Page 75 of Court of Aether and Shadows

"Her power... it's unlike anything I've ever felt. If we don't find a way to conceal it, every being with even a hint of magical sensitivity will be drawn to her like moths to a flame. Especially with that rift open.”

Ah. I guess we should attend to that sooner rather than later.

I nodded, the same worry having gnawed at me since the moment I felt her cross the veil.

The implications were staggering.

In her current state, untrained and unaware of her true nature, Sparrow was incredibly vulnerable. And yet, paradoxically, she was also perhaps the most dangerous being in any realm at this moment.

Satisfying pride scorched through me, making it hard to not smile at my chosen vixen and the immense power that would be a force acknowledged by all those who dared to belittle her.

"I've been considering our options," I admitted, my voice equally low. "There are ancient rites, binding spells that could dampen her aura... but they come with risks."

"Risks we may need to take," Kaelon pressed, his eyes darting to Sparrow's sleeping form. "The other courts will have felt her arrival. Even now, they may be mobilizing to claim her for themselves."

A growl rose unbidden in my throat at the thought of anyone else laying claim to my queen. The shadows in the room deepened, responding to my sudden flare of emotion.

Tendrils of darkness writhed at my feet, and I saw Kaelon take an involuntary step back.

With effort, I reined in my power.

Now was not the time to lose control.

"The binding spells," I continued, forcing my voice to remain steady, "they could suppress her power, yes. But they could also hinder her awakening, delay her coming into her full strength. And in doing so, we might inadvertently fulfill the very prophecies we seek to prevent."

Kaelon's brow furrowed.

"You speak of the Prophecy of Shadows. The one that foretells the rise of a queen who will either unite the realms or plunge them into eternal darkness?"

I nodded grimly.

"If we hamper her growth, if we deny her the chance to come into her power naturally, we risk creating the very monster our enemies fear. She must be allowed to awaken on her own terms, to choose her path freely."

"But how can she choose if she doesn't understand the stakes?" Kaelon argued. "She's been living as a human, my lord.She knows nothing of our world, of the delicate balance between the courts, of the prophecies that have shaped our actions for millennia."

"Then we must guide her," I said firmly. "Educate her, protect her, but allow her the freedom to make her own choices. It is the only way."

It’s not to say he was wrong in his worry. In fact, he was speaking nothing but facts, but that wasn’t fair to Sparrow. Yes, she was inexperienced and knew nothing of our world, but those essential tidbits could be taught. Learned and grown upon with enough time.

I had no doubt she could pick up on combat styles quickly. From the hints of her life in the real world, she had to protect herself from the dangers that waltzed with intention in her line of commitment.

She wouldn’t be left helpless and vulnerable in my presence, but she most certainly wouldn’t be some damsel in distress, waiting for us to shield her until things moved in the right direction.

That just wasn’t my Queen in the past life. Despite her rebirth, I doubt that was going to change.

Kaelon didn't look convinced, but he nodded in acquiescence.

"As you say, my lord. But that still leaves us with the immediate problem of her visibility. Who do you see as our most immediate threats?"

I rose from my seat by Sparrow's bed, beginning to pace the small room. The movement helped me think, helped me channel the restless energy that had been building since her arrival.

"The Aether Court, certainly," I mused aloud. "Our Light nemesis. They've always believed the prophecy spoke of a savior born of their bloodline. A being of Sparrow's power, with theability to bridge worlds... they would see her as the fulfillment of their most fervent hopes."

"And their most terrible fears," Kaelon added. "For if she truly is the one spoken of in prophecy, she has the power to unmake their realm as easily as save it."

I nodded, a grim smile tugging at my lips.

"Indeed. Which makes them unpredictable. They may seek to recruit her, bring her into their fold, and shape her to their purposes. Or they may seek to eliminate her before she can pose a threat to their dominion."

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