As Lila led them through to their quarters, they moved like children lost in a dream, their gazes wandering over the impossible structure that surrounded them. From the outside, the palace hadn’t looked half this large. Yet here they were, walking through endless halls that shouldn’t exist. Guess that was Fae magic for you.
"The Queen wanted the princess to have her own quarters," Lila said as they walked. "But I advised against it, knowing how mates prefer to stay close at all times. She saw reason and gave in."
"One thing you did right for once," Asher responded bluntly.
Lila’s head snapped toward him, her glare sharp enough to bore a hole through his skull.
But Asher met her gaze with that cold, unreadable look of his, daring her to say something more.
"Can we not?" Violet cut in, her voice tired. She’d dealt with too much in the past twenty-four hours; the last thing she needed was another petty argument.
"If you say so, Princess," Lila replied, her tone neutral but her pride clearly bruised.
Asher said nothing, though a flicker of guilt crossed his face before vanishing just as quickly.
Lila suddenly stopped. "We’re here."
The tall, regal door was carved from aged mahogany, its surface etched with curling vine-like patterns that shone faintly under the light. It stood framed between two white pillars veined with ivy leaves.
Lila didn’t even need to knock because as soon as she came close enough, the enchantments woven into the wood reacted to her presence, and the door opened on its own.
Seeing that, Roman frowned. He hoped those doors were friendly; there were no gaps he could squeeze through conveniently when he shifted into his friendly neighborhood serpentine form. It would take him all night to dig out an escape route.
"Impressive," Alaric said, stepping forward and running his fingers along the wood. "It’s almost like the technology in our world. Does it respond only to approaching footsteps, or is it customized to certain people?"
"It opens upon predicting footsteps."
"Then what about privacy since anyone can just come in?" Asher asked with a scowl.
Although it was a harmless question, perhaps because of the tension between her and Asher, Lila answered with a touch of arrogance.
"The house is sentient. It means it’s aware of everything that happens. If the occupant desires privacy, it knows not to open. You can speak to it — it listens."
"Such a convenient way of spying." No sooner had Asher spoken than a vine cracked out of nowhere and whacked him across the face.
Lila smirked knowingly. "Better treat the house well. Accidents do happen," she said with a veiled threat as she stepped into the room.
The others went in, leaving Asher behind. Violet was the one who turned and took his hand, sighing. "One step at a time."
"This place seems too good to be true," he muttered, suspicion thick in his voice.
"We don’t know that yet, not without getting to know the realm first."

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