Page 140 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

Kieran searches my face before he kneels in front of me, cupping my face with his hands. “What’s wrong?”

“My mother is having the baby,” I whisper, tears pooling in my eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know if I’m ready to be an older sister. I could be the baby’s mother! I’m uncertain about so many things right now, and not having my father here to help her though this just makes it even harder.”

His thumb rubs up against my cheek, sparks dancing across my skin. “Everything is going to be all right. The midwife is with her?”

I nod.

“Then you don’t have anything to worry about. She will take care of everything. She knows what she is doing,” he gently whispers. “And as for you not being ready, it’s okay to feel like that, but when the baby comes into this world, you are going to feel so much love for them. You are going to be the best older sister.”

I lean into his right hand and close my eyes, taking several deep breaths to calm myself down.

“Just take it minute by minute and you will be fine.” His voice is smooth and calming as he speaks.

“How do you know?” I ask, opening my eyes.

“I’ve helped a lot of women out among our people. It will come naturally to you, don’t worry.” He cracks a smile.

“And if it doesn’t?” I hate to ask the question, but I need to.

“Then you will learn every single day, and that’s okay as well. I have faith in you. I don’t doubt for a second that you won’t do amazing from the beginning.”

We take a second to just stare at each other, and I wish it could be more.

“I need to go back,” I whisper. “But can we meet up later?”

A smile blossoms on his face like a Cheshire cat. “Of course. Later tonight or tomorrow night?”

“Maybe tonight? I’m not sure,” I mumble.

“I’ll be here tonight, waiting. If you don’t come, I’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll talk when you can,” he gently says.

“Thank you. I really don’t want to go, but I need to. They are probably wondering where I am.” I pull away from his hands and put the last couple of pieces of ice in the bucket.

Kieran kisses my cheek, getting awfully close to my lips. “I’ll see you later.”

He stands to his full height and walks off, leaving me alone with my bucket of ice. My heart aches as he disappears right in front of me, and I stand, grabbing the bucket and making my way back to town. Every step I take is like walking through knee-high mud, my steps get slower and slower, struggling to walk away from Kieran.

I wish things could be different.

I take a deep breath of the cold air, letting it shock my lungs and bring me back to the present and not thinking about Kieran and wanting to be with him. But he’s always on my mind. Placing the bucket down on the cobblestone pathway, I flex my hand several times, bringing the blood back and giving it a rest. I thought having carried so many of these that my hands would get used to the weight, but they haven’t.

“Adeline, didn’t you just get ice the other day?” Prince Archie appears right in front of me.

Yelping, I take a step back and look at him with wide eyes. How did I miss him walking up to me? Was I that much in my head?

“I did, but my mother is having the baby.” I pick up the bucket again.

“I’m not done talk⁠—”

“Please, Prince Archie. You can punish me later for interrupting you, but my mother is having the baby and they need me,” I interrupt him, not caring about the consequences.

Before he can respond, I hurry through the streets, between the houses, and stop in front of ours as my mother lets out a scream. I wince and look away for a brief second before opening the door.

“I have the ice!” I announce.

“Put it in the pot so it can start boiling and purifying. We have some of the others already cooling, but she is close,” Maria says from next to my mother, holding her hand. “You can go do whatever you want, but please stay close so if I need anything, I can call your name.”

Nodding, I lean against the counter and look at the ceiling. Mother is still sitting on the chair, sweat dripping down her face and body.