Page 41 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Signs of pulling one’s spirit into the otherworld — a dangerous act of tainted magic that Fae enjoyed using to pull their prey into situations that normally led to their demise.

I could feel the wrongness of the situation, could sense the foreign magic trying to claim what was ours to protect. Without conscious thought, I let my wolf surge forward, taking control.

I couldn’t recall when I had last tapped into this energy of primitive glory. In fact, it had been so long, it took me a few seconds to realize the shift in power dynamics.

When we spoke about wolves, most thought of shifter creatures. Beings of the paranormal plane who shifted their bodies entirely with cracking of bones into different inhumane places and become an animal that’s on the balance of feral and highly intelligent dog.

Most didn’t get to see the true shift of power and how we dove into the realms of magic within our souls and tugged it outward until weaving that magic around our wolf entity forces a “shift".

The summoned magic matched with the kindled switch of power dynamics triggers the wolf to take over while we’re given a backseat to our more “mundane” aspects.

Overall, being this Fae wolf beast was a blessing and a curse.

A blessing to be powerful and diverse, but a curse because many Alphas in my position were assigned the duty of protecting an Omega, and 99% of the time, they never ended together.

I wanted to be that single 1%.

My hand shot out, wrapping around Sparrow's throat. In other instances, it would be deemed “hot” in the realms of possessive men validating the control and power they have over a “frail” woman, but I need to pull her out of whatever spiritual hold was attempting to consume her.

To kill her…

I applied pressure – not enough to truly hurt her, but enough to shock her system. It was an ancient technique, one used topull packmates back from the brink of losing themselves to the feral moon's call.

"Come back to us, Little Bird," I growled, my voice deeper and rougher than usual. "Fight it. Find your way home."

For a terrifying moment, nothing happened.

Seconds felt like minutes as my woman dazed into nothingness.

Then Sparrow gasped, her eyes blinking rapidly as she sucked in a desperate breath. The red glow faded from her skin, leaving her pale and shaking. She’s looking around, completely confused while trying to figure out who was around her.

"L-Liam?" she whimpered, confusion and fear evident in her voice before her wild eyes met mine. "What... what happened?"

God, I wish I could answer.

I try to speak, but she’s panicking looking around, as if ready to fight whomever is trying to hurt her.

“Where did he go?” she snarls and rushes to stand up. “I can face…” she trails off while I scramble to my feet. Before I can even get a word out, I catch onto how her eyes roll back while her body slumps forward.

“Shit!” I curse immediately, catching her with ease before cradling her unconscious form to my chest. “I got you, Sparrow.”

I know she won’t respond to me as exhaustion plagues her into unconsciousness, but I already crave her voice while my heart is hammering against my chest.

A low growl rumbled through me as I scented the air.

The lingering trace of Fae magic was unmistakable now — ancient, powerful, and utterly foreign to this realm. My wolf snarled, baring his teeth at the empty forest around us. It was taking far too much restraint to keep him from jumping into a physical form, woven by shadows and the essence of light around us.

"If you touch her again,"I growled, my voice a mixture of human speech and animal rage,"I will hunt you to the ends of every realm. I will tear down the very walls of your kingdom and rip your throat out with my bare hands."

It had been a long time since I’ve allowed my wolf energy to embed itself into my voice, but if I didn’t make my intentions crystal clear, this ‘guest’ would think I’m joking.

And I don’t play around with what’s mine to protect.

A laugh echoed through the clearing, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was a beautiful sound, like crystal wind chimes in a storm, but there was a cruel edge to it that set my teeth on edge.

"Oh, Fenris,"the voice said, using a name I had not heard in centuries."Still playing at being human, I see. How quaint."

I stiffened at the use of my true name, the one known only in the highest courts of the Fae realms. Those were the years when I was respected wholeheartedly. Many bowed at the scent of my approach, while wolves howled in the distance honoring my presence.

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