Page 136 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“No, I am going to go after him and show him he can’t do whatever he wants without any consequences. That is not how life works.”

Before I can think it through, I wrap my arms around his waist, keeping him in place.

“Sweets, let me go,” he slowly says.

“No,” I stubbornly reply. “You are not going to do anything that is going to put you in harm’s way. I know you want revenge for what he did to me, but you aren’t going to do it right now. Not when you aren’t thinking clearly, and not when you still have the curse placed on you.”

“This is the clearest I’ve ever thought,” Kieran cups my face with his hands. “I know what I want and who I want it from.”

“But you aren’t going to do anything because you could start a war,” I point out.

“A war we could easily win,” he replies.

“Yes, you can easily win the war between humans and Fae, but you don’t know who the witch is. You don’t know how to break the curse. Do you really want to kill all the humans who oppose you and your rule without finding the witch or have her place another curse on you?” I ask.

“She would not be able to place a curse on us Fae again. Not unless she had a willing participant to drink or eat whatever she serves. While she is a witch and a powerful one, she still has her limits,” Kieran explains.

“But you don’t know who the witch is. It could be anyone,” I whisper. “Just don’t do anything yet. I don’t want my time with you to be over because you want to avenge me.”

I never want my time with Kieran to be over. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, going through ups and downs and getting closer to each other. I want all of that with him and if he goes and kills the prince now, we won’t have it.

“Please, don’t do anything. I don’t want to lose the time I have with you,” I gently say.

Kieran searches my face before nodding. “Fine.”

I lean my head on his chest and take a deep breath, allowing my shoulders to relax fully. I hadn’t even realized how tense I had grown.

“Everything is going to be fine.” He runs his hand through my hair. “We believe we are getting closer to figuring out how to break the curse. Before we know it, we will be free of this dreaded curse and able to live our lives the way we want it… together.”

“I can’t wait for the day,” I reply honestly.

“Good because I can’t either.” He kisses the top of my head. “Now, you need to go back home before people start to wonder where you are.”

I pull away, pouting. “I don’t want to.”

“I don’t want you to either, but it will all be worth it in the end. We will get through this and will have our whole lives together,” he gently says.

I take a step away and give him a little wave before turning around and walking back to town. With each step I take, it feels like my chest grows tighter and tighter. I hate walking away from Kieran, but I know I have to right now. If we are caught together, it’s the end of us.

I fix my scarf before stepping into the town, not wanting any prying eyes to see the bruise around my neck and start talking.

“Everything is going to be okay,” I mutter to myself as I make my way home.

I have to believe it or else I won’t get through the day. It doesn’t take me long to get home, and when I do, Mother is sitting at the table, holding her stomach, grimacing. I rush to her side and drop to my knees.

“Are you all right?” I ask, panic running through me as I look over her body.

There isn’t any water on the ground, and I don’t see any blood anywhere.

“Mother, are you okay?” I ask again when she doesn’t reply.

“The baby was just kicking,” she whispers, her voice shaky.

“Kicking or were you having a contraction?” I pressure her. “Do I need to get the midwife?”

She waves her hand in the air. “They are the same thing to me. It is not time to have the baby yet, but soon.”

I take a deep breath and slowly let it out as I relax on the ground.