For the first ti, Gabbi realized just how much of a disadvantage she was at in this kingdom. Nearly everyone could fly, and that made all the difference. It was the reason she couldn’t use the loophole without nearly plunging to her death.
The loophole acted as so sort of shortcut—depending on the location one had in mind, it would transport them, and then the Ravenkind would stop their free fall by flying.
But she couldn’t do that. Right now, she had her arms tightly wrapped around Azrael, his wings beating steadily, propelling them forward through the air. The wind whipped against her face, her hair flying wildly as they glided through the sky.
Her mouth hung open in shock. She’d thought she had seen everything after the first ti she accidentally fell through the loophole, landing in the marketplace. But now, as she flew with Azreal, she saw the city as it truly was.
It was just like any other city, whether in the Fae realm or the human realm. Not that Gabbi had ever seen the human realm—she had been born in the Fae realm and lived there her entire life. But she liked to believe the human realm had its magnificent cities too, though perhaps not as impossibly breathtaking as this one.
"What’s this place called?" she asked over the wind.
"Ravendale," Azreal responded, his deep voice reverberating through her.
Gabbi turned her head slightly, her eyes widening as she took in more of the sprawling city below. "It’s amazing."
Amazing was an understatent. It was mind-boggling, an architectural and magical wonder. How had they built a city inside a mountain? How big was this mountain? How had they moved the stones and created such an intricate space? Gabbi’s mind swirled with questions, none of which had any logical answers. She had seen plenty of strange things in the Fae realm, but this... this defied all expectations.
Still, her curiosity didn’t dampen the wonder and joy she felt. All around her, Ravenkind flew with ease, their wings slicing through the air. They passed a group of children who cheered as Azreal flew by, waving enthusiastically at their king. Their bright eyes glanced curiously at Gabbi, no doubt wondering who this stranger was. She smiled back, her heart feeling unexpectedly warm at the sight.
As they soared higher, Gabbi’s eyes widened in awe, taking in the bustling marketplace below. The stalls were alive with activity, vendors calling out their wares, and custors haggling over prices.
All around, shops lined the streets, and the buildings appeared to rise directly from the mountain’s stone, as if they were an extension of the mountain itself. Each structure featured carvings and designs, seamlessly blending nature with craftsmanship. It was unlike anything Gabbi had ever encountered.
"I still can’t believe it," she whispered, more to herself than to Azreal.
Azreal chuckled, the sound deep and soothing, resonating in her chest. "You’ll get used to it," he said. "This is just the beginning. There’s so much more to show you. Wait till you see my palace."
"Palace?" Gabbi repeated, confusion furrowing her brow.
Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Didn’t we just leave your palace?"
Azreal snorted, amusent dancing in his eyes. "Little mate, if you thought that was my palace, then you have such low taste. That was just one of my many..." He paused, searching for the right words. "resting places. Let’s say it’s more of a temporary abode than a true ho."
"Oh." It finally made sense to Gabbi why the place had felt so devoid of personal touches. If he had many "resting places," he likely wouldn’t have ti or inclination to decorate each one to reflect himself.
A nagging question rose in her mind, and she couldn’t resist asking, "Why didn’t you take to the palace first?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she sensed the sudden tension in Azreal’s body, even though his face remained unreadable. He turned his gaze forward, wings slicing through the air as they flew.
"We are different from what you’re used to seeing. You needed ti to adjust," he replied carefully.
"Or rather, your people needed to adjust to ," Gabbi shot back, disappointnt lacing her tone.
Although Azreal’s words were partially right, if he had brought her here imdiately, it would have overwheld her. The incident at the marketplace was proof of that.
"Gabbi..." Azreal lifted her chin with a gentle finger, forcing her to et his gaze. "You’re right, and I’m sorry. However, you’re taking your rightful place now, and they will have no choice but to get used to you." He smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "No one in the world wouldn’t like you, Gabbi."
Her heart ward at his words, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she looked away, feeling flustered. She held on tighter as they flew toward the palace, the excitent bubbling within her.
Her world was expanding in ways she had never imagined, and despite the overwhelming strangeness of it all, she couldn’t shake the thrill coursing through her veins.
Finally, they arrived at the palace, and the breath was knocked out of her lungs.
It was incredible. Set into the mountain’s heart, the entrance was a massive, intimidating sculpture of a Ravenkind, its wings outstretched as if to welco—or warn—those who dared to enter.
Azreal landed gracefully in front of the grand entrance, their feet finally touching the ground. Gabbi took a mont to catch her breath, staring up at the towering figure. It was imposing yet beautiful, crafted with such skill that it felt almost alive. The stone glistened in the light filtering through the high openings above, casting ethereal patterns across the ground.
"Welco to my palace."
Gabbi stepped forward, heart racing with anticipation.
"It’s stunning," she breathed, looking around in wonder.
As they approached the entrance, the grand doors swung open, revealing a world inside that was just as breathtaking. The interior was a marvel, filled with designs that mirrored the architecture outside but were infused with rich colors and warm lights. Grand chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting a golden glow, and the air was thick with the scent of the mountain, strong, wild yet welcoming.
"Co on," Azreal urged, his eyes sparkling with excitent. "There’s so much more to see."
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