Angel gives me a tight smile and gently leads me away, his hand resting on the small of my back. His discomfort seeps into me, and my chest hollows at how deeply his past still haunts his present.
He can’t even bear to stand outside the place that’s supposed to be his home. The sadness radiating from my mate makes me want to storm inside and break a few bones. I hate that they ruined the idea of home for him.
As we walk away from Conquer, Angel’s shoulders begin to relax. He shows me his favorite places, where his most trusted warriors and favorite people live. I listen as he animatedly talks about the old elf woman who visits him at the end of each month with the most delicious pasta casserole he’s ever tasted.
The story lifts his spirits, bringing him back to the cheerful version of himself he was before we passed the castle built on his pain.
We pause in front of a building split into two sections. The smaller side is a school, while the larger one is a training center for kids.
Angel explains that a few years ago, Khatri proposed to the council that every child should receive basic training regardless of whether they plan to join the ranks in the future.
He wanted his daughters and every other kid in the kingdom to be able to defend themselves if it ever came to that.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from a man who personally witnessed the aftermath of the Grim Reaper’s daughter being abducted from her own house.
Next, we stop in front of a layered castle, each floor shrinking in size as it rises, forming a massive triangular structure.
Unlike Conquer, this castle is forged with solid black bricks, with every floor’s railing adorned with dark ruby jewels. The fortress-like design makes it clear. This masterpiece of battle strategy is undoubtedlyWar.
“Each floor specializes in a different weapon. The top levelgives archers a complete 360-degree view. Notice how the floors widen as they descend? It’s a labyrinth. The Horsemen families stay here during an attack because it’s easier to protect.”
It’s clever how the stairs on the sides are intentionally made uneven to trip intruders and give our soldiers time to retaliate.
“It must’ve taken years to build all this.” I’m in awe, and Harvey’s face mirrors my shock.
“We had tons of centaurs and weredragon volunteers, so it only took around two years,” Angel answers.
Ex-fucking-cuse me?
“Did you just saycentaursandweredragons?What happened to the good old demons that used to live in our kingdoms?”
Grace has to step in when Angel is trying his best not to laugh at my bewildered state. “Demons are still around. But after a separate realm for Horsemen was announced, we received numerous transfer requests from other species. Most were approved.”
“Please tell me we have banshees here.”
“Sorry, sweetheart, they—”
“—are total bitches. Most entitled species I’ve ever met other than Heaven-bound Archangels, of course.” Seiji cuts in, looking disgusted.
Why fates why???
The one species I actually want to interact with isn’t here. Waiting for a decent one to come along is going to be absolute torture.
Angel finds my disappointment adorable and kisses me until my pout disappears, then turns back to Harvey, who hasn’t stopped asking questions for the past hour.
My mate has the patience of a saint, but I’m ready to deck my best friend in the face. It’s obvious Harvey is worried about failing, but overcompensating by diving into work like a madman isn’t the solution.
Grace finally pulls him aside when she notices Harvey stressing out way too much for someone who’s been here lessthan an hour.
I’m admiring the jewelry store’s door, glittering with various shades of sapphires, when Grace tells me it’s run by a dragon family who relocated here after losing their home in a vicious mountain fire.
Who better to run a gemstone business than dragons? Their talent for identifying rare jewels is unmatched, and since hoarding doesn’t benefit them these days, opening a jewelry shop is a genius move.
Seiji jogs over and slings an arm around my shoulders. “Next up is Famine. You’re going to love it. I sketched the design myself, so prepare to be dazzled.”
“I thought the plan was to letherguess.”
“I’m giving a tour, Anxo. Stop being so needy.”
