Page 57 of Court of Aether and Shadows

The snake hissed in triumph, brushing along my cheek as if to praise me for my efforts.

Like a flick, I’m gasping for breath once more, back in the present where everything seems to be going haywire.

"Sparrow! Report!" Liam's voice edged with panic now, finally broke through my daze. It takes me a second to answer because the world is spinning and I feel like I could throw up any second.

"Target... neutralized," I managed to say, my own voice sounding distant and strange to my ears. Then I’m doing my best to mute the intercom as I vomit whatever I’d eaten a while ago.

Couldn’t even remember what I stuffed in my face when doing all that research.

"Sparrow?” Liam’s worry is getting on my nerves, which is a bit amusing in this odd state of mind because isn’t it supposed to be romantic that the man who’s had a crush on you for eons is seriously concerned for your safety?

Okay…maybe I’m losing my mind.

I manage to sit up, needing to take a few seconds to breathe as I realize how my body is trembling. I feel winded like I’d been running for hours, but also excited. Buzzing with energy. Alive?

Well…no shit Sparrow.Of course, you’re alive.

“God, I’m going to need an Advil after this,” I end up grumbling while I try to stand.

“Sparrow! Can you talk to me already?!” Liam snaps.

“I’m fine!” I snap right back. “Jesus. Who put you on the fucking inter?—”

A massive explosion rocked the building I was perched on, igniting a screech as I dared to lose my balance. I gasp whenI’m falling forward, which will be right off the ledge — only for something to crash into me, forcing me to fall right back.

The air is practically punched out of me as I’m soaring to the ground and skidding until I’m seemingly in the middle of the roof.

“What in the fuck?” I gasp, and quickly sit up, my eyes landing on the thing that just crashed into me.

A…fox?

I’m staring at the fox, that’s as white as snow. Its tail is hauntingly beautiful as it sways from side to side, almost hypnotically. Its eyes flow the perfect shade of red — that hibiscus shade that calms my heart almost instantly. Then it’s shifting to that cyan turquoise, like a shade of shifting oceans that glimmer with hope and promise.

Dust and debris rained down on us, but it’s so slow now, like the rest of the world that has suddenly come to a standstill. I immediately think of the snake from the other realm, and now I realize who this creature is.

“You,” I dare to whisper. “You saved me.”

I watch it slowly nod before innocently looking my way.

“Again,” I continue and allow myself to smile weakly. I suddenly feel drained, which has the creature suddenly shrinking. It’s so tiny, I can barely see it, but I feel a lot more energized now.

A spike of life.

“Thank you,” I breathe, piecing together that the creature must have shrunk in size to help me feel less exhausted.

Why…is a question for another day.

Maybe with a shot or two.

I scrambled to my feet, knowing I needed to get to safety fast as the building began to rock. I look to the fox, outstretching my hand.

“We need to go,” I urge, watching its head tilt one way in curiosity. “The building is going to collapse.”

The creature simply jumps on the edge, waving its tail and seemingly disappearing as the smoke consumes its glowing presence.

“Or…you can just be a figment of my imagination,” I whine. “God, I’m insane. Insanity decided to choose me today!”

I raced for the roof access door, only to find my path blocked by a group of masked figures.

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