Sofia and Enrico had stepped up, their hands steady as they guided the newly-turned Fae through the wall’s shimmering threshold. Every few minutes, another burst of blinding light exploded, leaving afterimages that danced in our vision, as more Fae emerged, their presence filling the air with both urgency and promise.
I found my gaze drifting to Leonardo, standing amidst a group of warriors, some familiar faces from days past. Dante stood by his side, ever watchful, his silence more telling than words. Then, from the western corridor, a flash of midnight hair and dark attire slipped into view-Delfino, High Lord of the Night Court, moving with the grace of someone who’d endured and emerged stronger.
Delfino was the only one to have undergone a transformation for the better since our harrowing battle. His once gaunt form, a silent testament to his sister’s cruelty, had filled out, muscles now sculpting a frame that spoke of recovery and power. He approached Leonardo and Dante, nodding to the warriors who bowed in deference.
“Oh, don’t give me that look,” Chiara chided, a softness in her eyes as a playful grin began to tug at my lips.
“Are you going to explain yourself?” I teased, linking my arm with hers as we made our way through the warriors to where Leonardo still conversed with Delfino. Shaking my head, I feigned mock disappointment. “Sofia’s starting to jump to conclusions.”
“I’m sure she’s not the only one,” Chiara snorted, though I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her secret for long. She had never been one to withhold from Sofia and me, especially when it came to matters like this. With a long sigh, she relented. “Alright, I’ll tell you both. But not here, not with all these warriors listening.”
“What a shame. Some of them are practically dying to know,” I said, the words barely leaving my mouth when Andrea’s quiet voice reached us from a few feet away.
We both glanced over to where a small cluster of Earth Court warriors stood, their tanned skin and bronzed armor catching the light. Two with emerald-hilted blades on their hips had been listening intently, their eyes shifting the moment we made eye contact.
I couldn’t help but grin, imagining Chiara as High Lady of the Earth Court. Her long, braided hair laced with gold, her eyes glowing with the vibrancy of nature’s power-her presence commanding as if the earth itself had chosen her. Before I could voice my thoughts, Chiara shot me a look that silenced any words I might have spoken.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned, her eyes twinkling as though she knew exactly what I’d been about to say. I scoffed dramatically, only for her to smirk at me and turn to Leonardo. “Come get your true-mate. She’s causing trouble again.”
The teasing vanished the moment Leonardo’s arms enveloped me, pulling me against his chest. The world around us seemed to fade, his gaze soft yet intense as it locked onto mine. When his lips brushed mine, I melted into him, fingers winding through his hair, pulling him closer in those few fleeting seconds of unspoken connection.
“If you do that every time I stir up trouble, we’ll never have a peaceful day,” I murmured, only to frown when I sensed the irritation running through him. “What happened?”
I glanced back at Delfino, who stood in conversation with Sofia, his gaze intent on her as she spoke.
“Delfino’s heading back to his court, but he stayed behind to inform us that the Air Court brothers who attacked us at Emiliano’s cabin have retreated behind their walls.” Leonardo sighed, his voice carrying a weight I hadn’t expected. “Their castles sit atop the highest mountains, impenetrable for the last six centuries.”
“Impenetrable, yes. But there are always those willing to trade information if you know where to look.” Andrea’s warm voice broke through the bubble of quiet that had enveloped us. As I turned to him, I saw how close he stood to Chiara, their connection almost palpable. A shadow of something dark passed through his eyes.
“When my father and brothers killed the High Lord and Lady of the Air Court, their sons escaped. The title has remained vacant all this time. I suspect one of them finally inherited it. If I had to wager, it’s Gaetano-Geremia wouldn’t surrender so easily.”
“Geremia…” I murmured, remembering his wheat-colored hair and vicious eyes the color of a stormy sky. “I’m pretty sure I blasted him with fire. Guess he survived.”
Andrea’s laughter rippled through the stone courtyard, a sound that seemed to skip across the water, lightening the heavy atmosphere. Warriors were beginning to disperse, each returning to their respective courts, the future ahead filled with uncertainty, but also hope.
As I watched them leave, I found myself thinking of the bonds yet to be forged, the true-mates still waiting to find each other. I wondered how many new connections would blossom over the next hundred years, and for the first time in a long while, I marveled at the thought that I, too, would be here a century from now, standing beside a pale-haired High Lord.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Graziana’s voice, now lighter and free of the grief that once shadowed her, drifted over to me. “Once a werewolf becomes immortal, they’re capable of forming a true-mate bond.”
“Is that because true-mates are a fae thing?” I asked, inhaling deeply the crisp, floral-scented air that filled the courtyard, savoring the moment.
“Something like that.” Graziana chuckled, and I noticed the subtle changes in her-less hardness, more warmth. Her voice, once cold and distant, now carried the lightness of someone who had healed. “If a fae’s powerful enough, they can shift into an animal form. I could become a polar bear, but that doesn’t mean I have the spirit of one. A mate is the perfect match for your wolf, the one who’ll bear strong offspring.”
“And a true-mate is much more than that,” I finished her sentence with a smile. The last of the werewolves passed through the courtyard just as the sun broke free from the horizon, pouring golden light over us all.
In that moment, standing in the warmth of the sun, the air humming with hope, it felt impossible not to feel elated.
“This alliance is the largest the realm has seen in a thousand years,” Andrea remarked to Leonardo and Carlo, who were still a little disgruntled by the thought of working together instead of fighting. Andrea’s gaze shifted to Emiliano, his earth-colored eyes reflecting the gravity of the moment. “Is there any chance your court would be interested in joining us?”
I felt a twinge of guilt, realizing that Emiliano’s court was still facing hard times. His family had turned on him, fighting for the throne as was the custom of so many High Fae.
“What will you do, Emiliano?” I asked, my eyes searching his face, guilt weighing down on me. He had been such an ally to us, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him to fight alone. “Is there any way we can help?”
For a long moment, Emiliano stood in silence, his scarlet hair catching the light of the rising sun. There were rare moments when he looked older than the others, his eyes reflecting the years he had weathered.
“It’s my fault,” he said quietly, his gaze slipping from the sun to meet mine. “I gave them everything they wanted, and when I saw what they were becoming, I turned a blind eye.” His voice softened, and he glanced back at the sun. “I think I’ll take my home back and hope it’s one of my grandchildren who inherits the power. As for help, I’ve got loyal friends in the Fire Court who are waiting for my call.”
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” I said, my heart lightened by the connection we shared. Leonardo and Carlo nodded in agreement. It was a small thing, but the fact that they agreed on something made it feel important. “I’ll never be able to repay you for everything, Emiliano.”
“Believe me…” Emiliano began, a sly grin curling at his lips. His eyes turned once more to the rising sun, and he added, “You already have.”