much about instinct as it is about will-shaping it into what you need it to be.”
Sofia’s fascination didn’t surprise me; she had always sought any advantage in battle. Following Andrea’s guidance, I shared the basics and hoped everything else would fall into place.
“The first step,” I explained, “is grounding yourself-connecting to the earth. Find a spot where you feel comfortable, close your eyes, and do what feels right. Earth magic can be stubborn, but it’s also unyielding and resilient.”
Chiara sighed dramatically but cracked a smile. “And here I thought I’d be toppling mountains on my first day. But don’t worry about me-I’m not one to give up. My fighting skills haven’t improved much, so maybe magic is my calling.”
Sofia and I retreated to the porch, giving Chiara space while keeping an eye on the forest beyond. She settled near the stone fountain, surrounded by rose bushes with thorns gleaming even under the moonlight. Watching her meditate, I couldn’t help but notice how much she had changed.
Her face had lost its youthful roundness, her already rich ebony skin deepened and glowing faintly. Golden hues in her eyes shone brighter, her waist-length braids framing her regal figure. Sitting there beneath the moonlight, she looked like an ancient queen communing with the earth itself.
“She’s stunning,” Sofia murmured, her voice soft. “Not that she wasn’t before, but… you know how all Fae look. Are there other kinds of Fae-ones without the pointed ears?”
I smiled sadly, knowing Sofia wanted to understand, to find a way to help. “It’s a bit complicated. Only the High Fae look like us. There are countless species in the Fae realm-not all of them are beautiful, just like not all humans are. But I haven’t seen any Fae without pointed ears.”
Ten minutes later, Carlo appeared in the doorway, his golden hair muted in the moonlight. “Got a minute, Ella?”
“Sure,” I replied, turning to Sofia. “I’ll be back soon.”
Inside, the house was quiet. Emiliano sat on the couch, watching the fire’s flames twist and dance. His gaze remained fixed on the hearth, offering us a semblance of privacy.
“Dante went to bed, and Laura’s in a guest room,” Carlo explained before I could ask. Something in his expression-uncertainty, maybe-made me pause. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Is something wrong?” I frowned, curious. “You haven’t been this tongue-tied in a while.”
“This whole Fae thing got me thinking.” He hesitated before continuing, his words slow and deliberate. “Laura’s my mate, but your bond with Leonardo-it’s different.”
“It’s different because it’s not a mate bond,” I explained, unsure where this was headed. “For the Fae, it’s called a true-mate bond. Mates complement each other perfectly, but true-mates are… two halves of the same soul.”
Carlo’s brow furrowed in thought. “If true-mates are one soul split in two, then they’d be equal in every way, right? Is it possible Laura is my mate but not my true-mate?”
I paused, his question pulling at something deep within me. It was a possibility I hadn’t considered before.
“I don’t know,” I admitted finally, hating that I couldn’t give him a clear answer. “True-mate bonds form the moment both halves meet. It’s rare, and not every Fae gets to experience it.”
Emiliano’s voice broke the silence, his tone warm but firm. “It’s possible she’s not your true-mate. In the rare cases I’ve seen, the bond is instant. But take my advice: the bond you share with Laura doesn’t lessen its value. Treasure the time you have with her, Carlo. To her, it’s a lifetime-even if it’s fleeting to us.”