Page 132 of Court of Aether and Shadows

"Lord Aetheron suggested I trust my instincts when it comes to such matters," I replied, watching his expression carefully. "And my instincts tell me that someone truly worthy of a bow wouldn't need to demand one."

Gasps echoed through the atrium.

Lady Aurora's face had gone pale with horror, while nearby students pressed themselves further against the walls, expecting an explosion of Aether fury at any moment.

"Besides," I continued, my own power rising to match the challenge in his gaze, "I have a feeling you and I might be operating on more... equal terms than others realize."

I don’t know why I said that or had this immense need to rebel against him. We didn’t know each other. This was our first interaction, but I couldn’t fight this nagging need to defy him. To remind him of his place when it came down to our fluttering energies.

When it comes to us…

The words hung in the air like a challenge, or perhaps a prophecy.

Lord Helios's power pressed against mine, testing, probing, and seeking weaknesses. But where others might have crumbled, I stood firm, letting my unique blend of shadow and starlight meet his celestial energy without yielding.

What surprised me wasn’t the challenge of his celestial essence, but the radiant beauty in his expression that spread across his immaculate face.

Lord Helios's smile held all the warmth of a supernova — beautiful, deadly, and promising destruction. His aether energy pressed down on the room like a physical weight, making students who’d risen from their bowed position earlier only collapse to their knees once more, gasping for breath in the suddenly thick air.

Even Aurora stumbled back, her perfect composure finally cracking.

But I remained standing, meeting his devastating smile with one of my own.

If anything, his display of power irritated me — like watching someone try too hard to prove their worth. He leaned in close, his scent washing over me like starlight and ozone.

"Such stubbornness," he murmured, voice pitched for my ears alone. "It won't serve you well in our world, little star."

Little star…

"Funny," I replied, refusing to back away from his proximity. "My nature has served me perfectly well so far. In fact," my smile widened slightly, "it seems to be exactly what this realm needs."

A flicker of movement caught both of our attention — my bracelet had begun to pulse with golden light, the twilight charm particularly bright. Helios's eyes fixed on it, something like recognition and annoyance crossing his perfect features.

"Aetheron," he practically growled, though the sound held a note of... fondness? "Still marking his treasures the same way after all these centuries."

That's when I noticed it — on his left wrist, partially hidden by his flowing sleeves, a silver bracelet that mirrored my own. The twilight charm caught the light, identical in every way except for its silver construction.

Understanding crashed through me like a wave.

Our eyes met again, but this time the tension between us had shifted. The air crackled with something that wasn't quite anger nor attraction, but some dangerous combination of both.

His iridescent eyes held centuries of history I couldn't begin to understand, while my gaze challenged him with possibilities he hadn't expected.

"Well," I said softly, reaching out to brush my fingers across his silver bracelet, feeling him tense at my boldness. "Isn't this interesting?"

The energy between us pulsed, gold and silver charms resonating with a harmony that made both our powers surge in response. It wasn't the same connection I felt with Aetheron — this was something different, something equally powerful but untamed, undefined.

Lord Helios caught my wrist, his touch sending sparks of electricity through my entire body.

"Very interesting indeed," he agreed, his voice dropping to a register that made heat pool in my belly despite myself.

"There you guys are!"

A voice cut through the tension, drawing every eye in the atrium.

A male strode toward our group with an easy confidence that seemed to ripple through the very elements themselves.

"My Lord said we'd cross paths with the Aether Court today, but I didn't expect such perfect timing."

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