Page 83 of Court of Aether and Shadows

But through the broken frame came something out of legend — a wolf of shadow and starlight, its form so massive it seemed impossible it could fit through the opening.

Yet it did, reality-bending around it as it materialized fully in the room. Standing at its full height, its head nearly brushed the cottage's ceiling.

Its fur was deepest black but shot through with streaks of silver that moved and shifted like flowing mercury.

Each strand seemed to contain its own universe of shadows, creating patterns that hurt the eyes to look at directly. Its muscles rippled beneath this ethereal coat, each movement speaking of power that could tear the cottage apart with minimal effort.

The wolf's eyes were its most striking feature — orbs of molten gold that held an intelligence far beyond that of any mortal beast.

They fixed on me with an ancient knowledge, a familiarity that sent a chill down my spine despite my own considerable power.

"Impressive,"I dare to admit, maintaining eye contact with the massive creature. The air between us crackled with competing energies."Few beings can cross through a rift with such... precision."

The wolf's lips pulled back in what might have been a snarl or a smile, revealing teeth that seemed forged from shadows themselves.

Each fang was longer than a mortal man's hand, sharp enough to tear through the barriers between worlds. Power rolled off it in waves, ancient and primal.

This was no ordinary shifter, no simple creature of magic. This was something older, something that remembered the time before the courts were divided.

Behind me, I heard Kaelon reinforcing his protective spells, his voice taking on the resonant quality of deep magic.

"Vash'nor sul'van, shields of twilight rise,"he chanted, each word adding another layer to the dome protecting Sparrow."Let no force of shadow or light penetrate these walls."

The protective dome grew more complex with each passing second, layers of magic interweaving like the finest lace. But maintaining such powerful shields was draining — I could feel Kaelon's energy wavering slightly under the strain.

If this confrontation turned violent, the shields might not hold against the collateral damage of two ancient powers clashing.

The wolf's gaze shifted to the shielded bed, and I felt its power surge. The very air seemed to thicken, reality straining under the pressure of its focused attention.

My own shadows responded instantly, wrapping around the creature like chains of pure darkness.

Each tendril of shadow burned with the cold fire of my power, a reminder that even in this diminished age, I was still Lord of the Twilight Court.

"You forget yourself,"I growled, allowing some of my true power to surface. The room grew darker, reality itself seeming to bend around us. The simple cottage walls groanedunder the pressure of contained power, timbers creaking in protest."This is my court, my domain. Whatever your purpose here, you will show proper respect."

A rumbling sound filled the room — not quite a growl, not quite a laugh. The sound made the remaining windows rattle in their frames, dust falling from the ceiling beams.

The wolf turned its massive head back to me, and I felt the weight of centuries in its gaze. It made no move to break free of my shadow bonds, but the casual way it stood within their grasp spoke volumes.

This creature, whatever it truly was, could match me in raw power if it chose.

At least, at this stage between us.

The cottage creaked ominously around us, the simple structure was never meant to contain such concentrated power. Cracks began to appear in the walls, darkness seeping through like black blood.

The very air felt thick, charged with the potential for violence.

"My Lord,"Kaelon's strained voice came from behind me,"the shields... the competing energies are destabilizing them."

I could see what he meant.

The protective dome around Sparrow was flickering, the layers of magic warping under the pressure of our contained power. If this confrontation continued to escalate, the entire cottage might collapse around us — with my sleeping queen at the center of the destruction.

The wolf seemed to sense this too.

Its ears flicked forward, its massive head tilting slightly as it assessed the situation. Something flickered in those golden eyes —concern?

That was unexpected.

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