For the first time, 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 some 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 time 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 understatement. 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 customers 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, amusement 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 home."
Although Azreal’s words were partially right, if he had brought her here immediately, it would have overwhelmed her. The incident at the marketplace was proof of that.
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