Page 39 of Court of Aether and Shadows

“Admit it. Funny as fuck,” I tease because god, that was a funny night of madness. “You just had to vomit on the prettiest man we’ve ever seen who so happened to have a roulette of suited mother fuckers to chase us, which aka was me hauling your dead weight ass, across town.”

“He was a stubborn ass,” she grumbles, and yet she’s fighting hard not to smile. “And I’d do it again.”

“Of course you would,” I groan because I know Sparrow. She rarely felt guilt in instances where she knew she fucked up.Not even surprising.“Just admit you thought he was hot.”

“I mean he was hot,” she whines, though I try to ignore how her admission makes me want to grunt.My wolf doesn’t like hearing that at all.“But cocky as fuck acting as if he was a King himself. I’d never be a bitch just because I had some royal blood. The man wasn’t even a prince and acting like he ruled the entire town.” She shakes her head. “He needed a brief wake-up call.”

“And loads of laundry,” I conclude with a smirk. She shares a look at me before we’re laughing at the memory.

Life was tough back then, but there was a balance.

A hint of joy amid the madness.

I listened intently as she described her experience – the vivid childhood memory, the impossible speed at which she had run, the near-fatal fall.

With each word, I felt a growing sense of unease. Not because I didn’t know what she’d be capable of when her powersawakened once more, but because she was tapping into different varieties of power all at once.

Which isn’t good…

That meant two things: she was going to be a lot more powerful than predicted, and two…her awakening was on the horizon.

It should have been blessed news, especially for someone like me, who’s destined to serve and protect her.

The problem is, I’d be lying if I pretended I wouldn’t miss this.

Us.

Enduring the chaos and life-threatening situations together like the duo we are.

When you ignore Marco, who's useless most of the time.

The changes she was describing...they aligned too closely with the ancient prophecies I had sworn to observe and protect all those who would potentially be affected by them: her included.

The one I keep praying she’s not intertwined in…

Deciding to hold my tongue, I convinced myself that we still had time.We had to have more time. These changes won’t ignite to the max so suddenly.That brought a bit of ease, but it was when she started talking about her dreams that things really got interesting.

"There's this... man," she said, a flush creeping up her neck. I, on the other hand, am trying not to act as if any mention of another man is nagging at my need to growl in dismay. "Or, well, not a man exactly. He's something else. Something powerful and ancient and..."

She trailed off, her cheeks now bright red.

Why is she blushing so much? Who’s this man?

I couldn't help but tease her a little, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sounds like someone's got a supernatural crush," I said with a wink. "Should I be jealous?"

Sparrow laughed, swatting at my arm. I can see hints of tension and worry ease out of her frame.

"Shut up," she grumbled, but there was no real heat in it. "It's not like that! It's just... when I'm with him, in the dreams, I feel... complete?” She sounds unsure as she looks in the distance.As if she’s trying to envision him before her. “Like I've found a piece of myself I didn't even know was missing."

Her words sent a spike of jealousy through me, hot and bitter.

I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inside, my wolf was howling.Or growling menacingly like we’d just been rejected.Though, maybe this kind of felt like one.

Not being acknowledged by the woman you’ve had a hard crush on for years.

She is OURS. Not for some shadowed creature or ethereal being. Ours to protect, ours to love, ours to claim!

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