Kai let me enjoy the view for a few moments, my eyes tracing the lines of the horizon, absorbing the details of the landscape around us. The world seemed to stretch endlessly, and I found myself lost in the tranquility of it. The stillness of the moment made everything feel surreal. Then, after what felt like an eternity but was probably just a few minutes, Kai opened another portal with a flick of his wrist. This one took us directly to the castle.
Well, he called it a castle, but if I were to be honest, I would call it something much more grounded. It was a massive, wooded house, towering with seven floors stacked upon one another. The structure seemed out of place, not quite fitting the grandeur you'd expect from a place with such a prestigious name. It wasn't exactly what I'd imagined when I thought of a castle. But even as odd as it was, there was something comforting about the way the place felt.
The more I looked at it, the more I realized there was a certain warmth to the whole setup, like it was designed to be lived in, not just admired from a distance. But the strangest thing about the whole experience wasn't the place itself; it was the way it made me feel. For some unexplainable reason, standing in front of the castle felt... familiar. It wasn't like I'd been here before, yet there was a strange sense of belonging that settled deep within me. It was as if this place had some magnetic pull on my very soul, drawing me in and giving me a sense of safety that I hadn't expected.
It was an unsettling realization, but it was there. I felt protected here. Like, for the first time in a long while, nothing could touch me in this space. Still, I wasn't about to show any of that. I wasn't the type to go around admitting such things, especially not to Kai. No, that feeling of safety was something I'd keep to myself, buried deep inside, tucked away from anyone who could use it against me.
"So, this is the private residence," Kai said, his voice calm and casual as he gestured around the space, almost as if showing me something mundane.
I looked around, still a little skeptical, my mind racing as I processed everything. "There are more than four places like this one in the Kingdom?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. It seemed impossible that something like this could be duplicated, and yet here he was telling me there were more.
Kai didn't seem phased by my reaction, only giving a small, knowing nod. "Yeah, there are at least four others that are similar to this one, though none of them quite compare to this particular one. But in general, they're all like this, with a certain level of comfort that the King enjoys. I mean, he calls this place 'The Castle,' but really, he just likes things that are comfortable, not too extravagant. This place has a certain warmth that he absolutely loves. It's his safe haven. Oh, and there's a subfloor dedicated to training, but when I say it's a training space, I mean the entire floor is dedicated to it. It's like a whole other world down there."
I couldn't help but look around, still impressed by the sheer size and practicality of the place. "That's so cool," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips as I processed the idea of a training floor being so massive.
Kai gave me a dry look but didn't seem bothered by my enthusiasm. "It's definitely something. But I'm guessing you're more curious about where the 'perfect King' is, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow at him, unable to resist teasing. "So, where's your perfect King, anyway?"
Kai rolled his eyes dramatically, clearly fed up. "I was with you, do you honestly think I know where that bastard is right now?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I could tell he was clearly irritated by something.
"You're his whore, aren't you?" I couldn't resist teasing him, pushing just a little more.
He glared at me, but even as his frustration mounted, I saw the smallest twitch of his mouth, as if he might just crack and laugh at my antics. Before either of us could get in another word, a high-pitched male voice called out from somewhere nearby, making me jump in surprise.
"Kai? Are you at home?" the voice rang out, sharp and clear, carrying through the large space.
Kai sighed dramatically, muttering to himself. "And here we go... This is one of the six bastards I mentioned before." He turned toward the sound of the voice, his posture stiffening slightly as if preparing for an encounter he didn't want to have.
"Yes, Ryusei, I'm here!" Kai called back, his voice laced with annoyance.
As soon as he spoke, I felt someone's presence approaching, and I instinctively tensed, not sure what to expect. A figure appeared from around the corner, and I found myself immediately scanning him from head to toe.
The fae male who stood before me was taller than Kai by a few inches, his frame lean yet muscular. His skin was an almost translucent white, a sharp contrast to Kai's sun-kissed golden skin. His hair was long and wild, a mass of black curls that tumbled down past his shoulders. And then, there were his eyes—pink. I'd never seen a fae with pink eyes before, and the unusual color caught me off guard. There was something about his gaze, something mischievous and playful, but it also held a certain intensity that immediately put me on edge.
The moment his eyes met mine, I found myself frozen for a second, caught in his gaze. My mouth opened before I could stop it, and the words just came tumbling out.
"Shit, you're hot as hell," I blurted without thinking. The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted them. My face went red almost instantly as I realized how bold I sounded.
The fae male didn't seem to mind, though. In fact, he smirked, as if he was used to this kind of reaction. "Thank you? You're hot too," he replied casually, his voice smooth and confident.
Kai's expression turned dark, his brows furrowing as he glared at the two of us. It was clear that he wasn't amused by the interaction, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding together.
"I'm Ryusei, like Kai said," the fae male introduced himself, stepping closer and offering a hand. "And you are?"
I glanced between Kai and Ryusei, momentarily hesitant. Something about the situation felt off, but I wasn't about to give him anything so easily. "I won't tell you my name just yet, okay?" I said firmly, holding my ground. There was something in his eyes, a challenge, but I wasn't backing down.
Ryusei chuckled, clearly enjoying the mystery I presented. "I like a good mystery," he said with a grin, his smile widening as he took me in. "You look like someone named Freya."
I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Not at all," I responded, shaking my head lightly. "Nice guess, though. But you're wrong."
"So, you're a fae male?" I asked, curious about him, especially after that strange guess.
Ryusei gave a light laugh. "Mhm, technically yes. But I'm a hybrid—part fae, part werewolf." He shrugged as though it was no big deal.
I raised an eyebrow, impressed by his nonchalant attitude. "That's awesome," I said, genuinely intrigued by the mix of his heritage.
Ryusei's attention then shifted to Bakaashi, who had been following behind us quietly. He crouched down and gently pet him. "Did you know that the fae boy right here is terrified of cute ferrets?" he asked, barely able to contain his laughter.
Kai's face immediately went from annoyed to pure horror, his expression filled with disbelief. He shot me a sharp glare, as if to say why did I have to laugh at this. But it was too late—I couldn't hold it in anymore. I laughed, the sound escaping me as I clutched my stomach, thoroughly amused by the chaos unfolding.
"This dumbass is the last person you should've said that to, little witch," Kai muttered, facepalming as he smacked his hand against his forehead. The frustration was clear in his voice, but I could tell he was trying to hide how much he was actually enjoying this.