A tremor rippled through the air behind Carlo, drawing my attention to the charred circle at the heart of the scorched earth.
The scent of rain filled my lungs, tinged faintly with the metallic sharpness of blood. My heart wavered as I thought of the families mourning those lost in the battle. The pain was a tangible weight, tempting me to linger in the past, but I steeled myself. I couldn’t afford to drown in sorrow. Moving forward was the only way.
Beneath my feet, the brittle ground crunched, and I froze as Carlo placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head, watching the sunlight filter through the trees, striking the very spot where we all stood.
A shimmering film stretched before us, extending far into the sky until it dissolved into the fiery brilliance of the sun. Its surface rippled like liquid light, the colors shifting in mesmerizing waves. At times, it was nearly transparent, revealing the ordinary expanse of the park on the other side.
“Has anyone crossed through?” I asked, breathless, my fingers hovering near the barrier’s smooth edge.
“All the fae who took refuge in my pack went through three days ago,” Carlo said, his voice laced with quiet reverence. “None have come back since. Delfino and Andrea crossed too, but they left warriors here to assist with cleanup.”
“Andrea promised to return, but there’s been no sign of him,” Chiara murmured, her gaze lingering on the shimmering veil.
“The Air Court warriors surrendered when they realized the battle was lost,” Sofia added with a dry snort. “They passed through hours after you raised the wall.”
Leonardo’s voice was low, dangerous. “The Water Court won’t forget the part they played in aiding Marinella.”
“The Day Court won’t either,” Carlo said, his words sharp as crackling flames.
“Enough,” I snapped, my brow furrowed. “The last thing we need is another war. If immortality has taught me anything, it’s that I could use a few centuries of peace-or as close as we can get.”
Before anyone could reply, a familiar voice broke through the chatter of the crowd.
“Why didn’t anyone wake us up?” Graziana’s tone was dry but tinged with warmth as she and Noemi emerged from behind a group of families.
Graziana looked younger out of her courtly finery, her dark hair tied into a messy bun. Noemi, in contrast, let her ringlets tumble freely down her back. Some of the shadows that haunted Graziana’s eyes had lifted, though I doubted they’d ever fully disappear.
“Isabella!” Noemi’s squeal was sudden and loud, startling Chiara and me. She darted forward, her ocean-hued eyes sparkling as she threw herself into my arms. Even Graziana pulled me into a rare hug, her gaze briefly flitting to the scars etched along my arms. She said nothing about them, and I silently thanked her for it.
“Have Emiliano and Dante arrived yet?” Graziana asked, her fingers tightening around Noemi’s hand. Hope flickered in her eyes, bittersweet and fragile. “I’d like to see what’s left of our home.”
“I called them before we left the house,” Enrico said. “They’ll be here soon.”
“So, it’s true,” Sofia said softly, her gaze fixed on the barrier. “The fae realm is on the other side.”
“That was the plan,” I replied. “I restored the balance the only way I knew how-by merging the two realms.”
“With a wall to protect the humans,” Graziana noted, a hint of approval in her voice. She approached the barrier, her hand hovering near its surface. “This is unlike anything that’s ever been created. The barrier itself comes directly from the source.”
“Then we’re lucky Isabella had such a brilliant idea,” Emiliano’s voice rang out, and I turned to see his fiery red hair gleaming in the sunlight.
Dante stood beside him, but my heart clenched at the sight of him. A burn scar ran from his neck to his shoulder, visible beneath his tank top. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if he felt the weight of my gaze the way I felt his on my scars.
“It’s a flawed plan,” I admitted, breaking the silence. “But we’re alive. If Andrea said he’d return, he would have by now.”
Chiara’s voice cut through the murmur of the crowd. “Do you think something’s happened to him?”
Graziana’s calm inquiry followed. “How specific were you when shaping the magic?”
Her question struck a chord. My thoughts flashed back to the moment I had turned my friends into fae, a decision driven by desperation rather than precision. Magic was unpredictable, and I realized the barrier might hold the same chaotic potential.
“Maybe the magic doesn’t allow anyone to come back through,” I said, voicing a possibility that seemed painfully plausible. “It could be its way of protecting the humans.”
“If that’s the case, we’ll have to be honest with everyone,” Sofia said. “Not all werewolves will want to cross over.”
“I’ll give my pack the choice,” Leonardo said firmly, his eyes softening as they met mine. “But my place is wherever you are, Isabella.”
Standing beside him, I felt the certainty in my soul. Our destiny had shifted, forged anew by immortality and magic. No matter the future, I would face it with him by my side.
I took his hand and nodded. “Let’s give the announcement.”