Page 148 of Court of Aether and Shadows

~AETHERON~

Our powers clashed like opposing storms as we descended into the private corridors beneath the academy.

Helios's celestial energy kept trying to overpower my shadows, while my darkness seemed determined to swallow his light.

Just like old times.

"Your interest in my wife's education is touching," I said dryly as we navigated the ancient tunnels. "Though one might question the necessity of your constant supervision in every single class."

Helios's perfect features tightened slightly, his iridescent robes rippling with irritation.

"She's not just your wife, Aetheron.” Unlike the Elders and Professors, Helios wasn’t going to pretend he didn’t see or feel what was obvious to many of us.That Sparrow is most definitely the reincarnation of Liarel. My wife…and Queen.“Or have you forgotten the prophecies that speak of her importance to all courts?"

"Interesting how those prophecies suddenly matter now that she's returned," I countered, my shadows coiling defensively. "The Council certainly didn't seem concerned with them when they tried to deny her admission."

The air between us crackled with centuries of complicated history. Our footsteps echoed through the underground passage, marking time like heartbeats in the tense silence.

"I know what you're doing," Helios finally said, his voice carrying harmonics of accusation. "Watching from the shadows, pulling strings from a distance. Always the puppet master, aren't you?"

I had to suppress a laugh at his assessment.

"Actually, I'm trying to give her space."

The admission seemed to surprise him.

"She needs to find her own way here. Discover her strength without me hovering over her like some possessive shadow."

"How... unexpectedly mature of you," Helios muttered, though I caught the slight approval in his tone.

The tunnel widened into a chamber filled with ancient magic, our powers creating aurora-like displays as they continued their eternal dance of opposition. I leaned against a wall, watching the light show with thoughtful eyes.

"She's not just Liarel reborn," I said quietly. "Sparrow has her own fire, her own destiny. Suffocating her with protection and expectations would only drive her away...something you might want to consider before scheduling yourself as her constant companion."

Helios's perfect features showed a flicker of something —understanding, perhaps, or memory.

"You think I don't know that? That I can't see how different she is? How much stronger she is at such an early stage of adaptation?"

Our elements swirled between us, creating patterns that spoke of shared history and complicated futures.

“I could protect her from afar, watch over her progress through subtle means. Let her bloom in her own time, in her own way, but there’s too much at risk. Far more at stack this time around.”

"She already has four wolves circling her," I continued, watching how Helios's celestial energy flickered at the mention. "Not to mention whatever...connection you're developing."

"Jealous?" Helios asked though the usual bite was missing from his tone.

Instead, he sounded almost...thoughtful.

"Concerned," I corrected, my shadows dancing thoughtfully around us. "The Council may have given us a month, but we both know they're hoping she'll fail. That all these powerful women will fail. And now with the wolves' bond growing stronger..."

"You're worried about her Omega cycles," Helios finished, surprising me with his insight. "That's part of why you're keeping your distance. You know what happens when an Omega of her power level enters her first phase."

Her first heat…

The air grew thick with shared understanding. We'd both seen what could happen when powerful Omegas came into their full nature. Add in multiple court wolves and ancient magic...

"The academy could quite literally explode," I acknowledged. "Which is why I'm trusting you, despite our...history, to help guide her through this. To teach her control before her power overwhelms her."

Helios studied me for a long moment, his iridescent eyes unreadable.

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