A plume of flame erupted toward the ring of trees enclosing us, crackling with an intensity that set the air ablaze. Just as suddenly, a violent gust of wind roared through the grove, sending the trees into a cacophony of creaks and groans as leaves and branches trembled in its wake. The flame hissed in protest, veering sideways as it sputtered into nothingness.
“CARLO!” Sofia’s voice sliced through the tension, startling Noemi, who shifted in her lap. Offering an apologetic smile, Sofia stood, brushing bits of grass from her gown before storming toward the grove’s edge. There, a hundred feet away, stood Leonardo and Carlo, poised for yet another clash.
“You know she’s smitten when she’s dodging the truth,” Chiara remarked with a tut, prompting synchronized nods from both Dante and me.
“Started early, have they?” Dante snorted, cocking his head toward the two High Lords. The Beta-turned-second-in-command had acclimated to fae life with remarkable ease, though Leonardo had often questioned whether his true place lay here or in the Air Court. “I’ve got a fair bit of gold on your true mate, Ella. He better not let me down.”
“They’ve been itching for this since we stepped out of the castle. Honestly, it’s a miracle they lasted this long,” I replied with a sigh, my words pulling a grin from Dante.
Our once-prickly relationship had softened into camaraderie over the past few weeks. While Dante showed little interest in the fae women around him, he had thrown himself headlong into mastering air magic. Beyond that, he’d begun training with the castle’s warriors, adopting their techniques with a dedication I couldn’t help but admire.
“As for your wager, I hope you didn’t bet the house,” Chiara teased, her bangles clinking as she smirked knowingly.
Before Dante could reply, Sofia returned, cheeks flushed with exasperation. “Where are they?” she demanded, hands planted on her hips. Her gaze swung to me, heavy with frustration.
“They’re ready to rip each other apart, and we can’t afford to wait. He better hurry up before they start something irreversible.”
“We’re here, we’re here! Calm down, Sofia,” Enrico drawled as he appeared, earning an icy glare from Sofia.
“Do not call me Sofia, Enrico. Ever.” She jabbed a polished nail in his direction, eyes narrowed dangerously. “Brother or not, I will set you on fire.”
Rosalba, the fair-haired fae Enrico had been seeing for two months, chuckled softly. Playful and devious, she enjoyed tormenting him, and I often joked she was the female version of Enrico-a fact that only seemed to fuel their dynamic.
“Sorry about that,” Rosalba sighed theatrically, patting Enrico’s shoulder. She glided toward me with the effortless grace of a fae. “High Lady Isabella, always a pleasure.”
Despite the lack of a true-mate bond between Rosalba and Enrico, her presence had become a constant in my life. Whether it was between training sessions or late at night after meetings and endless paperwork, I always seemed to find her. She played fae instruments with an artistry that mesmerized me. Unlike human creations, these instruments wove music with threads of elemental magic, each note shimmering with unearthly beauty.
“Let them fight it out, Ella,” Dante muttered as Sofia and I approached the two High Lords. Their shirts lay discarded on the ground, revealing broad shoulders and muscles honed through years of Alpha training.
Before either could open their mouths, I stepped forward, cutting them off. “Enough. Whatever this is about, it doesn’t matter anymore. You’re High Lords now-with land, power, and responsibilities. The courts won’t survive if you keep clashing like this.” I let the weight of my words settle before adding, “Fight if you must, but don’t kill each other.”
Sofia’s glare was sharp enough to pierce steel as she nodded in agreement.
The tension between Leonardo and Carlo reached a crescendo the moment we retreated to the grove’s shade. The air grew dense, tingling with the charge of unleashed magic. The two circled each other like predators, their movements sharp and deliberate.
When their powers collided, it was a spectacle unlike anything I had seen. Flames arced and hissed, clashing with shards of ice that gleamed like daggers in the fading light. They fought with a blend of primal ferocity and calculated precision, a new fighting style born of Alpha strength and High Lord magic.
Minutes stretched into an hour as fire and ice filled the clearing, turning the ground beneath them into a battlefield of frost and steam.
“This could take all night,” Noemi groaned, flopping onto her back dramatically. “Anyone else want to sabotage them?”
Laughter rippled through our group as Dante and Sofia cast a spell, cloaking us in air and light to make us invisible. Our attempts to trip up the battling High Lords-slicking the ground or shifting the earth-were met with swift retaliation. Soon, the clearing erupted into chaos as magic from every element crackled through the air.
By the end, we were sprawled across the grass, breathless and covered in soot, mud, and water.
“It looks like no one won their bets,” Leonardo smirked, shaking his head at us.
“You’re not scolding anyone with that skunk stripe in your hair,” Sofia retorted, grinning.
The lighthearted exchange marked the beginning of something deeper between Leonardo and Carlo-a tentative but growing bond forged in fire and ice.
Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Leonardo took my hand, his touch cool but tender.
“I planned to wait until your birthday, but this feels right,” he murmured, his magic brushing over me. A book appeared in my hands, its cover worn and familiar.
Tears pricked my eyes as I cradled the last tangible piece of my human life, surrounded by those I loved.
“To those we’ve left behind,” I whispered, my voice steady, “because no matter how long we live, we’ll never be alone.”
THE END