Page 120 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“Do not speak,” he hisses. “There could be ears listening,” his voice lowers.

Right, because I’m being watched by someone, but who?

“Just take the salve and put a little on after each session. It should help with the pain and allow the swelling to go down quickly,” he says.

“Won’t people get suspicious with how fast it is healing?” I ask.

“No, because there are healers in the palace who create things all the time. No one will blink an eye if you don’t draw attention to it.” He places the little bottle in my hand and resumes walking. “Are you going to follow, or are you just going to stare at the bottle?”

I rush after him, picking up my pace to catch up. “Thank you?” It comes out more as a question.

Why would Zahra do something like this? Is Henry her mate? Or is he pretending since he only said the first letter of her name and made me fill in the blank?

But the way he was possessive of me not saying her name and that only he could, it isn’t normal. It was like he was her mate and extremely possessive of her. But Zahra has said nothing about her mate being human. Does she even really have a mate? I know Zahra said she does, but how do I not know she wasn’t lying to try and get me to trust her?

I don’t know if I should trust Henry until I know for sure from Zahra herself or Kieran.

Kieran has to know about their relationship if I don’t see Zahra. He is the High Lord, so he has to know everyone and their mates, right?

“Just make sure to put it on,” he tells me. “And if it’s still bad tomorrow morning, apply more on again. That should heal it faster.”

“How do you know this?” I inquire, skeptical.

Henry pulls his hair away from his forehead and I see a long scar slashing through the left. “She gave me some of the salve to heal it quickly. Sadly, it doesn’t help with scarring, but it stops the pain.”

“How—” but I stop myself from asking how he got it.

It’s none of my business and I don’t want him to think we are friends. There is no way I can get close to him or trust him until I talk to Kieran. Until then, I am going to be civil.

“That is none of your business.” His voice is curt. “Here you are. Keep that salve hidden. I don’t need you snitching on me.”

“I won’t,” I growl, glaring at him.

I keep way too many secrets already. If someone found out he gave it to me, that would only lead to more questions.

I’m not letting that happen.

“Just a reminder. I don’t need you doing something silly and getting all of us in trouble,” he sneers. “I’ll be back next week to pick you up at the same time. Don’t make me wait or I will have to tell the prince.”

“I thought you didn’t like innocent people, especially women, getting hurt.” I eye him suspiciously.

“I don’t, but I’d rather it be you than me. I won’t play around. I have a life to live. If you want to put yours in danger, that’s your own fault,” he replies.

He doesn’t know that I’m Kieran’s mate. Was he lying when he said he knew Zahra? Would she have told him I am mates with Kieran?

Something isn’t adding up here, and it’s making me uneasy.

“Fine. I’ll be on time. Don’t worry.” I roll my eyes and walk to the front door. “Thanks for the salve.”

Before he can respond, I open the door and go into my house.

“Your hand,” is the first thing Mother says.

“I’m going to put it in some cold water and put salve on it,” I tell her. “It will be fine in a couple of days.”

Or I hope it will be. I’m not going to put on the salve Henry gave me until I talk with Kieran. I don’t want to risk it getting worse. What if he gave it to me to see if I would use it, but instead I get a reaction and it warns people that I’ve put something on it that I shouldn’t?

Not happening.