Leonardo’s power surged against my back as we slipped through the portal, an electric force that left my skin tingling. It was gone in a blink, replaced by the cold bite of the realm’s fabric as it brushed against us. The transition was disorienting, but the moment we emerged, I knew something was wrong.
Sunlight filtered through treetops towering hundreds of feet above, casting the scene in sharp contrasts of emerald and gold. The colors were too vivid, the moss too vibrant, the pale sky almost over-saturated. Carlo’s wide eyes mirrored my unease as we took in the Fae realm-and the war camp we had landed in.
Around us, soldiers halted their tasks. Hands froze mid-sharpen on blades and gripped sword hilts with measured tension. The massive tents, some suspended from trees by thick spikes, loomed like sentinels over the camp. Fires crackled in two separate pits, one roasting charred meat skewered on sticks, while bowls of steaming stew were abandoned by warriors who rose to attention. The air was damp with the scent of morning dew and smoke, and every gaze fixed on us was edged with suspicion-and threat.
Carlo glanced my way, his realization mirroring my own. We tensed, sharing an unspoken agreement to move cautiously. The guards’ pale, water-like armor glinted in the filtered light, marking them as warriors of the Water Court. None of them looked inclined to let us leave unscathed.
A ripple of darkness and frost pulled my attention. She stepped into view, her fur-lined coat ghostly against the spectrum of the Earth Court’s vibrant hues. Isotta. Her midnight-colored hair gleamed as if carved from ice, a stark contrast to the silks of blue and silver draping the tent she had emerged from. Her presence was an intrusion-cold and unnatural in this warm, colorful realm. She thrived in winter’s chill, and I wondered if the frost that seemed to emanate from her gaze also encrusted her heart.
“Hello, Isabella,” she greeted, her voice dainty but far from fragile. The faint curl of her lips was polite, almost sweet, but I knew the cruelty that lay beneath. Isotta might not have wielded the blade that killed the High Lady, but her hand had orchestrated it all. Her next words were sharp as icicles, cutting through my thoughts and igniting a fire of anger deep within.
“You’ve stolen something from me. Three somethings, actually.”
“The girls aren’t yours,” I snarled, my magic stirring like a storm inside me, “and you’re delusional if you think Leonardo ever will be.”
Her pale eyes narrowed as she smiled, a chill in her expression that froze any hint of true emotion. “I would have kept him at my side-and you in a cage. He’s a fine specimen, though his half-brother was too.” She sighed, though her tone carried no real sorrow. “Your mate possesses magic that belongs to me. Now, all I want from him is his life. Marinella wanted to kill you, and I Leonardo, but fate doesn’t always grant us such pleasures.”
I braced myself, knowing what would come next. Isotta didn’t disappoint. Turning with calculated grace, she moved just far enough to avoid the bloodshed but close enough to enjoy the spectacle.
“Kill them,” she ordered, her voice as sharp and cold as the ice she commanded.
The camp exploded into chaos. My war cry rang out, mingling with Carlo’s thunderous howl as we charged forward. Magic erupted from our bodies in violent torrents of crimson light. Carlo veered towards a group of warriors, his initial approach shifting in an instant. Flames engulfed him as he transformed into his Fae form. Tendrils of fire licked his body, leaving molten footprints in his wake as he tore through the stunned soldiers.
I turned to face another group, but my attention flickered toward Isotta. She was cunning enough to strike while we were distracted. I wouldn’t give her the chance.
Heat swelled in my chest, each heartbeat stoking the inferno within. Leonardo’s face flashed behind my eyes-a vision of his wolf, proud and snow-white, his howl a battle cry. My magic surged, transforming my vision into reality. Flames erupted, coalescing into the form of a massive wolf, its fiery fur blazing and its coal-black eyes burning with fury. It leapt toward the warriors, scattering them as screams and the acrid scent of burning flesh filled the air.
The tether between me and the wolf strained as I fought off the warriors advancing on me. There were too many-too many gleaming swords, too many pale-eyed soldiers promising I’d never see home again. A blast of fire from my palm sent one hurtling into the trees, while vines snaked from the earth, ensnaring another and dragging him down.
Amid the chaos, a boy no older than Graziana lunged toward me. His grip on his blade was steady, his eyes filled with determination. I summoned the wolf back, its fiery body colliding with the boy before extinguishing as my strength waned. The drain was immediate, but I had no time to recover.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carlo stumble. Panic flared in my chest-I hadn’t been watching him. I sprinted toward him, my path interrupted by a sword slicing through the air, aiming straight for my face.