The first ripple of cobalt water magic twisted through the air like a living thing, unseen by anyone but me. Chaos erupted instantly.
The Fae never fully conveyed how natural magic felt-how it unlocked a hidden piece of your soul, as if reclaiming a limb you hadn’t realized was missing. Like an arm or leg, it obeyed your will and had its boundaries, but with magic, there was always an edge of wild unpredictability. If you had the strength and the creativity, the possibilities were nearly endless.
That thought lingered in my mind as I sidestepped swiftly, diving headfirst into the water. Dante’s magic shot past me, the mist cool against my cheek.
Noemi’s laughter echoed, light and carefree, while even Graziana’s lips curved into a rare smile. From the corner of my eye, I caught Sofia and Carlo halting their training, their grins wide as they watched us.
“Time to get creative?” my wolf mused, her tone tinged with mischief.
I smirked and nodded, snickering as Leonardo sent Enrico sprawling backward with a precise jet of water to the face.
The familiar pull of magic churned deep within me, accompanied by a chill that prickled my skin. The salty tang of the sea mingled with the metallic scent of fountain water, and though the sun blazed above, I could still sense the moon’s lingering power.
An image formed in my mind, melding with the magic coursing through my veins and the water swirling around us. A large, furred head rose from the fountain, droplets sliding off its hackles. A long snout and pointed ears followed, shaping into the unmistakable figure of a massive wolf.
“Is that your wolf, Ella?” Enrico grinned, undeterred by the snarling water-beast charging toward him.
“Ah, hell.” His grin faded as the wolf collided with his chest, sending him sprawling with a loud splash.
“You call that training?” Leonardo scoffed, shaking water from his hair. For a moment, I was distracted, watching the sunlight catch the sharp planes of his chest and abdomen. He looked like a god of ice and snow trapped in summer’s embrace.
Enrico staggered to his feet, soaked but grinning like a madman. “What kind of trainer gets distracted this easily?”
“Can you blame me?” Enrico laughed, ruffling his wet hair like a dog.
“This is still training,” Leonardo warned, his pale eyes beginning to glow. His smirk was sharp enough to cut.
The water stirred violently, thick tendrils rising and wrapping around Enrico’s torso and legs. Leonardo was clearly pouring serious power into his spell, preparing to fling Enrico out of the fountain.
Enrico’s gaze landed on me, and I groaned inwardly.
“Ella, come on,” he pleaded, flashing a wide, mischievous grin. “Alliance?”
“Don’t even think about it, kitten.” Leonardo’s voice was low, his icy eyes locking onto mine with a promise that made my blood heat.
I couldn’t resist. Not when he looked at me like that. Matching Enrico’s grin, I made my choice.
Acting quickly, I cut through the water with the speed of someone who once ran as a wolf. With a flick of my fingers, I splashed Leonardo-but each splash carried a jolt of magic, water hardening upon contact with his skin.
It wasn’t enough to hurt him-my magic wouldn’t allow that-but it was enough to push him back and break his concentration, freeing Enrico.
The power Enrico gathered was palpable, swirling in the cobalt tendrils around his legs and flattening the water’s surface with raw energy.
“Are you sure you’ve got this?” Leonardo taunted, his smirk deepening. “If you burn out here, you won’t stand a chance against Isabella.”
“I’m getting the hang of it,” Enrico shot back, his grin widening as he unleashed the accumulated magic in a surging wave.
I did what any supportive true mate would do-I added my own small burst of magic, enough to unbalance Leonardo so Enrico’s attack sent him toppling over the fountain’s edge.
As Leonardo vanished over the side, I caught the wicked grin on his face and laughed.
Get what you needed from that? I teased, our thoughts seamlessly meshing.
He’s got talent but no control, Leonardo replied, amusement threading through his mental voice. Reminds me of someone else I know.
“Your turn, Enrico,” I said sweetly, smirking.
“Please, Ella.” His grin widened. “I’m the one who trained you-you’ve never beaten me before.”
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Countless sparring matches had left us bruised and exhausted on the training mats. But one particular memory surfaced, and I couldn’t resist bringing it up.
“Well, there was that one time…” I trailed off, letting my smile speak volumes.
Enrico groaned. “That doesn’t count,” he muttered, dropping into a fighting stance.
“Bring it on, Ella. This time, there’s gonna be a winner.”
A wall of water surged toward where I’d been standing moments earlier, sloshing over the fountain’s edge. I closed the distance, knowing Enrico had overexerted himself. His magic was strong, but his stamina hadn’t caught up yet.
When he swung, water replaced his fist, the stream narrowly missing as I ducked. Using the momentum, I slammed my shoulder into his stomach, sending a pulse of magic into the water to pull him down.
He struggled to rise, drenched and panting, as I stood above him, grinning.