Page 108 of Court of Aether and Shadows

“All those memories and scenes that I thought I’d envisioned. They never felt foreign or invasive. Just hopeful projections that sometimes pushed me forward at the darkest times when I felt so alone,” I quietly confess. “They're more like...finding pieces of a story I've always known but somehow forgot."

He leaned in to lay a light kiss on my temple before I watched him slide off the side of the bed. He walked gracefully to my side, extending his hand. I didn’t hesitate to put my hand in his, ready to discover whatever he was silently planning as he helped me up.

With a gesture, shadows wrapped around us both, forming into comfortable clothing — though his touch lingered longer than strictly necessary for dressing.

"Come," he said, leading me toward what had appeared to be a solid wall but now dissolved into an elaborate balcony.

"Let me show you our realm."

That ignited immense intrigue, and I was a bit thankful that he was doing his part in trying to distract me from the anxiety I hadn’t realized was building deep within my chest.

Thinking of everything I’d endured and putting the pieces of all these memories and instinctive wonders made me feel anxious about what would happen now.

On whether I'd see the signs of discovering more about who I once was and what I’m capable of doing in this vast world.

When the chilled yet welcoming touch of air hit my face, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes to ensure the sight before me was real.

The view that greeted me stole my breath away.

The Twilight Court stretched out below us in impossible geometric patterns that somehow made perfect sense to my awakening senses. Spires of crystallized shadow rose toward a sky that contained three moons —one silver, one gold, and one the color of fresh blood.

"This is... incredible," I breathed, leaning against the ornate railing that seemed to be made of solidified starlight. "I've never seen anything so beautiful."

Lord Aetheron stood behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist as his shadows danced with the light emanating from my skin. How easy it was for him to be intimate with me, and I never realized how much I craved this.

To be touched, held, and comforted. To have a man boldly stand with you and express his affection without worrying about being seen. I wasn’t sure if anyone could see us from this balcony, but it was obvious that Lord Aetheron didn’t mind or else he wouldn’t be so confident in bringing me to this spot so openly.

"Watch," he murmured against my ear, igniting a sense of bubbling excitement through me.

Below us, the city came alive with the eternal twilight.

Buildings that seemed grown rather than built stretched toward the tricolored moons, their surfaces shifting between obsidian and crystal.

Gardens floated impossibly in mid-air, filled with flowers that glowed from within and trees with leaves of liquid silver. Rivers of starlight wound through the city, their surfaces occasionally breaking as creatures of pure energy leaped and played in the ethereal waters.

"It's like a dream," I whispered, watching as beings of various forms moved through the streets below. Some appeared almost human, while others were clearly something else entirely — beautiful and terrible in their otherworldliness. "A beautiful, impossible dream."

The thought triggered something in me, a wave of uncertainty that made my newly awakened power flicker anxiously. Lord Aetheron must have felt it because his arms tightened around me slightly.

"What troubles you, little bird?" he asked, his breath warm against my ear.

I leaned back against his solid presence, trying to find the right words and not sound so pitiful in admitting my worries.

My fear…

"My whole life has been about survival," I finally said, watching a group of shadow-winged beings soar between the spires. "Fighting for every scrap, every advantage, every moment of safety. I learned to pick pockets before I could read properly. Learned to fire a gun before I could drive. Everything revolved around getting that next meal. In scaling up in our odd hierarchy of ranks and skills. Always do everything to prove that I can do something better than my comrades, despite being a woman. I’ve done this for so long…"

His shadows wrapped around us protectively, responding to the pain in my voice. But I needed to continue, to make him understand.

"And now I'm here, in this place that feels like it came straight from the most beautiful fantasy novel one would ever read. A place I could only think of were just dreams that I enjoyed escaping from. Surrounded by magic, power, and beings I never thought could exist. I have abilities I don't understand, memories that aren't quite mine, and a connection to you that feels deeper than anything I've ever known." I turned in hisembrace to face him, looking up so I could peer into the depths of his mesmerizing eyes. "How…can this all be happening now? Can this be my life? Can be…a place that isn’t temporary?”

Could this…be my home… permanently?

Aetheron's molten-gold eyes softened as he looked at me, one hand coming up to cup my face.

"Your life in the mundane realm shaped you. It made you strong and resilient, a force many knew they couldn’t mess with. At least not without consequences.”

“You say that as if you know what consequences they could face messing with me,” I mutter, noticing the hint of possessiveness in his tone.

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