Page 144 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“You were in the forest. That is where they live. You are always in the forest, and I was wondering if you were meeting with one,” she explains.

“No, I wasn’t. We’ve been taught not to look at or talk to them. I am not going to randomly start talking to them one day.” I roll my eyes. “You need to stop asking me about it. I haven’t and I’m not going to. There is nothing for me to discuss with them or a reason to meet up with them. I am just walking around like I normally do or I’m getting ice from the river.”

She eyes me, but nods. “Sorry, I just want you safe and the Fae are not safe. They are savages. Cruel and unkind toward everyone but their own. I don’t want you to get close to one and end up hurt or dead.”

But she doesn’t know them like I do. I keep that to myself, not wanting to put her on edge or suspect me of talking to them.

“I understand. I just wish you would believe me when I tell you that I’m not talking to them. I go into the forest to either get ice or water and walk around. That is all and nothing more or less,” I explain. “Now, I really must get back to Mother.”

“I was actually on my way there. I want to see the baby and ask if there was anything I could do to help,” Avira starts walking with me.

I draw my head back, eyebrows pinching together as I look at her. “Wh-what?”

“I’m trying here,” she sneers at me, her true colors once again showing. “I’m trying to be better, so I am visiting to see how Mother is doing.”

I slowly nod, not believing a word Avira said. There is no way what I said yesterday changed her mind in less than a day. I’ve been trying to show her this for our whole lives.

“I know it seems out of the blue, but what you said really got to me. I didn’t mean to miss Father’s funeral. I even told the king that I was going to go but got the dates mixed up.” she actually looks sad as she says those words.

“And yesterday?” I stop in front of the house. “You disappeared as Mother started to go into labor. Where were you then?”

“Mother knows that I don’t do pregnancy and giving birth very well. I’m never having children. I don’t want to go through all of that,” Avira explains. “I thought she would have told you.”

Mother isn’t telling me much these days or talking to me either. It has gotten a little better since she had the baby, but I think it’s just because she needs my help.

Kind of hard to ask for help if you don’t talk to the person.

“She hasn’t,” I mumble.

“She probably thought it was my information to share,” Avira brushes it off.

I can’t help but just stare at Avira, feeling strange that we are getting along right now. Never in my life did I think this was going to happen. Is she really changing?

“Stop looking at me like that, and let’s get inside.” She rolls her eyes and walks into the house.

I follow closely behind, wanting to keep a better eye on her in case she tries something. I don’t know what Avira is up to, but she couldn’t have changed overnight, right?

“Avira!” My mother lovingly says.

Jealousy takes hold of my heart and squeezes as I see her face light up. I haven’t seen her smile like that for so long and now she is really happy to see Avira?

“Come meet your younger brother.” She beckons her over.

“Do you have a name yet?” Avira asks.

Mother shakes her head. “Not yet, but soon I will. I’m just waiting for your father to talk to me and help me decide.”

I look at her in worry. Does she think she has been talking to Father? Is that normal, or is it her way of coping right now?

“He will in no time,” Avira gently says. “So precious.”

“I know you don’t like babies, but you were once one. So small and in need of protecting from the world,” Mother whispers as she looks down at the bundle of joy in her arms.

In need of protection. That is what he is going to need for a long time, and I don’t know if Mother and I will be able to give him that. What if a war starts or the prince becomes king and does terrible things?

“If only Father were here to see him.” Avira takes several steps away from Mother.

“He would be if the prince didn’t kill him,” I mumble under my breath to myself.