Page 27 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Not as a supplicant or a servant, but as his equal.

As his queen.

With that resolution burning in my heart, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

For the first time in years, I felt truly at peace.

The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and mystery. But I was ready to face it head-on; a weird and yet empowering confidence to carry in my heart.

Soon, I’d no longer be just Sparrow — the street rat turned assassin everyone used and abused to get their missions done and gave scrap change instead of the millions I deserved to rid them of their hindrances.

I’m something else…something so ancient and powerful…this world…no…both worlds will never accurately predict would be heading their way.

A force no one will ever see coming.

The Prophecies Of Aether And Shadows

~AETHERON~

The obsidian walls of my shower chamber faded behind me as I stepped into the cool air of the corridor, droplets of water clinging to my midnight-black skin.

Steam curled around my form, dissipating into the ever-present shadows that wreathed my feet. I breathed deeply, the scent of night-blooming flowers and ozone filling my lungs – the unique fragrance of my realm.

The infamous Twilight Court.

My fortress, a marvel of Fae architecture that I had shaped with centuries of will and magic, stretched out around me. Walls rippled, revealing tantalizing glimpses of other worlds.

Staircases defied gravity, leading to chambers that shifted at my whim. It was a place of wonder and terror, a reflection of my own nature.

As I walked, lesser Fae scurried from my path, bowing low. Their fear and reverence washed over me, a heady combination that I barely noticed.

My thoughts were consumed by her.

My little Songbird.

My queen-to-be.

The cool air raised goosebumps on my flesh, a sensation that reminded me all too keenly of her touch.

Memories of our recent encounter in the training room flooded my mind, each recollection stoking the fire of my desire. I could still feel the softness of her skin, the warmth of her breath, the way her body had fit so perfectly against mine.

The ache of wanting her settled low in my belly, an exquisite torture.

I clenched my fists, feeling my claws dig into my palms. The sharp pain helped to anchor me — to keep me from losing myself in the tide of lust that threatened to overwhelm me.

That’s the power my Songbird had on me.

A few drops of my blood fell to the floor, instantly absorbed by the living shadows at my feet, like a sacrifice. The coppery scent filled the air, a reminder of the violence that lurked just beneath my carefully controlled surface.

By all the dark powers, I could still taste her.

The sweetness of her mouth lingered on my tongue, more intoxicating than the finest Fae wines. The way she had melted into me, her soft body yielding against my hard planes, had nearly broken my iron control.

A growl rumbled within my chest as I recalled how she had wrapped her legs around me, the heat of her core pressed against my abdomen.

It had taken every ounce of my considerable willpower not to take her then and there.

To claim her fully as my mate…

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