Page 38 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

No one is here to save me.

I can’t ask the Fae to the side, they won’t help me. Why would they when they are the ones who are suffering? They are probably watching me and smiling, knowing I’m suffering right before I die.

I take another step, stumbling as my feet get caught in the snow, but I quickly regain my footing before I can fall. Once I go down, I won’t be getting up.

Keep moving.

I just need to keep moving, even if it’s slow. Every step counts right now. It’s one step closer to the house, and that’s what I need. Taking a slow, deep breath in, I calm myself and take several more small steps.

Warmth.

It spreads across my back, and panic sets in. I’m really dying. I’ve heard people talking about the stages you go through before hypothermia takes you. You get bitterly cold, you start to be unable to feel things, and then you get warm. That’s the last step before your body starts to shut down.

I’m not ready to die. There is so much out there for me to explore and do, and I’m not ready to give it up yet.

“Shhh, you’re okay,” someone whispers.

I turn around quickly, losing my balance and slowly start to fall before I can see their face. Solid, strong arms wrap around me, picking me up and holding me close to their warm body. I push away from it, trying to get out of the person’s grip, but they keep me tightly against them.

“No fighting. Let me warm you,” he croons. “Shit. You’re freezing.”

Kieran.

Kieran is holding me. He came for me, but how did he know I was here? Without thinking, I bury myself closer to the person, trying to get all the warmth they’ll give me.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers again. “I’m going to keep you safe and get you warmed up.”

“H-h-ho—” I try to say, but he hushes me.

“Just concentrate on warming up,” he tells me. “Calm and even breaths as I take you somewhere safe.”

I don’t argue as he holds me closely to him and starts to walk. Snow falls onto my skin as wind rushes past us, making me shiver. The bag I was holding is nowhere on my body, but I don’t have it in me to care right now. I’m slowly starting to warm up against his skin.

“If I could wrap my wings around you to keep the wind away, I would.” He kisses my forehead. “I’m going off the path in case of prying eyes, but don’t worry. You’re safe with me.”

I close my eyes and press my face against his bare, warm skin. How is he so warm when it’s snowing outside?

Snuggling closer to him, I take a deep breath and try to relax, but I start to shiver harder as the wind hits my skin.

“Give me the bag,” another male voice says.

Whimpering, I move slightly in Kieran’s arms. Who else is with us?

“Shhh, you’re okay. It’s just Elias, my friend,” Kieran soothes me.

“Just your friend? I’m wounded that you don’t think of me as your best friend. I am part of your inner circle, or are you kicking me out?” the man, Elias, asks.

“Knock it off,” another person growls. “There is no time for messing around. Grab the bag and give him the blanket.”

“That’s Everett, another close friend of mine,” Kieran tells me like I’m going to remember this.

I don’t know what they look like, and I’m pretty sure their voices are distorted with how cold it is and out of it I am. Have I seen them before?

Elias.

He was there when Kieran carried the buckets of water for me. I remember him, but he was there for such a short time that I could easily miss him now if I were to pass him in the streets.

If I ever get to walk down the streets again. I may not survive the night and never get to see the beautiful nature of Bellhollow again.