Page 147 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

After several minutes, I push my chair back and grab my coat before heading outside. The ice-cold air hits my face, and I let out a shaky breath, letting the cold penetrate my body. I’m not going to last long out here without being close to Kieran or going back inside.

It’s quiet as I make my way through the town and into the forest. Only a few people are out, closing up their shop or walking with their significant other. One day, that is going to be Kieran and me. One day, soon, I hope, Kieran and I will be able to walk down the streets, holding hands and being ourselves.

Until that day, though, we are going to have to meet in the forest in secret.

A smile spreads across my face as I see Kieran leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, as he looks at the ground. I stop, taking him in as he hasn’t noticed my presence. He looks so peaceful.

“Are you going to stare at me all night long or are you going to come over here and talk?” he asks, his voice light as he looks up at me.

“You knew the whole time I was here looking at you?” I walk up to him.

He nods. “I knew the moment you stepped out of your house and were coming toward me.”

“I wish I could paint so I could paint your eyes and you leaning up the tree looking so peaceful,” I mumble as I wrap my arms around his waist.

He cups the back of my head and just holds me as I melt into his embrace. I wish for many things that aren’t coming true right now.

“I wanted to give you something,” Kieran says as he pulls back.

I smile up at him, not being able to contain the excitement on my face.

“A gift?” I place my hands behind my back and rock on my heels.

Kieran chuckles and nods, but he quickly stops when he sees my face.

“What’s wrong?” Kieran cups my face. “Why have you been crying?”

I shrug and close my eyes. It’s silly why I was crying.

“You got me a gift. Can I see it?” I try to change the subject.

“No, you don’t get to do that. What’s wrong?” he asks. “You have been crying. Is your mother okay? The baby?”

“Nothing is wrong with either of them or me. The reason I cried is silly,” I whisper. “My mother just sat and talked to me earlier. Actually held a conversation. Talked about my father and how I am so much like him.”

“Oh, Sweets,” he murmurs and pulls me in for another hug. “I’m so glad she did that.”

I pull away and nod. “I am as well. It was nice. She told me that my father met you when they first met. He was walking in the forest, and you bumped into each other.”

Kieran looks off into the distance, and I wait. Is he trying to remember, or did my mom make it up?

“I do remember that vaguely. Thought he was going to shoot me with his bow and arrow, but he just nodded, said hi, and walked off.” Kieran chuckles. “I was younger then and in a moody phase, but after that encounter, I stopped wandering around on my own.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because it made me realize that I had people counting on me. Running into your father when he was mad and looking to shoot anything, it made me realize that I needed to be more careful,” he replies.

I hum. “Gift?”

Kieran chuckles and shakes his head. “Of course.”

“Why are you giving me another gift?” I inquire. “Not that I’m ungrateful. I’m just curious. This is the second one, and I haven’t gotten you anything yet.”

“You don’t need to get me anything. You coming to see me in the forest is enough right now,” he gently replies. “And as for the gift and why. Well, I always find you looking into my eyes, and I thought I would give you this.”

Kieran pulls out a piece of paper and turns it over. Gasping, tears pool in my eyes as I stare at the painting of Kieran’s eyes. The painting looks almost identical to the real thing.

“You didn’t,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I gently take the piece of paper from him.