Page 25 of Taken By the Shadow Prince

And so, focusing as I wrap my magic around Mavey, me, and both of our horses, I take us to my home. My realm.

To Atheya.

Chapter 15

Mavey

his realm

I’m breathless for a moment, until air fills my lungs, smelling like an enchanted night.

Atheya is... not at all what I thought it would look like.

I didn’t expect eternal fires or anything, but... I also didn’t expect it to look sobeautiful. I don’t know where we are, but I know there’s a very large and very ornate water fountain, and that’s enough to tell me about the surrounding luxuries.

Armin is silent beside me. His presence is powerful though, and difficult to ignore. He’s allowing me the chance to take it all in.

It’s easy to see how someone as beautiful as him came to be in a place like this. It’s as if only things lovely in appearance could possibly come from a realm such as this one. Because Armin—

Arminisbeautiful, as much as I have tried to avoid thinking about it. It’s the only word that could describe him. Achingly deep and bright blue eyes, full lips, that sharp, narrow nose. Thick, dark and wavy hair. Tall and muscular body. So gorgeous it’s almost devastating to look at him, to see how untouchable he is.

“Where are we?” I ask after a moment.

He knows what I mean. “This is where I rule. It’s still just called Atheya, though. We don’t give different names to the same place.” Armin leans an arm on my shoulder and then lifts that arm, pointing his finger. “Up there is my home. It’s where you’ll be staying as well.”

I frown. “Then why are we here?”

He chuckles. “Because there’s no way in hell these horses are coming with us. Come, I’ll show you to the stables.” He takes a few steps, and I’m right behind him, but he quickly stops and says, “I almost forgot to tell you to stay on your guard.”

“I’m always on my guard.”

His lips curl into a grin. “I meant more mentally than physically. As in... anything you might be sensitive about, lock that part of you up. Emotional weaknesses are a demon’s favorite meal.”

“Delightful,” I mutter drily.

“Yes,” Armin says. “We seem to think so, anyway.” Then he turns and starts walking again, and I cannot seem to figure out if he knew I was being sarcastic or not. Or if he thought I found the games they play here to be amusing.

And hell—maybe I will. I suppose we’ll find out.

The stables Armin takes us to are black with emerald accents, like the green enameled terracotta roof tiles. He takes my horse from me and puts her in her own stall and then places his own right next to it. The man who must take care of them merely watches from a distance, as if he knows better than to approach Armin when not addressed.

I’d say he must have suffered some consequence for it before, if the look in his eyes is any indication.

When they’re both put away, he says, “AndnowI’ll take you to the castle.”

That’s the only warning I get before I’m lost somewhere between the folds of space and time—

And then we’re standing in front of wrought-iron gates, the metal curving into a complex design that my eyes struggle to follow. Large green gems are inlaid into the metal, a stunning addition to what is already a glorious design.

And that’s simply thegate. What lies inside?

I quickly find out.

And it is all beautiful too, though maybe not so attention grabbing as that gate. Most of Armin’s design choices are understated. The floors in the hallway are checkered with black and, of course, green. The green threaded with gold veins, and the black speckled with it.

He doesn’t tell me what each door leads to, and I don’t ask. I know better than to assume that those doors hide something of substance. Most of them are probably bedrooms, or they’re empty, or they are used for storage.

Armin does point out the library, though, and the kitchens. He says, “When you live here, you can have them create anything you’d like. As my guest, they’ll be required to give it to you.” He winks then.

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