Page 24 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

No one is going to stop and offer to help me. They have better things to do than to carry a bucket for me. But I wish they would.

“I wish I could take them to where you need them, but I don’t want you to harmed for being seen with me,” he gently says. “Now, go on. I’ll watch to make sure you get there safely.”

I scoff, brushing off the warmth I feel from his words. “It’s not dangerous here.”

Lie.

He raises an eyebrow. “Not dangerous?”

I shrug, knowing he knows I lied. While it isn’t very dangerous, things still happen. I’ve heard rumors about them. “Sure, nothing has ever happened to me here. Well, until you threatened me.”

“I did not threaten you,” he says calmly and slowly.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night. It’s not that dangerous. No one is going to mess with me, but if you want to watch over me until I make it back to my mother, you can. It’s your time wasted, not mine.”

“Not wasted. My time watching over you, watching you, is not wasted.” He takes a step forward. “It is time well spent. Making sure my mate has everything she needs and wants. Though it’s harder to do those when I cannot be seen with you and don’t have my full magic.”

His words shouldn’t affect me so much, but they do. I want to hear him talk about everything he is willing to do and what he would do if things were different here. I want to know his every thought.

But why?

No guy has ever captured my attention like this, until him. He captivated me with his eyes for the longest time, and now he’s captivated my thoughts.

“Sweet talker,” I murmur.

“I’ll be your sweet talker any time you want it. You just tell me and I’ll do it.” He presses another kiss to my forehead, and I melt right then and there.

I want his lips there again. I want them on my lips and other places. My cheeks heat at the thought as I pull away, even though I don’t want to.

“Now, go before I take you back to my tent and have my way with you,” he growls.

I clench my thighs together, imagining him hauling me in his arms and making his way to his tent. What would he do to me there? Would I have undeniable pleasure for the whole night? Would he make me forget my own name and only know his?

“Don’t look at me like that,” he groans. “Go before I keep you and someone sends a search party for you.”

“They won’t send a search party for me,” I scoff, bending down for my buckets. “I’m not that important.”

“But you are. You just don’t know it yet,” he gently says. “Now, go so your mother doesn’t start worrying about you. I’ll keep watch.”

I look at him one more time, taking him in. “Will I see you again?” I can’t help but ask.

“You will.” He nods his agreement.

I pick up my buckets, groaning as the handles bite into my hands, and take a few steps away. I can feel his eyes on me the whole time I walk to my house. Several times I have to stop, giving my hands a couple of seconds of reprieve before picking them back up.

My arms and hands are exhausted by the time I get back to where my mother is cleaning the clothes.

“Come on,” she says when she sees me. “I’ve already emptied it for you.”

No rest for the wicked. I sigh and lift the heavy bucket, pouring the water in before picking up the other and doing the same thing. I take several seconds to catch my breath and give my arms a break. Looking over at where I came from, I search for Kieran, but I don’t see him anywhere, and I don’t feel his eyes. He must have gotten taken away, or he realized I got home safely and left.

Emptiness fills me at the thought. I want him close to me at all times. The thought of not seeing him for days or even longer makes me ill. When will I see him next? I know he said I would, but it could be weeks or months before we do. But deep down, I have a feeling it won’t be that long.

“Come on, Adeline,” my mother lightly scolds me. “We need to get these done before your sister visits.”

“Avira is coming by?” I ask in disbelief.

I haven’t seen her in months. Avira works at the palace and now lives there. She only comes down when she wants something, which never sits well with me. She’s my older sister even though she doesn’t act like one. Once she got her job, it was like she forgot all about us and only comes down when absolutely necessary.