“My plan for now is to stop Marinella,” I began, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within me. “She’s High Lord Delfina’s sister, but she’s more of a monster than a Fae now-thanks to some ancient artifact that’s corrupted her.” I spared Andrea the full details of how I’d ended up here after being taken from his Court, but he deserved to know the stakes. “She’s trying to bring the source into the human realm, and she’s leaving a trail of dead werewolves in her wake.”
Andrea’s brow furrowed deeply, his expression one of both alarm and disbelief. “Her plan… it might make everything worse,” he muttered, his earth-hued eyes wide as the implications dawned on him. Seeing the confusion on my face, he continued. “Earth represents balance. My Court was the first to sense the instability creeping through this realm, but no one listened until it was already too late. Forcing that much magic into the human realm-a place where magic barely exists-it could destroy everything.”
Despite the creeping urgency gnawing at me, his words sparked something in my mind, sending my thoughts racing. “Could that be what destabilized the Fae realm in the first place?” I asked, the pieces beginning to align, even if only loosely. Andrea’s eyes gleamed, his enthusiasm as raw and bright as gold freshly unearthed.
“It’s part of a theory I’ve been working on,” he admitted, leaning forward slightly as though the act of speaking it aloud might unravel more of the mystery. “I can’t pinpoint the exact moment this realm’s magic faltered, but doesn’t it make sense to start at the beginning?”
“You think the creation of the bridge between realms-and the arrival of the first Fae shifters-threw the balance off?” I repeated, the idea clicking in my head even without concrete evidence. Of course, any proof would have been lost to history, buried under centuries of time. But this was a start-a fragile thread to follow. Solving the imbalance meant we had a chance to set things right.
“If that’s true,” I ventured cautiously, “would sending the werewolves back to the Fae realm restore the balance?”
Andrea’s mouth pulled into a frown, his expression a mix of hope and doubt. “It might, but there are enormous risks,” he said, his voice heavy with the weight of them. “If it fails, we could doom both realms. Every werewolf would need to pass through the portals-no stragglers, no exceptions. One left behind would leave the imbalance unresolved. And if the magic collapses before we finish…” His words trailed off, the unspoken consequence clear: oblivion.
It wasn’t a risk I was willing to take-not yet. I shelved the thought and turned my focus inward, seeking answers in the fragmented memories and scattered knowledge I’d gathered. The word balance thrummed in my mind, reverberating like a heartbeat. And then, an idea emerged. Impossible, yes. Dangerous, undoubtedly. But it felt right. The only path forward.
“I have a plan,” I said finally, the weight of it pressing against my chest. “But I can’t do it alone.”
Andrea’s eyes locked onto mine, steady and unyielding. “What do you need from us, Ella? My Court and my people are at your service.” His sincerity struck a chord within me, and I had to blink back the sting of tears. The bond of trust between us was something rare-a connection I hoped would endure beyond this crisis.
“I need you to go through the portal to the human realm,” I told him, watching surprise bloom on his face like wildflowers in a sun-dappled forest. “Marinella is attacking my pack. Leonardo’s holding them off, but he can’t do it alone. Take your warriors and help him. Along the way, evacuate as many of your people as you can. Lead them through the portals so they have a chance to survive.”
Andrea studied me for a moment, his expression both resolute and questioning. “Are you sure about this, Ella?”
“No,” I admitted, my voice firm despite the uncertainty in my heart. “But someone once told me I wouldn’t find the answers in a book.”
“And you think this plan of yours will save both realms?” he pressed.
“I do,” I said, conviction blooming despite my doubts. This was our best shot, and there was no room for hesitation. “Go back to your camps. Gather a thousand men and send them to the capital. Give them the choice to cross the portal-but don’t hold back any details. They need to know what’s at stake. Stop at every village on the way and spread the word.”
Andrea nodded, then turned to the warrior nearest him. The man had earthy, shoulder-length hair and scarred skin that spoke of countless battles. He met Andrea’s gaze with quiet strength and gave a sharp nod.
“Where should they go?” the warrior asked, his tone resolute. Before I could answer-still grappling with the realization I had no destination in mind-Carlo spoke up, his voice filled with warmth and light.
“They can come to my pack. I’ll offer refuge to any peaceful Fae who cross through,” he said, his generosity catching me off guard. Relief washed over me.
“You’ll need to go back to the human realm to warn your parents,” I said, giving him an encouraging nod. “Mind-links don’t work between realms.”
Andrea turned back to Carlo, a friendly smile breaking the tension. “I’ll send word to the Day Court that you’re alive and waiting for them on the other side.”
“You’re not coming with me, are you?” Carlo’s frown deepened, worry clouding his features.
I squared my shoulders, mustering every ounce of resolve. “No. I have to stay. You need to warn your family and rejoin the fight.”
Carlo pulled me into a fierce embrace, his presence warm and steady. “Leonardo can kill me for this later,” he muttered before stepping through a portal, vanishing into the unknown.
Turning to the Water Court warriors who had surrendered, I addressed them with every ounce of authority I could muster. “This realm is dying, whether you accept it or not. Your High Lord trusts me to find a solution, and I believe I have one. But you must act now to save your people.”
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a scarred warrior stepped forward, his pale hair ragged and his gaze heavy with guilt. “I will follow your lead,” he said solemnly. “For the High Lord I have failed. And if we survive this, I’ll accept whatever punishment is mine.”