Page 49 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

“Thirty minutes or less,” my mother calls out before I leave. “I don’t want you out too long. When you are better, you can take more time out there.”

“I know.” I give her a small smile. “I promise I won’t be long. I just need to get some fresh air. I’ll be back soon.”

I won’t be able to walk for long anyway. My body is absolutely exhausted, just from standing by the door for so long. I’m ready to be outside but I’m also ready to sit back down and work on things while I take it easy. But I’m not going to let my mother know that. If she knew, she would insist that I stay in the house and not go out.

Can’t do that.

Taking a step outside, I breathe in deeply, letting the cold air fill my lungs. Oh, that feels so good. The house is the exact opposite, stuffy and hot. And after a while, it becomes suffocating. My mother wouldn’t agree with that, but I bet if my father was here, he would agree with me. He is always out in the woods, hunting.

I think that’s where I get it from. My father used to bring me outside all the time when I was little and he was home. It blossomed from there and now I can’t have enough of the outdoors… even in the wintertime, when everyone is desperately trying to stay indoors.

I walk out into the square and look around. The brick road divides the forest and where the Fae live from where all the shops and houses are for us. Several people are out, wearing long jackets that my mother probably made, all while gathering supplies they need before heading back into their houses where it’s warm. A couple of people are in their shops where it’s warm, waiting for customers to come and buy things from them.

All while the Fae, in short sleeve shirts and long pants, are still constructing the building for Prince Archie. I wish I was like them and didn’t get cold as easily.

“Adeline.” The prince’s voice fills my ear.

“Crap,” I whisper.

I have been trying to avoid Prince Archie at all costs. I thought with it being winter, and there being snow on the ground, that he wouldn’t be out. He rarely enters town in the winter, which means he is here on business.

Turning, I bow before standing straight and looking at him. “Prince Archie.”

He searches my face before looking down at my body, his face contorting with disgust. “What happened to you? You look like death.”

I want to retort, but I quickly bite my tongue. I can’t do that with Prince Archie. He will not tolerate such behavior.

“I am sick,” I tell him. “I got caught in the snowstorm and almost didn’t make it out alive. My health has suffered in the past couple of weeks, but I am getting better.”

“Get it together.” He takes a step forward, his face still full of disgust.

I bite the inside of my cheek. I want to back-talk and ask him who he thinks he is, but I don’t. I don’t want people to know me as the girl who talked back to the prince and got sent to the dungeon or had their family banished.

No.

I won’t let my life end up like that.

“You still need to give me a day when you can come to the palace for the lessons.” The prince scowls at me, disapproval written all over his face.

“I’m sorry⁠—”

“Do not speak. We are heading to your house, where I will talk to your parents about it,” he sneers.

Prince Archie starts toward my house, and I follow. Worry blossoms inside of me with every step. What is my mother going to think? Is she going to get too stressed, and will it be bad for the baby?

The hairs on my arms stick up, making my whole body lock up.

Kieran.

He’s looking at me, and it takes everything in me not to scan my surroundings to try and find him. Prince Archie cannot find out about him. Not ever, but especially not when he is annoyed.

Clenching my hands into fists, I take a deep breath as we stand in front of my parents’ house. What is my mother going to say? Is she going to be okay? Are they going to do anything to her?

With so much happening, I really did forget to bring it up with her. There are more important things in my life than going to the palace and taking lessons for who knows what reasons.

But Prince Archie doesn’t see it that way.

“Prince Archie,” I start to talk, my voice shaking with nerves.