Page 36 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“Yes?” He turns toward me, a smile blossoming his face. “Do you want to make out right here and now? Have you changed your mind and want me to push you up against the wall and kiss you? Do you want to feel my body against yours?”

My cheeks warm at the thought of him pushing me up against the wall and kissing me. Agreement is on the tip of my tongue as I stare at him.

“I think you do,” he whispers, his face mere inches from mine now. “You want me to do all that. One day,” he promises. “One day, I will be able to do all of that and more for you. I will be able to show you just how much you mean to me and everything I want to do with you.”

My breathing picks up with every word he says. My body gets all hot and bothered, thinking about what he would do to me if there were no rules against Fae and humans interacting.

“Stop,” I choke out, but I don’t want him to stop.

I want him to continue to tell me everything he wants to do with me.

Kieran smirks. “I’ll stop for now, but don’t expect it next time.”

Closing my eyes for a brief second, I take a deep breath and calm my racing mind and body.

“What did you want to ask me?” He pulls his face an inch away, but I move back, not wanting to be apart from him.

A soft smile spread across his face.

Breathtaking.

“What did your father do?” I ask.

The smile disappears from his face. “He was the one who caught the attention of the witch’s sister.”

“Oh,” I whisper. “I’m so⁠—”

He gently places his finger across my lips, silencing me. “You don’t need to be sorry. It hurts talking about it, but I wanted you to know.”

Kieran pulls away and stands to his full height once again.

“Thank you?” I hesitantly say.

“Anything for you,” he mumbles. “Now, go back to your mother's booth.”

Nodding, I turn around and head back, not stopping for anyone or looking up to catch anyone’s attention. My mind is whirling with all the new information. He’s the High Lord of the Fae, the most important person of their kind, and I caught his attention. We feel a connection together.

“There you are.” My mother smiles. “I was about to get Skylar to go look for you.”

“Sorry, I’m here.” I get behind the booth.

I turn to my mother before turning away, wanting to ask her questions, but not knowing if I should. Would she suspect anything if I asked a question?

“Spit it out,” my mother finally says.

Sighing, I look at her. “Are the tales true?” I whisper, not wanting anyone to overhear us. The street is so loud and busy that I doubt they will.

“Is what true?” She fully turns to me.

“About the Fae being cruel and rude?” I blurt before I can stop myself.

“What has gotten into you? Why do you want to know?” She looks at me oddly.

I shrug. “I’m curious. We are taught and told they are cruel, but I haven’t seen anything to show that they are.”

She sighs. “I don’t know. I wasn’t alive during that time period. There are always two sides to every story. One is the Fae wanted control while we wanted peace, and the other is we lived in peace until the king got greedy and decided to take over.”

“What do you⁠—”