Page 127 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

Zahra looks at me in shock.

“Didn’t think I was going to say that?” I lift an eyebrow.

“Most people find humans weak, and to have a male human as a mate isn’t the best,” she quietly replies.

I give her a small smile. “I don’t care. If he is your mate, you should be with him. Just because he is technically weaker doesn’t mean he won’t still be protective of you and want what’s best.”

Zahra doesn’t look at me as I finish talking. I wish I knew what she was going through, but I’m not going to pretend I know. My situation is quite different from hers.

“He is a palace guard, which has to mean something,” I point out.

“That he could turn on me at any point and kill both of us? That he could tell the prince and king what is going on and have every Fae executed or whipped for finding their mates?” Her gaze narrows on me.

“Well, that wasn’t what I was talking about. I was going more toward him knowing how to handle himself. They don’t just pick anyone to be guards. They probably have to go through tests and some kind of physical endurance test,” I explain. “He is strong and has to be able to handle himself. Don’t underestimate him.”

Zahra looks at me in shock before nodding. Silence fills the air around us as we look at each other. I wasn’t expecting to give her advice, but it felt natural, the words coming from my mouth. It felt like I was meant to say it.

“I can see why you are going to make an amazing High Lady.” She tilts her head to the side. “You just know the right thing to say, don’t you?”

I shrug. “Not all the time, but that just flowed out of me.”

Zahra chuckles and shakes her head as she looks up at the sky.

“Tell Kieran I said hi.” I pick up my bucket.

She sobers up and looks at me. “You aren’t going to wait for him?”

Shaking my head, I look in the direction of the town. “I’ve been gone long enough. I don’t need anyone getting suspicious.”

“All right, I will.” She nods.

“Oh.” I raise my free hand to stop her from turning around. “Can you let him know that I am cautious of Skylar, but that we are now on the same page and she is not going to go behind my back anymore. Unless it’s for my apparent soon-to-be engagement to the prince, but don’t worry. I’m not going to marry him,” I quickly say. “He doesn’t have to worry about anything.”

“He’s always worried, but I’ll let him know you told him not to.” She chuckles once again.

“I’ll see you when I see you,” I mumble and start walking back to the village.

I don’t look back as I make my way toward the cobblestone road. Chatter fills my ears as people walk around, talking to each other. Today is one of the nicer days in the winter. There is still snow on the ground, but it isn’t falling, and the sun is shining down on the town.

“Adeline!” Skylar yells my name.

“Adeline.” Prince Archie’s voice fills my ears.

I gently place the bucket on the ground and bow as he comes into view. I want to ignore him, but last time he gave me a warning… I don’t want to do it again and suffer from his wrath.

“What can I do for you?” I politely ask.

“Once again, I was asking around town, wondering where you were. I stopped by your house to see how you and your mother were doing, but you weren’t there.” He looks at me disapprovingly.

“I was getting ice. We ran out again since we are trying to make as much clothing as possibly before the baby comes,” I explain. “I am back now.”

“You are always off in the forest,” he says in disgust.

“Just to get ice!” I reply, panicking when he takes a step closer to me. “You can even ask Mother. I told her we needed more. I didn’t want to run out and have to wait for the ice to melt.”

My heart rate picks up, and my hands start to sweat as he looks at me. Is he going to do anything else? Is he trying to make me so nervous that I start spilling my guts and tell him anything he wants to know?

No.