Page 117 of Court of Aether and Shadows

My wolf noted with a mixture of pride and frustration.

True Omega behavior.

Solaris's perfect face lit up with an equally perfect smile.

"In that case, might I join you? The journey from the Aether Court is rather taxing, even for one of my...capabilities."

I barely held back a growl at his false modesty. It’s not as if he hadn’t already invited himself to the table with no regard for permission, even from the Twilight Lord himself. Yet, now he wanted to respect mannerism.

"Of course," Aetheron said, though his orange-golden eyes held a level of warning. "Please, be our guest."

"My Lord," Kaelon spoke up, his galaxy eyes swirling with concern. "Are you certain that's... wise?"

With the tension this conversation had invited, I’m not surprised by Kaelon’s commentary. He rather we return to wherever we came from instead of making ‘drama’ with their new potential princess.

A dark chuckle escaped Aetheron's lips, the sound making the shadows in the room dance.

"I have no concerns about the seating arrangement," he said, his eyes transfixed on Sparrow with possessive intensity. "After all, I'm quite secure in what's destined to be mine."

The blush that spread across Sparrow's cheeks was instant and I’d bet thousands that she was reminiscing on the night she just shared with how her eyes widened for a moment, lost in memory. The scent of her embarrassment and lingering traces of passion made my wolf howl in frustrated anger.

Aetheron raised his crystal goblet, the liquid inside shifting like captured starlight.

"In fact,"he continued, power resonating in his voice,"let us toast. To Sparrow, my future Starlight, whose rebirth and return has brought new life to our eternal twilight."

The emphasis on 'my' was impossible to miss, but the fact that this news didn’t make Sparrow immediately question what he meant proved that he had to have explained plenty for her not to be susceptible.

Solaris's perfect features tightened slightly, but he raised his glass along with Kaelon. I stared at my goblet, my hand shaking with suppressed rage.

He marks his territory well.

My wolf snarled.

But he forgets an Omega's heart cannot be claimed by force or declaration.

My wolf may be right in that department, but he didn’t want to acknowledge how Sparrow’s and Lord Aetheron’s energies intertwined. It was so subdued, like a flicker of truth humming through the atmosphere, but it was present and visible enough from my heightened view to know Lord Aetheron wasn’t simply talking smack.

He had every intention of making Sparrow his, and that’s what drove me mad. His ability to take action.

While I cower at the mere possibilities.

"To Sparrow," the others echoed, though I noticed how Solaris's sun-bright eyes never left her face.

It was too much.

The combination of Aetheron's smug satisfaction, Solaris's obvious interest, and the lingering scent of what had transpired between Sparrow and the Twilight Lord from the night before made my control slip dangerously.

"Excuse me," I managed through gritted teeth, standing so abruptly that my chair scraped against the floor. "I find I've lost my appetite."

I was up and halfway to the door when Solaris's voice rang out, clear as morning bells.

"Wait up, Twilight Wolf. I think I'll join you. We should do a brief re-group seeing as we haven’t seen each other for years. I’m sure our wolves would be delighted in the familiar energy of our own."

He rose with that infuriating grace of his, but instead of following immediately, he turned to Sparrow.

"I apologize. Spending a meal with such a blessed beauty in my presence would be but an honor, but it's been too long since my pack brother and I had a proper run together," he explained, though his eyes held meanings far deeper than his casual words suggested. "I must say though, the Twilight Court has never held such...radiant attractions before. At least, not while I existed,” he declared with a teasing wink. “I’m honored once again, to meet you, our future majesty.”

My wolf snarled as we watched Solaris bow before he approached Sparrow, taking her hand in his.

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