Page 129 of Court of Aether and Shadows

I’m already arching an eyebrow in confusion, only to watch as she creates a small void rift near a group of Aether Court students — making them squeal and jump away.

"See? No sense of adventure."

"Nyx," Solaris chided, though his lips twitched with suppressed amusement. "We're supposed to be setting an example."

"I am," she protested innocently. "I'm exemplifying the creative use of void magic in social situations. It’s an amazing lesson for our Star Girl!"

"Nyx," Liam growled, his shadow energy finally stabilizing enough for him to attempt authority. "You can't just terrorize other students. There are protocols?—"

"Oh please," Nyx cut him off, creating another small void rift just to watch him flinch. "You're hardly in a position to lecture anyone right now, Mr. I-Just-Decorated-A-Planter-With-My-Breakfast. Besides," she looped her arm through mine, hugging me tightly, "I only take orders frommyOmega here."

I couldn't help but grin at her antics. The way she casually claimed me while thumbing her nose at authority was oddly refreshing.

"As long as you don't get us expelled before classes even start," I shrugged, "I don't see the harm in a little chaos."

Liam gives me a look, but I ignore him. It’s not like we’re on bad terms — at least, that’s what I’m hoping for after the whole ‘I left you to fuck the Lord of the Twilight Court’ situationship that made him pissed off.Or jealous.Either way, I was aiming to move on, which I hoped meant he would too.

We’d never had such an odd balance in our friendship, but I guess with everything that’s happened matched with this Omega business, I had to be more lenient with his reaction to things.

As well as my own.

"Ha!" Nyx's galaxy eyes sparkled triumphantly. "See? Our Star Girl gets it. Some rules are made to be broken."

"Of course," Solaris said, his sun-bright eyes dancing with amusement as he looked at Liam and further whispered. "You just had to develop feelings for the rebellious ones, didn't you, Shadow Wolf?"

He says it low but not quietly enough for us to not hear exactly what he confessed. Liam's cheeks darkened slightly, shadows curling defensively around him.

"Shut up, Solaris. Like you're any?—"

A sudden commotion cut off his retort.

Screams erupted from the Elemental wing, followed by what sounded like miniature explosions. Students began running in our direction, some trailing smoke, others covered in what appeared to be...glitter?

“Make way for, Lady Aurora of Aether Court!”A knightly figure announced with emphasized power, despite being under green armor that covered his entire body. I’m surprised we even heard his voice since his helmet was like a coverup for his entire face, leaving no opening for his mouth.

The chaos parted like a wave as Lady Aurora strode through the smoke and glitter-covered students.

Her presence commanded attention – pure Aether energy radiating from her in visible waves that made the very air shimmer. Her hair was like captured sunlight, floating around her as if gravity was merely a suggestion, and her eyes blazed with power that made even the strongest students lower their gaze.

But there was something else about her, something that made my newly awakened power stir with recognition rather than fear. It could have been this energy thriving off her is something similar to what resonated with mine — or potentiallyLiarel’s — but I could confidently say I didn’t know this woman at all.

Nyx moved in front of me instantly, her galaxy eyes narrowing as she let out a low, warning growl that seemed to vibrate through multiple dimensions. The void energy around her darkened, making nearby students stumble back even further.

Liam and Solaris flanked us immediately, their own possessive powers rising in response to Nyx's obvious hostility. Shadows and sunlight intertwined protectively around our small group, creating a barrier of mixed court magic.

I may not know who Lady Aurora is, but my wolves sure do…if I can even claim ownership as if we’re some sort of pack.

"Stand down, little void wolf," Lady Aurora's voice carried harmonics that made the academy's crystal walls sing, and yet I immediately felt a sense of unease with her tone of voice.Or the obvious fakeness in it."I mean your Omega no harm."

But something in her tone made Nyx's growl deepen.

"Funny how everyone keeps saying that lately," she bit out. "Yet here you are, making quite the entrance. How much did you pay that Ross Knight of yours to make you seem like some sort of royal heiress? Trying to establish dominance already?"

There was something about Nyx’s energy that made me feel as if she was anxious about this woman’s arrival. As though she was truly threatened with her closeness to me. Liam and Solaris had reacted as well, but their energies weren’t as defensive in their vibrance in comparison to Nyx’s.

I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, feeling her tension but also sensing something else about the situation – something my wolves were missing.

As I studied Lady Aurora, memories seemed to come to the surface of my subconscious:

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