Page 48 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

It has to be that.

“Did you really walk all night and only stop once?” There’s skepticism in her voice.

I nod. “I knew I had to power on to get back to you. I didn’t want you to worry if I stayed overnight in Hellhollow, so I started my journey. I kept at an even pace so I didn’t overexert myself. You need me here.”

If only she knew what actually happened last night. How close I was to actually dying and not returning home. What would she have done then? Would she have sent someone or gone to look herself for me?

“I’m grateful you made it home, I really am.” Mother squeezes my arm. “I was getting really worried and almost called your sister to help me find you.”

And that’s what I didn’t want. I don’t want Avira coming to find me and give me a scolding about making mother worry. I can’t just say it was mother's idea for me to go every single year after the market to the next town over to buy things. It would make her look bad and give me another lecture.

“I’m fine, really. I’m here and alive.” I take the last sip of the broth.

My back straightens as I feel his eyes on me, and I search through the window, trying to find out where he is. My eyes scan the crowd in front of us, but I can’t make anyone out, especially not his eyes.

“Today, you’re going to stay by the fire and take it easy. You can sort through the spices or fabric, but you aren’t going to do anything else,” my mother declares. “Understand?”

“Yes,” I reply, still trying to find his eyes once again.

But before I can, the feeling goes away, and my whole body sags in the chair. I need to see him again. Something inside of me is begging me to find him right now and stay near him.

“Good. If I find out you don’t, there will be consequences,” she says, and I snort.

Yeah. Consequences. I roll my eyes and look back at the fire, thinking about the night I spent with Kieran.

CHAPTER 12

“I’m going on a walk,” I inform my mother.

She gives me a worried look. “Are you sure you should be doing that? You’ve been sick and I would hate for you to go out and make yourself even more sick. You are allowed to rest.”

“I know and I have been. I need to feel the air on my face. I know there is a lot of snow on the ground, but I think it will be good for me,” I try to reason with her.

I don’t want to leave unannounced and put my mother in a bind. Afterall, I do still live with them.

“I know it might not be the wisest, but I am starting to go a little crazy just being in the house,” I honestly tell her.

I have been. This is the longest I’ve been in the house since last year when I almost died. You would think I would learn from my mistakes, but I haven’t and I don’t think I will. Things need to be done and we need the fabric and spices to sell things. But being in the house for almost two weeks is slowly killing me.

I also have this desire to see Kieran again. I need to ask him questions. Like how he heard me begging him to save me. I thought I was just thinking it in my mind, but he said he saw where I was and knew to come to me. How? Does being mates relate to that?

I have so many questions for him, and every time I see him, I don’t have enough time to ask all of them. I’ve thought about writing him, but someone would have to deliver it to him and I’m not risking that. I don’t know who I can trust when it comes to communicating with the Fae. I also don’t know whether they will read it or not, and I’m not going to risk that.

Nope.

I am just going to have to be patient and ask questions whenever I can. No matter how long it takes.

My mother sighs. “Okay, but just for a couple of minutes. You must wear this jacket along with your other one to keep your body warm. I want you back in the house soon so you don’t make yourself sick again.”

Walking up to her, I kiss her cheek, and take the coat she’s holding out for me. “Thank you.”

The first thing I want to do is find Kieran and ask him questions, but I don’t have a lot of time. I know by the time I find him, I’m going to have to leave to head back to the house so my mother doesn’t get worried.

I sigh as I stand in front of the door.

The one main reason I want to go outside and I can’t even do it. I can’t spend an hour in the forest, waiting for Kieran to appear so I can talk to him. But that’s okay. I am still going to go outside and enjoy being out there for a little bit. Maybe I’ll see Kieran in the distance.

We need to think of a way to meet without anyone noticing. Having eyes on us won’t be good. Not when us humans aren’t supposed to have any form on communication with them. I don’t want to get locked up or have Kieran beaten for meeting with me.